Transportation in Hamburg
Coach
Hamburg's MetroBus and CityBus service cover the city centre and most outer districts. Buses are good if you want to watch while travelling, but are especially handy at night. There are several lines that run throughout the night, connecting most districts from the central start and interchange point at Rathausmarkt. Buy your ticket from the driver.
Foot
Walking is the best way to get around the Altstadt and St Pauli. Wander along the banks of the Aussenalster lake, in the northeast, or stroll westwards along a quiet patch of the River Elbe, starting from Museumshafen Oevelgönne.
Taxi
Hamburg's beige Mercedes taxis are instantly recognisable. Hail one on the street, or call the central taxi office on +49 (0) 40 66 66 66 to arrange one in advance. Taxi drivers expect a tip of 5-10%.
Underground
Hamburg's extensive U-Bahn and S-Bahn network is the quickest and most reliable way to get around the city. The underground U-Bahn trains and the overground S-Bahn trains share stations and tracks. Buy a ticket from a yellow machine on the platform. Trains run until around 12.30am from Monday till Thursday and all night on weekends.
Rent your car
You can drive swiftly into Hamburg via several motorways that fan into the city. As you approach the city centre, you’ll see electronic signs indicating parking spaces at various car parks. These are also colour coded into red for Mönckebergstrasse, yellow for the Jungfernstieg and green for the Port area.
Transportation tips
Hamburg's public transport is fully integrated: A ticket allows you to travel on U-Bahn, S-Bahn and on buses. Unless you want to venture into the outer suburbs, Zone A is all you need. An All-Day Ticket (Tageskarte) allows unlimited travel for a day. The Hamburg Card, issued by Hamburg Tourism, offers free travel across the city's public transport, as well as free or reduced admission to many of Hamburg's sights and museums.
Hamburg Transport Association (Hamburger Verkehrsverbund) website
