Visitors

Holidays

From Christmas to Halloween to New Year's Eve, learn how holidays are celebrated in Hamburg.

Holidays

romantic, alster lake, hamburg, valentine, valentine's day, love
imago stock & people / ZweiKameraden
Plan Ahead

Valentine's Day

Want to surprise your significant other for Valentine’s? Make it a day to remember in romantic Hamburg.

St. Patrick's Day
IMAGO / Panthermedia
Events

St. Patrick's Day

Along with the rest of the world, Hamburg celebrates Ireland on 17 March ― with lots of green and beer!

Elphi schief
hamburg.de
Holidays & Celebrations

April Fool’s Day

Don’t be a fool on the first day of April! Watch out for tricks, pranks, jokes and hoaxes on this wacky day.

Egg hunt ─ Easter in Hamburg
imago stock & people / Westend61
Holidays & Celebrations

Easter

The Easter weekend is an excellent time to visit Hamburg! Enjoy brunch and visit the DOM funfair as the city awakes from hibernation.​​​​​​

An Easter bonfire close to the Elbe river in Hamburg-Blankenese, with crowd gathering and sail boat and bark in front
Imago / Nikita
Holidays & Celebrations

Osterfeuer Bonfires

The Osterfeuer has a long tradition in Hamburg and Northern Germany. Many bonfires are burned every year on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

1 May in Hamburg
imago images / Chris Emil Janßen
Holidays & Celebrations

1 May

What does Labour Day have to do with witches and did early Christians really ‘dance into May’?

8 May in Hamburg
imago images / blickwinkel
Holidays & Celebrations

8 May

8 May marks an important turning point in European history. See what’s so unique about this day of commemoration.

Mother's Day is for visiting the women who brought us into this world
Sabine van Erp / Pixabay
Holidays & Celebrations

Mother's Day

Spring is the season of birth and renewal. What better time to express gratitude for the people who bestowed life upon us?

St. Pankratiuskirche in Ochsenwerder
imago images / Christian Ohde
Holidays & Celebrations

Ascension Day

While the origins of Ascension Day are religious, many Germans just appreciate the day off.

Celebrating Vatertag
imago images / Manngold
Holidays & Celebrations

Vatertag Explained

Think Father’s Day is about bringing dad breakfast in bed and football in the yard? You may be confused by the German tradition.

Spring has many long weekends to offer which are perfect for a bike ride through nature
Photosforyou / Pixabay
Holidays

Pentecost Weekend

People in Hamburg are happy for the long Pentecost weekend but few know why it exists in the first place.

Oktoberfest in Hamburg on the roof of Karstadt
imago stock & people / Lars Berg
Events

Oktoberfest

Think Germany, think Oktoberfest: with gigantic beers, brass bands and lederhosen. Hamburg, too, has its offshoot of this Bavarian event.

Caro Sodar / Pixabay
German Holidays

Unification Day

Every year on 3 October, Germany celebrates the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent reunification of east and west.

Martin Luther statue in Hamburg, Germany
imago stock & people / STPP
German Holidays

Reformation Day

31 Oct: This public holiday marks Martin Luther nailing his theses to the door of the Wittenberg church over 500 years ago.​​​​​​​

Halloween Pumpkin
imago stock & people / Arnulf Hettrich
Events

Halloween

By way of American pop culture, Halloween has found its way into the hearts and minds of horror buffs in Hamburg.

9 November in Hamburg
imago images / Christoph Worsch
Commemoration & Remembrance

9 November in Hamburg

9 November is the anniversary of several historic events. In Grindelviertel, candles are lit for victims of Pogrom Night.

Child with ornated lantern
Imago / imagebroker
Holidays and Celebrations

St. Martin's Day

Each autumn children in Hamburg go on a Laternelaufen in honour of St. Martin. Understand this German tradition and its history.

Carving Turkey for Thanksgiving
IMAGO / Dreamstime
Traditions

Thanksgiving in Hamburg

Discover how Hamburg honours the American tradition of Thanksgiving with three unique events this year.

anncapictures / Pixabay
Holidays & Celebrations

Saint Nicholas Day

6 December: The origins of Father Christmas, early gift giving, shoes filled with treats? Learn all about this yearly children’s celebration.

New Year's Eve in Hamburg, Germany
imago images / Panthermedia
Holidays

New Year's Eve

'Silvester' in Hamburg: Traditions, sparkling wine, and dinner with the famous Miss Sophie.

imago images / Panthermedia
Holidays & Celebrations

New Years Eve Parties

Want to celebrate New Years Eve in Hamburg? We have a list of the city's best parties.