The best things in life are free, as the saying goes. In Hamburg, you can have a great time without having to pay a fortune. Here's a collection of fun activities and practical tips for those who are travelling on a shoestring: for free, or nearly for free.
Sights
- The iconic St. Michael’s Church, Fischmarkt, the Old Elbe Tunnel and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg plaza are free to the public.
- In Planten un Blomen park you can visit the Tropenhaus with its beautiful arrangement of tropical plants.
- See Hamburg from all sides during a walk around the glistening Alster lake and meet locals of all ages (and their dogs) along the way.
- In Flottbek there is the Loki Schmidt Botanical Gardens.
- Just off Grindelallee, the university’s Museum der Natur ('Museum of Nature') is free of charge.
Transportation
- After paying a 5€ registration fee, the red Stadtrad bikes will carry you everywhere for free (you’ll have to do the paddling yourself!), as long as you return them before the 30 minute limit expires.
- The make for a very good port sightseeing tour for the price of a bus ticket.
WiFi
- Many cafes, restaurants, bars and hostels will offer free WiFi to customers.
- Are you a student? Log into eduroam to use Hamburg University's WiFi.
- Thanks to the MobyKlick, you can receive free WiFi at many public places in the city, including U and S-Bahn stations as well as busses and trains.
Entertainment
- In summer, young locals flock to the grassy fields of the Stadtpark to listen to the various open air concerts that take place nearby. Fill up your picnic basket and join them!
- Every night between May and October, you can enjoy a free music, light and water show at the Planten un Blomen park.
- Wutzrock festival, Spielbudenfestival, Altonale, and the HAFENGEBURTSTAG (PORT ANNIVERSARY) concerts are entirely free.
- Every Wednesday in summer, Knust music venue presents you the best acoustic live music the city has to offer.
- Join one of the free music live sessions, for example at Birdland, Cotton Club, Ponybar, or Freundlich+Kompetent.
Kids
- Kinderbauernhof Kirchdorf farm museum has several attractions and animals to pet.
- At Wildgehege Klövensteen and Niendorfer Gehege wildlife parks you can watch deer and other animals trail by.
- In the Wilhelmsburger Inselpark, just south of the city centre, there are no less than five themed playgrounds that kids and their parents can enjoy entirely for free!
