Hamburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Landungsbrücken and the harbour

The St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, a long row of floating piers with a domed stone hall built in 1909, is the classic gateway to Hamburg's harbour and the main starting point of Line A. From here, ferries and harbour boats leave for the port, and the view across the Elbe takes in shipyards and container cranes.

Nearby, the old Elbe Tunnel from 1911 lets you walk under the river to the southern bank, where you get one of the best views of the city. The bus then follows the waterfront towards the Speicherstadt. A Hamburg hop-on hop-off tour starting here lets you combine the bus with a harbour cruise on the same day.

Speicherstadt, HafenCity and the Elbphilharmonie

The bus passes through the Speicherstadt, the red-brick warehouse district on canals, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015. Here you also find Miniatur Wunderland, the world's largest model railway, one of Hamburg's most visited attractions.

Next door, HafenCity has turned old docks into a modern quarter with promenades and museums, crowned by the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Hop off at the Überseequartier or the Elbphilharmonie stop to visit the Plaza. Many visitors ask how to get to the Elbphilharmonie easily: Line A is one of the most convenient ways from the station.

The Town Hall and the Alster lakes

Hamburg's Town Hall, completed in 1897, is a vast neo-Renaissance palace with 647 rooms, more than Buckingham Palace. Guided tours of the interior are offered on most days. Just behind it lies the Jungfernstieg, the elegant promenade on the Inner Alster lake, lined with shops and arcades.

The route continues around the Outer Alster, where sailing boats glide past the grand white villas of Harvestehude, one of the city's most exclusive districts. The best time to ride this stretch is on a sunny afternoon, when the lake is busy with boats and the open top deck gives you the full view.

St Michael's Church and St. Pauli

St Michael's Church, known to locals as the Michel, is Hamburg's most famous landmark. Its baroque tower, 132 metres high, has a viewing platform with one of the best panoramas over the harbour and the old town. Inside, the bright white-and-gold church can seat around 2,500 people.

The bus then heads into St. Pauli, the lively district around the Reeperbahn, famous for its music venues, theatres and the Beatles' early performances in the 1960s. Nearby, the Planten un Blomen park and the trade fair grounds offer green space for a break. St Michael's Church opening hours vary by season, so check before you hop off.