Cheap Flights to Hamburg

Hamburg might not actually be the birthplace of the hamburger, but it has plenty of other things to brag about such as its Hanseatic League past, its standing as a city state, Germany’s second-largest city, and Europe’s second-largest port city (after Rotterdam). It is also the home of the sinful Reeperbahn and the place that gave the Beatles a start.

Travellers taking Hamburg flights will discover a city criss-crossed by canals. It has an astonishing 2,300 bridges, more than Venice and Amsterdam combined. The lake at the centre of the city, the Alster, is made up of two lakes, the Binnenalster (inner Alster) and the Aussenalster (outer Alster) and is a popular spot.

The Altona Fischmarkt, on the banks of the Elbe river, is a must-go spot. It’s open early on Sunday mornings – 4am in summertime, 7am in winter – and over by midday. It’s not just the place to go for a bit of cod, there’s a flea market that sells almost everything.

Aside from the water and greenery, Hamburg has plenty for culture vultures with theatres, music halls, cabarets and museums. The largest art gallery is the Kunsthalle, which has a fine collection of 19th and 20th-century masters.

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Hamburg climate

Wet and windy, Hamburg is in the region known for its year-round Reizklima — healthy, bracing climate. The city has warm summers with temperatures reaching the 20s (Celsius) in July and August. July is also the wettest month with more than 7cm (3 inches) of rain.Winters are cold with snow and ice and temperatures dropping to about minus 6 in January. Sometimes it stays cold long enough for the Elbe and city lakes to freeze for ice skating. The snowfall in the city tends to be light.

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When to fly to Hamburg

Peak season:

Hamburg is busiest with tourists from May to September, after the students have left the city. This is also the time for folk festivals throughout Germany. Book flights to Hamburg early and reserve hotel rooms ahead of time if you’re planning to visit the city for a festival.

Off season:

March to May and October to early November have pleasant weather and fewer tourists. Cheap flights to Hamburg are found during November to March, when fewer visitors are here, lines are shorter, and you can focus on cultural events.

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Getting around Hamburg

From Hamburg’s airport you can hop on the S-Bahn (local train) to Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), which runs every ten minutes. Hamburg Bus Lines take visitors downtown and to the suburbs. A taxi will take around 30 minutes to get you downtown. Trains, subways, harbour ferries and buses can take you around central Hamburg easily. 

To get around downtown, take the U-Bahn (subway). Take the S-Bahn (trains) to get out to the suburbs. The two services are connected. Buy bus tickets at Automats and railway ticket counters, and you’ll get a great view of the city in return. For unlimited travel, as well as discounted admission to Hamburg attractions, purchase a Hamburg Card. 

It’s fairly easy to drive in Hamburg, but rush hour can slow your travel and parking is expensive. Taxis can be found almost anywhere.

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