Sights History and Heritage

Built on trade, Hamburg has been through Danish, Prussian, French & Nazi rule, and endured fires, floods and diseases. Explore our history.

History & Heritage

In the centre of Bergedorf visitors find the only medieval castle within the Hamburg city limits
Monika Schröder / Pixabay

Medieval Heritage in Hamburg Bergedorf Castle

There’s just one authentic castle within the Hamburg city limits. After a long history, the medieval stronghold now houses a museum.

Catch the best photo light in the morning.
Jessica Mintelowsky

Sights City Hall

The impressive Rathaus (City Hall) is Hamburg’s seat of government. Hamburg's parliament and senate assemble here.

The entrance to an old red brick building; a plaque on the side reads: Polizei Hamburg, Davidwache
Jan Schäfer / Pixabay

Sights Davidwache Police Station

Due to many TV and movie appearances, the historical Davidwache in St. Pauli is the most well-known police station of the city.

View of red brick, timer-framed houses across the Nikolaifleet canal
www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Christian Spahrbier

History and Heritage Deichstrasse Historic Street

Against all odds, the timber-framed houses on Deichstrasse survived the centuries. They bear witness of a time long gone.

Find everything worth knowing about Hamburg.
SHMH / Angela Franke

Museums Hamburg History Museum

Opened in 1922, the beautiful Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte brings the city's fascinating 1,200-year history to life through events and exhibits.

Explore Kiekenberg Museum
Freilichtmuseum am Kiekeberg

Living History Kiekeberg Museum

Experience traditional rural life in a historical village at this open-air museum on the outskirts of Hamburg.

An old living room with low ceiling and mid-century furniture
SHMH / Michael Zapf

Sights Krameramtsstuben

Built between 1620 and 1700, these 'Grocers' Apartments' are among the oldest surviving residential buildings in central Hamburg.​​​​​​​

A very wide empty area with different paving, people walking in the distance, trees in background
KZ-Gedenkstätte Neuengamme

Sights Neuengamme Memorial

The grounds of the former Neuengamme concentration camp now serve as a memorial and research centre in Bergedorf.

Stroll around Hamburg's UNESCO World Heritage.
imago stock&people / Christian Ohde

Sights Speicherstadt UNESCO Site

The world’s largest warehouse complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see on every trip to Hamburg.​​​​​​​

Church ruins in the sunshine
imago stock&people / imagebroker / de Cuveland

Memorial Sight St. Nikolai Memorial

The ruins of this church, bombed by Allied forces during Operation Gomorrah in 1943, now houses a WWII memorial and museum.

weathered but shiny metal plates in a sidewalk between concrete and cobblestone pavement
imago stock&people / Lars Berg

Memorials Stolpersteine Art Project

The Europe-wide art project Stolpersteine honours the lives of victims of the Nazi regime. These stones can be found all over the city.​​​​​​​