If you are thinking about a trip to Hamburg in winter, I am here to convince you why this is a fantastic idea! I have been to Hamburg many times, as the city has grown to be my favourite city in Germany. This year, I visited it for the first time in winter for the Christmas Markets. I found a magical atmosphere, joyfulness, cheer, and a city dressed in festive lights.
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany, but despite this, is so different from the other cities in the country. Because of its size and the large harbour on the Elbe River, the city is a cultural hub with a vibrant life, buzzing with events, things to do, and a unique blend of modern and quirkiness.
Hamburg in Winter: What to Expect
If you are searching for that winter fairytale, warming up with a Glühwein in a Christmas market whilst it is snowing, then you must come to Hamburg in December.
Hamburg in winter is cold, very cold. I was there at the beginning of November and the maximum temperature of the day barely reached 2 degrees Celsius. As I landed I could see the ground covered with a thick blanket of snow. From the second day of my trip, it snowed continuously.
I also visited Hamburg at the end of February, a few years ago. Half of the time the weather was quite pleasant and sunny, whilst the other half, was freezing.
The maximum temperature in Hamburg in winter is 5 degrees Celsius in December and 4 in January and February.
I highly recommend dressing up for the weather. I wore three layers under my jacket, including a thermal one. Boots with good grip are also a must, as the pavement can get icy and slippery. A hat, gloves, scarf and fluffy socks are also recommended, especially if you are planning to spend a lot of time outdoors. I find that if my ears or hands get cold, my entire body will feel uncomfortable and it’s harder to warm up once I am indoors.
Where to Stay in Hamburg
I stayed in different places during my many trips to Hamburg. Below I am recommending three of my favourite accommodation options, depending on your budget. If I were to choose the best area to stay in Hamburg, that would be close to the train station. This is where the airport train comes, and the metro lines connect. From the train station, a leisurely 15-minute walk takes you to the Town Hall Square.
Villa Viva
Villa Viva is one of the newest hotels in Hamburg, and the most recent accommodation I stayed at. The location of the hotel is great, just a 10-minute walk from the train station, in a very quiet area. The rooms are quite quirky, with wooden bedframes and minimalist décor. They have rooms for all types of budgets, from pods to large suites.
The hotel also has a restaurant and a rooftop bar on site. The outdoor terrace from the rooftop has unrestricted panoramic views over the city.
Villa Viva is a social project, donating most of their profits to fund water programs around the world.
You can click here to check the latest rates, and here to see the reviews on TripAdvisor.
Superbude St Pauli
If you are planning to explore more of St Pauli, then Superbude makes a great base in the city. The private rooms of this hotel are quite unique, with an industrial minimalist decor and bright colours. It definitely fits with the neighbourhood.
Breakfast is included in the price of the room, and consists of a selection of healthy superfood spreads and German bread.
You can click here to check the latest rates, and here to see the reviews on TripAdvisor.
Generator
If you are on a budget, as I was when I first visited Hamburg for a conference, you should pick Generator. Located just across the street from the main train station in Hamburg, Generator is part of a high-standard hostel chain. The rooms at Generator in Hamburg are spacious and all come with their own separate bathroom and toilet, so you don’t have to cross the hallway in your PJs every morning. The beds are spaced out around the room so that they offer the best privacy, with no more than 4 beds in one area. Each bed has a plug, its own light, and a large locker, which you can lock with your own padlock.
You can click here to check the latest rates, and here to see the reviews on TripAdvisor.
How to Spend a Long Weekend in Hamburg in Winter
This itinerary for a Hamburg winter trip is based on my own experience. As the weather in Hamburg can be very cold in winter, I combined a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, including visits to the Christmas markets.
I have split this itinerary into three days, as this is how much I spent in Hamburg on this occasion. It is a relaxed itinerary, with plenty of opportunities to deviate and do some Christmas shopping (that’s the first thing I did after I landed).
Day 1:
Miniatur Wunderland
I spent hours exploring the different exhibitions at Miniatur Wunderland. Even if at first glance you may think this attraction in Hamburg is aimed at children, I can assure you that this is not the case. On paper, Miniatur Wonderland is the world’s largest model train museum. In person though, it’s so much more than that! The museum consists of different “worlds”, highlighting countries or regions around the globe. It’s an interactive exhibition spread over two floors, in one of the historical buildings in the Warehouse district of Hamburg. It’s not only the trains that move, but the entire scenes, including the lighting in the exhibition halls – there are days, nights, sunrises and sunsets!
My favourite part of Miniatur Wunderland was the airport, which is a copy of Hamburg Airport. Here, planes actually take off and land, which is quite impressive to watch. You can even take a tour behind the scenes, to see the mechanism that makes all the words move.
It is advisable to book a ticket in advance, as they are timed and you will have to choose a time slot. Click here to do so.
Enjoy the Festive Lights in Hamburg
Once you have awoken your inner child, it’s time to enjoy the Christmas Lights in Hamburg. There is a short walk from Miniatur Wunderland to the city centre, where the majority of the Christmas markets in Hamburg are.
This year, the city is decorated with pretty light curtains hanging above the streets, large balls of lights, hockey players, ice skaters, sleigh riders, as well as many giant reindeer made from tiny bulbs. There are Christmas trees everywhere, and plenty of Christmas markets to explore and stop at for a first mug of Glühwein.
Champagne at Marché de Noël
Marché de Noël is a very small but extremely charming Christmas market in Hamburg. You can find it in the courtyard of the Stadthöfen building complex, which has been recently open to the public.
Because this is a new Christmas market, it is not very crowded. I loved the wood chips covering the floor, making me feel like I was in the forest, and not in the centre of Hamburg. They play classic Christmas songs in this market as well, which contributes to the festive atmosphere.
In the centre of the market, you will find two bars selling champagne and red and white mulled wine, alongside other classic drinks. So make sure to stop here as the sun goes down, for a generous glass of Moët & Chandon.
Dinner at Chingu
With so many cultural influences, Hamburg has a great restaurant scene. I have written before about my favourite restaurants in Hamburg, and now it’s time to update and add Chingu to the list. This Korean restaurant slash karaoke bar serves classic Korean dishes and some very interesting Soju cocktails.
I had a feast here, with a selection of appetisers such as Kimchi pancakes, dumplings, cucumber salad, edamame, kimchi, and kimbap – Korean rice rolls. For the main course, I chose Korean fried chicken with sweet chili and soy garlic sauce. I was so glad I went for the 6 pieces and not more, as they were very large. The chicken was so moist and perfectly cooked. Each bite felt like munching on a very juicy marshmallow – not on a humble piece of chicken. I was impressed!
See a Burlesque Show in St Pauli
Ever since I first discovered the Reeperbahn, during the Reeperbahn Festival, I secretly wished to enter one of the clubs and see a burlesque show here. And on this trip, this desire came true. Bunny Burlesque is the only true cabaret club in Hamburg, where the striptease is blended with the art of seduction. Each act is carefully staged to provoke and generate emotion.
It’s important to know that burlesque dancers don’t completely undress, they will always keep their private parts covered. The show lasts for one hour and is hosted by Setty Mois. One disadvantage is that the performance is in German and, as a non-speaker, I did struggle to understand the dialogue with the public. But other than that, the show is worth every penny. The club is very small and intimate, with low lights and quirky décor.
I recommend booking a ticket in advance (site is in German), due to the small capacity of the club. The tickets are priced at 15 euros and include the afterparty. The show only runs on Fridays and Saturdays.
Day 2:
Go On a Cruise Along the Canals/Harbour
I can never get enough of cruising along the canals in Hamburg. And in winter, they are even prettier, especially when it snows. Can you believe that I went on a cruise every single time I visited Hamburg? The thing is, the route always depends on the tide – if the tide is high, you have the green light to explore the canals. If the tide is low, you will be cruising around the harbour, from where you will have glorious views over the Elbphilharmonie. You can even take a cruise along the smaller canals, and stop at one of the restaurants by the water for a nice lunch or dinner with a view.
On this occasion, the tide was low, so the cruise was around the harbour. This particular day was special, as the draw for the Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany, was happening in the evening. The boat passed by the docks where the Tourism Hamburg team painted containers with the flag of each country in the competition, for the evening event.
The cruise boats are small and have a covered heated area. So even if it snows, you will be warm. There is an audio commentary on board, as well as hot and cold drinks available to buy. You can book such a tour by clicking here.
Have Lunch in the Christmas Market
The Christmas market in front of the Town Hall is the biggest in Hamburg. It is very popular in the evenings, so visiting it a bit earlier is a good idea if you want to avoid the crowds. There are plenty of delicious foods to try here, from the classic grilled sausage inside a long bun topped with roast onions, to the potato pancakes served with sour cream and salmon.
I would highly recommend the raclette, which you can have either on a baguette or on potatoes. You can add extra toppings such as roast beef, pickles, cranberry sauce and even jalapenos.
The Krustenbraten also looked very good. This is a large piece of roast pork with crispy crackling on top, served hot with cranberry sauce and fried onions.
In this market, I also found cherry mulled wine, which was so good. But very strong! I love anything cherry so I had to try it.
See Santa’s Parade
If you are visiting Hamburg over the weekend, you must join Santa’s Parade. It takes place every Saturday in December, until Christmas, at 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm and it’s extremely fun. The parade starts in front of the Saturn shop, at Mönckebergstrasse and goes all the way to Jungfernstieg Christmas Market, where it turns back.
The parade consists of floats with reindeer and polar bears waving to the public, dancing angels and elves, and Santa himself. The parade was a lot of fun and somehow, I managed to join it, so I followed it for a while, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere and the little Santa’s dancing in front of me.
Watch Santa Fly Over the Rathausmarkt Christmas Market
Every day at 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 8:00 pm, people gather in the Rathausmarkt Christmas Market to see Santa fly over and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. For 20 years, the same man, Rambo, has transformed into Santa and flown over the market, three times a day over the festive season. He waves from the reindeer-pulled sleigh, with fire sparkles at the end, whilst he travels fast, over the town square.
It’s a show you don’t want to miss!
Enjoy a Fondue Dinner at StrandPauli
StrandPauli is a very popular beach club in Hamburg, famous for its sandy beach on the shore of the Elbe River. In winter, StrandPauli transforms into a winter wonderland on the sand, decorated with Christmas trees, twinkly lights, log fires, mulled wine and kaiserschmarrn stands, and a curling rink.
The interior area is decorated like an Alpine lodge, with wooden beams and poles supporting the roof, dimmed lights, candle lights, and long tables.
The German fondue is not like the Swiss one, where you dip toast in warm cheese. The German fondue is a festive dish at the centre of a family and friends gathering. It consists of a pot of hot oil and one of flavoured broth, in which you dip different meats or vegetables. At StrandPauli you can choose between the meat and the vegetarian option – or both. As we were a larger group, we had both. Everyone gets a little fondue fork with a coloured end, which is used to dip and cook the meat into the broth. The platter included a selection of chicken, veal and beef, served alongside different salads and sauces. My favourites were the potato salad the the truffle mayo.
The fondue dinners are very popular at StrandPauli and they do get booked out in advance, so make sure you do book ahead if you want to experience it.
Explore Santa Pauli Christmas Market
From StrandPauli there is a short stroll to the Reeperbahn, where the most unique Christmas market in Europe takes place. Santa Pauli is not for prudes and definitely not for children.
St Pauli is home to the Reeperbahn, Hamburg’s mile of sin. Here you will find the best nightlife in Hamburg, the best clubs on the Reeperbahn, as well as many adult boutiques. In Hamburg, sex work is legal, and the red light district of the city and all the establishments offering this type of entertainment are concentrated around the Reeperbahn. So it’s not unusual that the area has a naughty sexy Santa Christmas Market.
Santa Pauli is one of a kind. Here, you won’t find classic tree decorations or family-friendly activities. The stalls sell adult toys, explicit decorations to hang on your Christmas tree, lollies shaped as body parts, bondage outfits, as well as “Holy Mary” enhancements sold by nuns.
The market has a stage where after 10:00 pm you can see drag queen shows and men and women stripping.
Day 3:
Ice Skating at Eis Arena
Located in the middle of Planten un Blomen Park, Eis Arena is the biggest ice rink in Hamburg and one of the largest in the world. Whilst I personally didn’t experience this activity, as I am useless on skates, two of the ladies I travelled with did and had a lovely time.
Friday and Saturday nights bring the ice rink to life, with energetic music played by DJs. The ice rink remains open until March, so it’s not just for the winter holidays. Every two weeks there is a Ladies’ night as well.
Brunch at Mimosa Brunch Club
Mimosa Brunch Club is a very cute café that offers bottomless brunch and, as the name suggests, mimosas. And not just the classic one. I loved their mango take on the mimosa, but my favourite remained the grapefruit one.
The food is elegant and beautifully presented. The menu is small and focuses on mostly vegetarian and vegan dishes: avocado toast with beetroot hummus, eggs benedict, cashew pesto bruschetta, waffles and Dutch pancakes, or cashuka which is a vegan interpretation of the Middle Eastern shakshuka.
Shopping
Hamburg is a great city for shopping. Every time I am in town I reserve a bit of time to go check out the latest fashion on Spitalstrasse, as well as stock up on Halloren, which is one of my favourite chocolate brands and can only be found in Germany.
Christmas Market on Spitalstrasse
If you have more time in Hamburg (I didn’t, I had to be at the airport by 5:00 pm), you can explore more of the Christmas markets. Spitalstrasse has its own market, which leads to Winterwald, a small Christmas market made to resemble a forest. From there, across the street, you will see the St Petri market, with its large nativity scene. Another 10-minute walk and you will reach Jungfernstieg market, on the shore of Binnenalster Lake with its large tree in the middle of the water.
Conclusion
I hope that this itinerary for a long weekend in Hamburg in winter has convinced you that visiting the city for the Christmas markets is a great idea. I had such a great, relaxed time exploring the city in the snow, drinking Glühwein and enjoying the Christmasy atmosphere.
Hamburg is only 90 minutes away from the UK, with daily flights from Gatwick Airport.
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Last year, I went on a Christmas market tour in Europe, but unfortunately had to skip Germany. Thanks for this writeup. I think I know where to go next time 😊
Hamburg in winter looks very fun but very cold!! I would love to check out the “naughty” Christmas market and embarrass my boyfriend!! Thanks for sharing!!
The Christmas markets and Santa fly-in look like so much fun. I haven’t made it to Hamburg during the Winter, but it sounds like a great addition to my travel list.
This all looks magical! I love that you get the traditional Christmas markets and snow-covered scenery, but also tasty Korean food and burlesque for something a bit different. It all sounds like a fabulous holiday.
the wonderland is so cute!