Where to stay in Hamburg [Best Places to Stay for 2024]

Germany’s second largest city is one of Europe’s largest ports. With several canals, access to the North Sea via River Elbe, and maritime history, Hamburg offers a different side of Germany from other popular cities like Munich or Berlin.

There are many Hamburg neighborhoods, so deciding where to stay in Hamburg can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, the city has excellent public transportation for easy access to all of the various neighborhoods of Hamburg.

We’ve broken down the best Hamburg districts for visitors, found some cool places to stay in Hamburg, and will recommend several Hamburg hotels for every budget.

We will cover off all types of Hamburg accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Hamburg hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Hamburg Germany 2024.

This guide shows off the best Hamburg hotels, best places in Hamburg to visit, the best places to stay in Hamburg, hotels near Hamburg attractions, Hamburg neighborhood guide and many more.

Top 5 favorites accommodation options for Hamburg

Below are 5 of the best neighbourhoods in Hamburg to help you make the right decision when trying to work out best areas to stay in Hamburg for you. We have tried to make the guide as easy to follow as possible.

We have also included some things to do or places to visit as well as some eatery suggestions of either our favourite places or some funky places to eat at within the districts in Hamburg so you can use this as a go to guide.

Altstadt – Where to stay in Hamburg city centre

Hamburg’s Old Town and the City Centre are the most central places to stay in Hamburg. Most people who come to Hamburg for the the first time will generally stay here as it’s close to all the local tourists attractions.

Staying in Hamburg town centre gives you easy access to all of the attractions of Hamburg, plus it’s convenient to the train station for the best day trips from Hamburg.

Next to City Hall, Rathausmarket is a hub of activity and a good location to start your exploration of Hamburg. Another popular tourist attraction is the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, a short walk from the city. The concert hall in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg.

The Old Town section has many historic buildings, monuments and squares, many of which were rebuilt or restored after WWII.

The newer part of Hamburg City Centre has several parks and open spaces, as well as some modern buildings.

One of the best things to do in Altstadt is just to take a stroll along the Elbe River and enjoy the scenery. Here is a list of Hamburg city centre hotels:

Best places to stay in Hamburg Altstadt

Budget accommodation in Hamburg Altstadt

• ibis Hotel Hamburg Alster Centrum
• Alameda
• Hotel Bei der Esplanade
• Motel One Hamburg am Michel

Mid range accommodation in Hamburg Altstadt

• IntercityHotel Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
• Lindner Hotel Am Michel
• NH Collection Hamburg City
• Adina Apartment Hotel Hamburg Michel

Family Friendly accommodation in Hamburg Altstadt

• Scandic Hamburg Emporio
• Citadines Michel Hamburg
• Henri Hotel Hamburg Downtown
• Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Hamburg Altstadt

• Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg
• Renaissance Hamburg Hotel
• Hamburg Marriott Hotel
• SIDE Design Hotel Hamburg

St. Georg – One of the best neighborhoods in Hamburg Germany

Not far from the main train station, St. Georg has a true neighborhood feel and is a great place to stay in Hamburg. This district is one of the best for LGBTQ travelers, and is home of the Hamburg Pride parade each year.

St. Georg also has an eclectic population mix of Asian and Middle-Easterners, which is most evident in the diverse food scene in the area. Making it one of the best places to stay in Hamburg Germany for foodies.

St. Georg has many bars, restaurants and shopping opportunities. St. Georg also borders Alster Lake, a major recreation destination in Hamburg.

Best places to stay in St. Georg

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in St. Georg

• Generator Hamburg
• Hammerbrook Hostel
• MAC City Hostel
• Hostel City Süd

Budget accommodation in St. Georg

• Superbude Hamburg St Georg
• ibis Hotel Hamburg Alster Centrum
• a&o Hamburg City
• Hotel Bee Fang

Mid range accommodation in St. Georg

• Aussen Alster Hotel
• the niu Yen
• Sleephotels Suite Garde
• Novotel Hamburg City Alster

Family Friendly accommodation in St. Georg

• Super 8 by Wyndham Hamburg Mitte
• Moxy Hamburg City
• Courtyard by Marriott Hamburg City
• Reichshof Hotel Hamburg

Affordable Luxury accommodation in St. Georg

• Le Méridien Hamburg
• Hotel Atlantic Hamburg, Autograph Collection

St. Pauli – Where to stay in Hamburg for nightlife

If you want to know where to stay in Hamburg for nightlife, St. Pauli district is one of the best area to stay in Hamburg. Hamburg’s Red Light District is also very tourist-friendly, so don’t let the red light moniker scare you off!

St. Pauli is the best place to stay in hamburg for stag due to its proximity to Reeperbahn – the heart of nightlife.

The Reeperbahn is Hamburg’s most famous street, with over a mile of nightlife destinations. North of the Reeperbahn, travelers can find lots of cafes, restaurants and art galleries. St. Pauli is known as one of the best areas for nightlife in Hamburg.

Beatles fans will find themselves in St. Pauli to check out Große Freiheit 64, where the Beatles first played in 1960. St. Pauli is also where you can find Hamburg’s famous fish market, which has been selling fish in this spot since 1703.

Today, it’s a foodie paradise with dozens of food stalls to browse and sample. Within the northern section of St. Pauli, the neighborhood of Karolinenviertel is a great place to shop for unique designer goods.

Best places to stay in St. Pauli

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in St. Pauli

• Room Pauli
• Sleep In Hamburg Kajüten
• Hostel Kiezbude
• Backpackers St. Pauli

Budget accommodation in St. Pauli

• Auto-Parkhotel
• ibis budget Hamburg St Pauli Messe
• ibis Hotel Hamburg St. Pauli Messe
• a&o Hamburg Reeperbahn

Mid range accommodation in St. Pauli

• prizeotel Hamburg-St.Pauli
• North-Hotel
• Cityhotel Monopol
• east Hotel Hamburg

Family Friendly accommodation in St. Pauli

• ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg
• Sleephotels Casino
• Pyjama Park St. Pauli
• Egon Hotel Hamburg City

Affordable Luxury accommodation in St. Pauli

• Hamburg Hafenblick
• Hotel Hafen Hamburg

Schanzenviertel – Cool places to stay in Hamburg

A young and hip district of Hamburg, Schanzenviertel is sometimes referred to as Sternschanze or Schanze.

This is one of the most Bohemian of Hamburg districts, although gentrification is quickly creeping in. The Schanze is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Hamburg for younger travelers and artistic types.

Some compare the vibe of the Schanze to that of Berlin, with an engaging mix of bars, nightclubs, music shops, cafes and hip boutiques. Don’t miss the Flohschanze flea market on Saturdays.

Best places to stay in Schanzenviertel

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Schanzenviertel

• Pyjama Park Schanzenviertel
• instantSleep Backpackerhostel St Pauli

Budget accommodation in Schanzenviertel

• Hotel Domicil Hamburg by Golden Tulip
• Cabo Nonsmoking-Hotel
• Shop 23
• Cosy Studio with Private Parking

Mid range accommodation in Schanzenviertel

• Mercure Hotel Hamburg Mitte
• My Place
• Boston Hotel HH
• Boston Apartments HH

Family Friendly accommodation in Schanzenviertel

• Mövenpick Hotel Hamburg
• August The Boardinghouse
• Apartment in Sternschanze
• Fritz im Pyjama

Affordable Luxury accommodation in Schanzenviertel

• FeWo Parkblick HH Schanze

Blankenese – Where to stay in Hamburg for relaxation

A suburban escape from Hamburg is the district of Blankenese. What was once a fishing village along the Elbe River is now one of the most affluent of Hamburg districts.

On a hill just west of Hamburg city centre, it’s 20 minutes to the main train station, but an excellent place to stay in Hamburg for families, or anyone who enjoys a bit of serenity on their urban vacations.

One of Hamburg’s best hike is the Strandpromenade along the water, in the direction of the lighthouse.

Don’t let the suburban vibe deter you, though, as there are many hotels and restaurants in this area. Jenisch Park and Jenisch Haus are two popular destinations in Blankenese.

Best places to stay in Blankenese

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Blankenese

• Monteurzimmer in Hamburg West bei Hansezimmer

Budget accommodation in Blankenese

• Strandhaus Blankenese
• Hotel Blankenese
• Elbblick

Mid range accommodation in Blankenese

• Baurs Park
• Das Elbcottage – Remise am Süllberg – Boarding House
• Stadtparadies-Appartement in Blankenese
• Lütthüs Blankenese

Family Friendly accommodation in Blankenese

• Haus Rissen Gaestehaus
• Fischerhaus am Blankeneser Elbhang
• Das Gästehaus der Elb Lounge
• Strandhotel Blankenese

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