Hamburg has lots of great museums to visit and if you’re looking to travel on a budget, or just keep the costs down, there are a couple of great free museums in Hamburg! While there aren’t too many that are completely free for everyone, this post will also include information on the Hamburg CARD which provides great discounts as well as museums that offer free entry on the first Thursday of every month!
Table of contents
I love visiting museums, it’s always one of the first things I look up to when travelling somewhere new. Here’s all you need to know about the best free museums in Hamburg and how you can save some money!
The BEST free museums in Hamburg: All you need to know
What you need to know
- How many museums are there in Hamburg? Hamburg has around 92 museums
- Are there many free museums in Hamburg? There aren’t many completely free museums in Hamburg, but there are lots that have free entry for those under 18 and most offer free entry on the first Thursday of the month!
Hamburg CARD
While it isn’t free to purchase, the Hamburg CARD is a great investment if you’ll be visiting lots of museums in Hamburg. It offers up to 50% off admission at nearly all of Hamburg’s top attractions including:
- Hamburger Kunsthalle – Hamburg Art Gallery
- International Maritime Museum
- The Rickmer Rickmers Museum Ship
- Speicherstadt Museum
- Spicy’s Spice Museum
In addition to this, the card also grants you free use of public transport as well as discounts to lots of other great Hamburg attractions, tours and even musicals.
Free entry on the first Thursday of the month
A lot of the most popular museums in Hamburg offer free entry for everybody on the first Thursday of every month. This is typically from 6-9 pm and was introduced to help make these spaces more accessible. It’s a great way to see some of the top attractions in Hamburg for free, here are some of the participating museums:
- Hamburger Kunsthalle – Hamburg Art Gallery
- Archäologisches Museum Hamburg – Hamburg Archaeological Museum
- Jenisch Haus – Jenisch House
- Museum der Arbeit – Museum of Work
- HSV Museum – Football Museum
Do be sure to check individual museums’ websites for the most up-to-date information and opening times.
Free entry for under 18s
If you’re visiting with family you’re in luck, a lot of the best museums in Hamburg offer free entry for those under 18! While it isn’t free for everyone, it can help keep the costs down if you’re in a group. Here are some of the best museums with this pricing:
- Hamburger Kunsthalle – Hamburg Art Gallery
- Archäologisches Museum Hamburg – Hamburg Archaeological Museum
- Altonaer Museum – Regional museum
- Museum der Arbeit – Museum of Work
- Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte – Museum for Hamburg history
Neuengamme concentration camp memorial
Once a brick factory and later a forced labour camp, Neuengamme bears witness to some of Hamburg’s darkest chapters. Formerly one of the largest concentration camps in Northwest Germany, it now stands as a permanent memorial, with a detailed exhibition chronicling the history of the site. This sombre but significant place serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remembering history. If you’re interested in this period of history, it’s one of the best free museums in Hamburg.
Museum of Nature
For me, the Museum of Nature tops the list of the best free museums in Hamburg. This museum offers three different exhibitions for visitors to explore: Zoology, Mineralogy, and Geology. From towering whale skeletons to meteorites from Mars, and even dinosaur fossils, the museum has a diverse collection to please everyone. Whether you’re into wildlife, rocks, or prehistoric wonders, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy!
Gedenkstätte Ernst Thälmann – Ernst Thälmann Memorial
Ernst Thälmann, former leader of the Communist Party in Germany, was a fierce opponent of the Nazi regime. He ran for president twice but was unsuccessful and later imprisoned under Nazi rule. His eventual execution turned him into a martyr for the resistance, and today, this memorial stands to keep his legacy alive. There are over 500 exhibits featuring lots of his personal artefacts telling his extraordinary life story. This is another one of the best free museums in Hamburg if you’re interested in political history.
Bishop’s Castle & Cathedral Square
Head back in time and see the foundations of the oldest surviving stone building in Hamburg. These foundations belong to a 12th-century tower, now known as the Bishop’s Castle, which is believed to have once served as a city gate. As well as showcasing the foundations the museum also features an exhibition on Hamburg’s archaeological past, bringing to life the city’s rich history and its many transformations over the centuries.
Summary
While there might not be too many completely free museums in Hamburg there are a lot of ways to get discounts and free entry at certain times of the month. Hamburg has so many great museums, there’s something for everyone and it’s definitely one of the best free things to do in Hamburg!
