One of the best ways to explore Hamburg is from the bicycle seat. Riding a bike in Hamburg is cheap, flexible, sustainable, and good exercise – and most of the time it's more comfortable than being stuck in traffic. With hardly any slopes at all, Hamburg's topography makes for a very cycle-friendly city, with convenient Veloroutes off the main roads, many designated bicycle lanes and lush parks.
City Bike Hire
StadtRAD Hamburg, in cooperation with DB Deutsche Bahn AG, is Germany’s most successful public bike-sharing scheme and has been an integral part of Hamburg’s transport network since its inception in 2009. Hamburg locals and visitors alike can now choose from over 4,300 bikes at more than 350 stations, as well as 56 cargo e-bikes.
To hire a StadtRAD bike, you need to download and install the StadtRAD app. To sign up, you may need a debit, credit or HVV customer card. Once it's installed, use the map to locate the nearest StadtRAD station. Scan the QR code on the back of a bike to unlock it. After your ride, park your bike at any of the stations and slide the lock at the rear wheel shut to return the bike.
Fares and Perks
Users may choose whether to subscribe to StadtRAD or not:
- Without a subscription (Light-Tarif), the fare is €0.14 per minute.
- In subscription mode, the annual fee is €8.90. The first 30 minutes of any ride are free. After 30 minutes, the fare is €0.14 per minute. This means, you could ride for free all day – as long as you check your bike back in at any station within 30 minutes of each departure.
Regardless of the subscription, the fares never amount to more than €9 per day, which is also the price for a day pass.
Any user may rent up to 4 bikes at the same time. You can also reserve a bike for a maximum of 15 minutes before unlocking it, to make sure it's still there when you arrive at the station. Any bike features an adjustable saddle, 7 gears, a bell and a front rack as well as a phone holder for easier navigation.
Electric Cargo Bikes
StadtRAD also offers 56 electric cargo bikes for no additional cost. The only condition is that these cargo bikes must be returned to their home station at the end of the renting period. So whether you do your weekend shopping, have a day out with the kids or a barbecue in the park – if you need to carry something by bike, you can pick one of StadtRAD Hamburg’s cargo e-bikes.
For more information and a more detailed pricing scheme, see StadtRAD Hamburg.
