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1-Hour Illumination Cruise in Hamburg

Hamburg Harbour Illumination Cruise Tour showcasing a vibrant sunset over the city skyline with lit-up boats on the water
Evening view of illuminated Hamburg Harbour during a cruise tour.
Hamburg Harbour night cruise with illuminated cityscape and iconic Elbphilharmonie in view.
Evening view of illuminated Hamburg Harbour during a cruise tour.

Set sail on a magical sunset cruise through Hamburg Harbour. Float past the historic warehouses of Speicherstadt and HafenCity, and learn all there is to know about the port with the help of live commentary by a friendly and knowledgeable expert.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a romantic evening cruise through Hamburg Harbour, glittering with city lights.

  • Take in the panoramic views of the entire city and marvel at illuminated attractions, as you peacefully cruise along the river Elbe.

  • Sail through the port’s sea of life and be amazed by the buzz of activity around the massive container terminals.

  • Explore the historic warehouse district of Speicherstadt and the contemporary Hafen City where you can witness the Elbphilharmonie in all its glory.

  • With live German commentary on board, stay up to date with facts and stories about Hamburg’s wonderful culture and history.

  • Enjoy a free audio guide in English for additional context on the cruise. Download from Google Play Store or App Store./a>

Exclusions

  • Hotel Transfers

  • Food and Drinks

  • Additional Gratuities


Live Commentary

In German

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

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Frank Tyson

Frank

3/5

Oct, 2023

Cruise was lovely but it got quite fogged up inside. There wasnt any instructions for non-german speakers given and the link to the audio guide from the headout app didn't work. I had to manually search the cruise company and find it and then search for a QR code on the ship. The guide itself was ok but kept glitching and repeating the same sections. Could have just been a better overall experience, but the cruise itself was great if you went onto the outside deck.

As the sun dips beneath a golden horizon, your cruise will set sail from St. Pauli Piers through an illuminated Hamburg Harbour. This late evening cruise will give you a whole new perspective on the largest seaport in all of Germany. While the port presents itself as a striking image of urbanization and development, it also, much like Venice, has a labyrinth of canals, inducing a feeling of medieval times. Hamburg owes much of its worldly character to the mighty Elbe, the river on which the port is situated.

From the historic and splendid red-brick warehouses of Speicherstadt to the architectural masterpieces of HafenCity, this is a place where history meets modernity. You will get to see the Zollkanal, Wasserschloss and the International Maritime Museum. As you cruise along, admire the Marco Polo Tower and the impressive Elbe Philharmonic Hall with its glassy and opalescent exterior. No other city in all of Europe has as many bridges as Hamburg does. Explore the numerous structures over water, canals, channels, busy locks and container terminals, the Köhlbrand Bridge, and much more on your magical one-hour cruise of the harbor.

Schedule

The route is tide dependent. For this reason, departure timings will vary depending on the sunset and tidal calendar. Please contact the harbor tour pavilion (kiosk) at the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, bridge 1 at the top of the promenade for details on vessels, departure points, and timings.

Duration: 1 hr

Accessibility

  • The passenger ships MS RIVER STAR and MS HAMBURG as well as the paddle wheeler MS LOUISIANA STAR can be accessed barrier-free via a gangway and have corresponding sanitary facilities. Due to the conditions on-site, no information can be provided in advance regarding the exact time the above ships are used in the harbour cruise (no fixed departure times).

  • The luxury barges, as well as the traditional barge, can not be accessed barrier-free.

Important Information

  • For audio guides, download from Google Play Store or App Store. You are welcome to bring your own headphones or purchase some on site.

  • Note: If you want to cruise through the Speicherstadt, you should opt for the barge as the bridges in the Speicherstadt region are too low for the large passenger ships to get through.

  • Tours to the Speicherstadt (warehouse district) are dependent on the water levels. It is not possible to cruise through the narrow waterways during high and low water levels.

  • Ensure you carry your passports or a valid ID card for proof.

  • Weapons and sharp objects are not allowed onboard the cruise.

  • Outside food not allowed!

  • Please note that all harbour cruises aboard little barges are subject to the tide.

  • The boats will have an open or closed glass roof depending on the weather conditions.

  • Transportation of wheelchairs is only possible on a large passenger ship. Make sure you inform in advance in case of any requirement.

  • Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly after purchase.

  • Please display the same along with a valid photo ID at the time of redemption.

  • Kindly ensure that you arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time to avoid any delays.

Ticket Redemption Point

  • Redeem your voucher at St. Pauli Landing Stages Bridge 1 in case you opt for the barges and Bridges 4 in case of passenger ships.

  • Please meet at the supplier's sales pavilion on the promenade, and not at the water's edge.

  • St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, Bridge 1 is located at the top of the promenade (pavilion) and St. Pauli Landunsgbrücken, Bridge 4, can be found directly below the water.

  • You will receive the access code directly from the staff on-site when boarding, or on the brochures laid out on-site.

Get Directions to the Ticket Redemption Point

Getting There

  • These Bus lines stop near St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken: 112.

  • These Subway lines stop near St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken: U3.

  • These S-Bahn lines stop near St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken: S1, S3.

Validity

These tickets are valid for the date and time selected during the booking.

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