Hamburg Card: Where to Buy and Is it Worth It?

Are you wondering if the Hamburg Card is worth it?

Wondering where you can buy the Hamburg Card for the best price?

In this blog post, we'll answer all your questions about this tourist card in Hamburg! 👇

Hamburg Card Benefits and Where to Buy

The Hamburg Card is a special card for tourists! It helps you save money when you visit museums, attractions, or take tours in the city.

Plus, it lets you ride on public transportation for free, from buses and trains to ferries.

You can choose between 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-Day cards. And prices range from €11.90 to €48.90 per single-person card.

Here's a list of some of the Hamburg Card discounts (click category to see full list):

Is a Hamburg Card Worth It?

Yes, the Hamburg Card is worth it. Some of these discounts might seem small at first, but if you plan to visit several top attractions in a day, you'll quickly save more than the €11.90 cost of the card.

For instance, if you're a museum enthusiast and you visit:

• the International Maritime Museum (saving €4),
• the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (saving €6)
• Kunsthalle Hamburg (saving €5),

You would have already saved what you paid for the Hamburg Card, and that's without even using the free public transport or shopping discounts included in the card.

In fact, the costs of taking public transport in Hamburg is known to be steep. And an all-day pass is already €8.80, which is covered by the Hamburg Card's free public transport feature. That makes the card well worth the price!

Of course, just remember to plan your day ahead to make the most of these savings.

Should You Get the Hamburg Card?

Whether you should get the Hamburg Card or not, depends on a few factors — how much you want to walk, the weather, what activities do you plan to do, etc.

Let's take a look at some of these factors.

How Much Do You Want To Walk?

If you're fine with a bit of exercise, you can actually reach many of Hamburg's main sights on foot.

But there's a good chance you'll find yourself wanting to use public transportation during your trip — it's simply more convenient and saves time.

That's one of the biggest advantages of the Hamburg Card. It gives you free access to Hamburg's public transportation system (HVV) — including subways, trams, buses and ferries making it easy to get around.

If your accommodation is further away from the city center (as some budget options are) or if you have little children, then you may want to take public transport to get to the key tourist spots quickly.

BUT if you enjoy exploring cities on foot and are staying close to attractions you want to visit, you might not need the free public transport offered by the Hamburg Card.

However, if you think you'll be using public transportation occasionally, like visiting the Reeperbahn or HafenCity, the Hamburg Card is a great choice.

By paying slightly more than what an all-day HVV ticket costs, you not only get unlimited public transport rides, but access to a range of fantastic discounts too, making the Hamburg Card a valuable investment. [1]

Is it Winter or Summer?

The time of year you're visiting Hamburg will affect how likely you'll want to travel on foot.

For example, if you're visiting Hamburg during the warmer summer months, you might be more inclined to explore the city on foot, and you might not use the free public transport as much.

However, if you're traveling during the the cold and rainy German winter, having the Hamburg Card can be a real lifesaver. You'll appreciate having the option to hop on public transport when it's freezing outside.

Plus, the Hamburg Card has good discounts on bike rentals and river cruises for those who want to explore different sides to Hamburg!

Where are you staying?

If you're staying in the city center (Altstadt), you'll find yourself right in the heart of Hamburg, with some attractions like Rathausmarkt within walking distance.

In that case, you may not need to rely much on public transportation, and the Hamburg Card might be less essential for you.

On the other hand, if you're looking to save money by staying outside the inner city or prefer a different neighborhood as your base, you'd probably find yourself using public transport more frequently to navigate the city.

In such cases, the Hamburg Card is better value for money, as it provides unlimited access to public transportation and discounts on top attractions.

How long are you in Hamburg for?

If you're planning a short visit, like just a day or a weekend in Hamburg, then the Hamburg Card is a practical choice.

That's because you'll likely be cramming a lot of activities with a short timeframe, so having the card will allow you to use public transport to get around quickly and save lots using the attraction discounts.

However, if you're staying in Hamburg for an extended period, like several weeks or more, then using Hamburg Cards to cover your entire stay can become costly.

It might not be worth getting the card for the entire duration of your trip. Instead, you could consider getting it for 1-5 days and using it on days when you plan to visit attractions with the discounts.

Your Hamburg Itinerary

If you've got a packed itinerary and can make the most of multiple attraction discounts and free public rides with the Hamburg Card, you can get more than your money's worth.

However, if your goal for your trip is to take things slow, you may not make full use of the card's benefits. Then it might not be the most cost-effective choice for you.

To help you decide, some of the best discounts include…

Museums and galleries:

• €7.50 off Hamburg Dungeon
• €6.00 off Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe
• €5.00 off Kunsthalle Hamburg
• €4.00 off International Maritime Museum
• €3.75 off the Chocoversum
• 15% off Dialogue in The Dark

Tours and experiences:

• Up to 40% off sightseeing tours
• Up to 25% off cruises
• Up to 20% off city tours
• 15% off Adventure World food tours
• 18% off bike rentals
• 17% off UNESCO World Heritage tour

Plus discounts on a number of shops around the city.

Hamburg is known to be a moderate pricey city, and most "budget" travelers can expect to spend around €11/day on transport and €15/day on sightseeing on average.

So for under €12 a day, the Hamburg Card is a steal.

So, should you get the Hamburg Card?

To sum it up, your decision to get the Hamburg Card should align with your travel plans and preferences.

If you're making a trip to Hamburg during the winter (or even the summer), plan to depend on public transport to get around, AND want to explore numerous attractions, the Hamburg Card is a great investment.

On the other hand, if you want a more leisurely trip, focused mostly on restaurants, cocktails, and relaxed strolls within the city, the card may not be the most cost-effective. You might consider getting it for just one day when it would provide the most value.

Ultimately, the Hamburg Card's value depends on how you intend to spend your time and whether its benefits match with your travel plans.