10 Best Family Things to Do in Hamburg

Miniatur Wunderland is home to thousands of miniature models of prominent cities, railway systems, ports, and airports. Everything you see here is made in great detail and even moves like its real-life counterparts. The museum’s model railway exhibit is one of its most popular attractions, where you can see tiny locomotives cruising around the 15,400-metre-long track. 

There’s also a replica of Hamburg in Miniatur Wunderland, featuring 50,000 human figurines and notable attractions such as Hagenbeck Zoo, Hamburg Central Station, and St. Michaelis Church. Adults and kids can take their time exploring this indoor museum, making it one of the best things to do with your family in Hamburg. 

Lake Alster is a 160-hectare lake 300 metres from Bucerius Kunst Forum that’s divided into the Außenalster (Outer Alster) and the Binnenalster (Inner Alster). It’s surrounded by beautiful villas and lush parks with winding paths for cyclists and joggers. On sunny days, locals often enjoy activities like peddling a paddleboat and kayaking on this vast lake. Lake Alster often freezes over during wintertime, turning it into one of the largest ice-skating rinks in the city. The Jungfernstieg promenade is home to department stores, luxury boutiques, cafés, and restaurant overlooking the water.

Tierpark Hagenbeck, founded in 1907, is home to over 1,800 animals from around the world. Aside from getting close to rare wildlife, visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities such as daily pony rides and animal feedings, as well as miniature train rides and seasonal educational programmes. The zoo’s Eismeer exhibit spans 8,000 sq m, and you can see penguins, walruses and polar bears there. Another must-visit is the Tropical World Adventure Aquarium, which displays over 14,000 exotic animals in manmade pools, tanks, and caves.

Bäderland Festland is a swimming club and sauna located on the northern edge of Walter-Möller Park. Dinoland is its onside children’s playground that spans 900 sq m, featuring gigantic models of dinosaurs, manmade caves, water slides, and wading pools. It's one of the most popular things to do with your family in Hamburg – while the kids enjoy some fun in the wading pools, parents can soak in the spa pool or opt for a massage for a few euros.

The U-434 submarine is a fully-functional war machine near Hamburg’s Fischmarkt. The landmark is also called the U-Boat Museum, where you can climb through the airlock doors and visit its crew quarters, engine and torpedo rooms. If you want to learn more about the history and specifications of the submarine, you can pay a few euros extra for a guided tour.

Loki Schmidt Garten is a 25-hectare botanical park located next to the University of Hamburg. It features themed gardens with plants imported from China and Japan, as well as over 80 colourful and varied flowerbeds. Visiting the greenhouse is a popular thing to do with your family in Hamburg. The complex has 5 dedicated spaces for cacti, ferns, and seeds, as well as subtropical and tropical plants. Admission to the Loki Schmidt Garten is free of charge, making it a popular place for relaxation all year long.

KL!CK Kindermuseum is one of the many things to do with your family in Hamburg. It's an interactive playground with a variety of activities and exhibitions. Children between 4 and 14 years old can learn how to print money, cook in a kitchen, and even work on a construction site. It also has a science centre where they can learn interesting facts about human anatomy through gigantic models, experiments, and workshops. Tickets cost around about €4.50 per person and €15 per family.

Chocoversum is Hamburg's chocolate factory and museum where you can make a memorable and delicious stop on your Hamburg holiday. Enter the quaint, old-fashioned brick building to learn about the history of chocolate-making and the process from bean to bar.

Chocoversum offers tours in German and English led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides. The tour is a treat for the senses as you see chocolate beans stored in huge glass cases and taste samples along the way. Kids will especially love the opportunity to decorate their own chocolate bar. Visit the gift shop for tons of tasty treats and different chocolate creations that you can take home.

Elbstrand is a public beach in Hamburg where you can spend a pleasant day relaxing. Your experience begins with a ferry ride with views of houses dotting the coast, together with ships and cranes. Enjoy the selection of activities available at this oasis such as swimming, volleyball, and Kubb, a lawn game that seemingly combines bowling and horseshoes. When you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by one of the restaurants for fish and chips or coffee and cake.

Bring a picnic to enjoy while you soak up the sun with family, friends, and even your dog. Use your Hamburg Card to access the ferry or park on the street, walk about 500 metres then go down a steep staircase to the sand.

Visit the Hamburg Dungeon for a memorable holiday experience, if you dare! Be prepared to be scared and entertained by the professional actors who put on impressive shows based on the city's darkest moments in history. Expect exciting special effects, thrilling frights, and moments of laughter while events like the Black Plague and the Inquisition are relived.

Hamburg Dungeon's tour is a little over an hour and suitable for the whole family, even children, as it is more thrilling than terrifying. You’ll love the interactive parts of the walkthrough show that you will see, hear, feel and even smell.