We are doing a one night visit to Hamburg, in late Feb. We have our tickets booked for the 1-hour backstage tour of the Wonderland, but unsure about how many hours we should plan on spending here. I want to see it all! Our ticket allows us entry at any time and to skip the line.
Any other good tips for something to do in the morning or early afternoon the next day? Our train leaves at 16:30.
I like this place sooo much.
If you are a model railway enthusiast, then my answer is ‘as long as your feet can carry you’.
When I was there, there were always lots of visitors, which made it very difficult to see everything. I usually get tired after about 2-3 hours and my feet hurt.
We got there as it opened and stayed for about five hours, till we were exhausted.
We also had tickets for the short virtual reality experience, our first, which was weird.
I can't find the details now, but there was an illusion museum which was amazing.
Maybe the emigration center / museum Ballinstadt, the International Maritime Museum or the new exhibition "Kinder, Kinder" at Bucerius Kunst Forum?
We absolutely loved our visit to Miniature Wonderland... we probably spent about two hours. However this was in 2015 so not sure if it's expanded since then. If you are looking for something to do in the morning something we really enjoyed was breakfast at the fish market.
I went to Hamburg a number of years ago strictly to go to Miniatur Wunderland. I loved it.
At that time, it was suggested I go around dinner time for smaller crowds. It was still crowded. Give yourself plenty of time. I had to leave because they were closing.
I suggest you go first thing in the morning to help with lesser crowds.
I plan to go back when some of the newer sections are finished.
A few years ago I had a two week project in Hamburg. I bought a year pass for Miniature Wonderland and went every evening :-)
Since then the place even got bigger. Go as early in the day as possible to beat the crowds.
The behind the scenes tour is great btw. It is quite something to see how that airport, and how the vehicles work. Other than that you can spend days there....
I love this forum! I learned about an attraction I will want to see this summer. Thanks!
If you've not been, I enjoyed a tour of the Elbphilharmonie. (Or a concert, depending on your dates/times.)
Wunderland will be crowded whenever you go, but I agree that early (or very late) is the best option.
We returned to Miniatur Wunderland in August for a second visit because it is so spectacular. In fact, we even bought the heavy hardback photo book as a souvenir. The model railroad occupies several floors and is incredibly detailed. I would recommend at least three hours to thoroughly enjoy the “World’s Biggest Model Railroad”.
Other suggested Hamburg activities include a fun harbor cruise, a visit to the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and a walk around town/lake.
The Miniatur Wunderland is so cool! Echoing the other responses to get there when it opens to beat the crowds. It was generally packed when I went, but people are pretty good about not hogging spots so you can check everything out. I'd allot at least three hours for everything, and maybe even a bit more. You can easily get lost watching certain sections, like the airplanes talking off in the airport area. There are fun Easter eggs like Pinocchio's nose extending so far it opens a door, or a car catching on fire, a fire truck driving over to it, and firefighters "putting out" the flames. The level of detail everywhere is phenomenal. I just wish the representation of the U.S. wasn't mostly the desert and Las Vegas, ha.
As for additional things to do, walk along the water and get a fish sandwich. Hamburg felt pretty condensed compared to other cities, so it's not too hard to get around, and I really enjoyed some of the architecture around the area.
Just to add more info. We arrive by train from Frankfurt around 10:45 and leave the next day at 16:30. Our back-stage tour is at 14:40 on arrival day. So, we have time before and after, though we have dinner reservations in the Portuguese quarter at 19:00. Hotel is Motel One, on Fleetinsel. One of the women knows Hamburg fairly well, so she is going to show us around a bit. If there was a morning harbor ride, though, I would take it! Or late at night with the lights.
Not sure how much the other 3 women want to spend the entire day at Wonderland, but I have been following them on FB for years and find it so charming and fascinating.
That's a very tight schedule. Hopefully it will work out. I wish you the best of luck
We visited M. Wonderland when it opened and for the first hour or so it was not crowded. We stayed for about 5 hours.
if you want to see it all, I’d give it at least half a day including the backstage tour. After that, just wandering the HafenCity and Speicherstadt area should be enough.
So for a harbour trip if you don't speak German (though I am guessing you do), Maritim Circle Line. It's a HOHO, so plan accordingly if you want to visit any of the stops. Otherwise for the German language ones simply ask where they go. The bigger the ship, the less they go into the canals. Or you can simply use your HVV or Deutschlandticket to ride the ferries around the harbour. No commentary or up close to the big ships, but hard to beat the price if you just want to see HH from the water.
For MW, I would budget a minimum of 3 hours. Depending on your level of interest and stamina, one could easily spend days and days. I find 3 hours and I am at my limit, but everyone is different. We are going on Thursday, and I haven't been in 2 years. My husband has somehow never been. We are going for the last 3 hours before closing, so hopefully it won't be as crowded, but we are automatically time limited. I can report back then.
As for what else you should do that is quintessentially Hamburg, the answer is obviously a musical. If you speak German, definitely try for Heiße Ecke--a musical about the Reeperbahn that has been running for many years. It has something like 70 characters played by 9 actors--really fun even if you don't speak much German, and super funny if you do. Or go with something like The Lion King if you want more traditional.
And of course the things to see in HH include sites like the Elphi (free to visit the observation deck and a very short ferry ride or walk from Landungsbrücken / harbor tours / MinWun), the Michel (visit the Krameramtstuben just behind it), the Nikolaikirche ruin / memorial (both churches easily walkable from Landungsbrücken and your hotel), the Alster (probably won't rent a boat in February, but you still need to at least see it, even if just a quick stop at Jungfernstieg/Rathaus) and if you have tons of time, the Treppenviertel and beach in Blankenese. Those are the things that I would recommend to most people, including those who live in Germany.
Also near where you are staying (between the Nikolai and the back of the Rathaus) are the Trostbrücke and Pudelhaus, the Altes Rathaus, and the Deichstraße. Be sure to pop into the alley between the houses, down to the water, and look at them from the Fleet.
