Filled with maritime flare, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and plenty of things to see and do, Hamburg is a fantastic city for tourists to visit. If you’re looking to keep costs down during your stay, look no further than the Hamburg CARD! Offering up to 50% discounts at many popular tourist spots and free travel around the city it’s the perfect accompaniment for your visit. Check out this guide for all you need to know!
From boat tours to escape rooms, and museums to bungee jumping experiences, the Hamburg CARD has a discount for every activity you could possibly want to do in the city. Keep reading to find out more about this great tourist card!
The Hamburg CARD: Your Ultimate Guide to Hamburg’s Tourist Card
What you need to know
- Is it worth getting the Hamburg CARD? If you know you’ll be visiting a lot of attractions it’s definitely worth it and will help you save money!
- Where can I get a Hamburg CARD? Online, at Hamburg tourist information centres and at ticket machines on U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations. I’ve listed them all below.
- How long is the Hamburg CARD valid? You can purchase a Hamburg CARD to be valid for up to 5 days.
What is the Hamburg CARD?
The Hamburg CARD is a tourist pass offered by Hamburg Tourismus GmbH which gives you discounts of up to 50% at over 150 attractions in the city as well as free use of public transport! It’s a fantastic money-saving option if you’re visiting the city, here’s a quick overview as well as information on some optional add-ons:
Hamburg CARD
Here’s what’s included with the Hamburg CARD
Public transportation:
- The Hamburg CARD allows free use of public transport (buses, trains, U-Bahn, S-Bahn) within the AB zone of the HVV (Hamburg Transport System). This area covers the entire city and the airport, so you won’t need to worry about accidentally heading outside it!
- You can also use 7 lines of the HADAG harbour ferries, note that these also act as public transportation and aren’t tour boats.
- While not free, the card does also give you a discount on the Hop-On, Hop-Off tour buses as well as some harbour boat trips.
- If you won’t be using public transportation during your stay you can also purchase the Hamburg CARD for a lower price without the free transport access.
Time scale options:
- The card is available as a 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or 5-day purchase
- Note that the ‘1-day’ option does not mean 24 hours, the card is valid between 12 am and 6 am the next day. This does not apply to cards covering multiple days.
Discounts:
- You’ll get Hamburg CARD discounts of up to 50% at over 150 tourist attractions. This includes museums, exhibitions, tours, musicals, theatre shows, and experiences. The full list can be found here.
The Maritime Upgrade
If you’re keen on setting sail from Hamburg’s port, take a look at what the Maritime Upgrade has to offer. It isn’t a separate discount card, but an additional add-on to the Hamburg CARD you can add during booking. The Maritime Upgrade gives you the following perks:
- A 1-hour harbour tour on the Elbreederei Rainer Abicht boat.
- Free entry to the Rickmer Rickmers Museum.
- Access to the ‘SOS in the harbour’ City Rally – think digital escape room. You make your way around the harbour solving puzzles and riddles on your phone.
The Gourmet Upgrade
If you’re a foodie it’s definitely worth checking out the Gourmet Upgrade option! Like the Maritime Upgrade, this isn’t its own card, but an additional add-on. The Gourmet Upgrade gives you the following benefits:
- Save up to 20% at over 100 bars, restaurants and cafes across the city.
- Discounted food tours and experiences
A full list of participating venues can be found here.
Travel Discounts
Acting as a Hamburg travel card, you’ll get free access to all public transportation covered by the HVV network (Hamburg transportation network) in the AB travel zone. This includes the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, buses and regional trains. These travel zones cover the entire city, including the airport, so you won’t need to purchase any additional tickets unless you’re heading out of the city.
With the Hamburg CARD, you also get free use of 7 lines on the HADAG harbour ferries. These aren’t harbour tours, they act as additional lines of public transportation through the city which is why they’re included.
If you won’t be using public transportation during your stay you can also purchase the Hamburg CARD for a lower price without the free transport access.
Tourist attraction discounts
The Hamburg CARD gives you discounts of up to 50% at over 150 attractions. These include museums, theatre and musical shows, exhibitions, experiences and city tours. The full list can be found here. Some highlights include:
- Chocoversum – Chocolate exhibition
- Elbphilharmonie Tour – A tour of the world-renowned concert hall
- Hamburg City Tours – Double-decker sightseeing bus
- The Hamburg Dungeons – Explore Hamburg’s gruesome past
- Hamburg Kunsthalle – One of the largest art museums in Germany
- Miniatur Wunderland – The world’s largest model railway
- Alster Boat Trips – Cruise along the Alster River
- Hamburg Town Hall – A tour of the incredible town hall
Where to buy a Hamburg CARD
You can get a Hamburg CARD in the following ways:
- Purchase your Hamburg CARD online
- At ticket machines on U-Bahn and S-Bahn platforms
- At the Hamburg tourist information centres in the central station (Hauptbahnhof), Jungfernstieg and Dammtor
- Via the Hamburg – Experience & Savings app
Hamburg CARD Price
The Hamburg CARD has the following costs. A ‘Single’ ticket is valid for 1 adult and 3 children (6-14 years). A ‘Group’ ticket is valid for up to 5 people of any age.
Prices correct as of December 2024
| 1-day | 2-day | 3-day | 4-day | 5-day | |
| Hamburg CARD + public transportation | Single – 11.90€ Group – 20.90€ | Single – 21.90€ Group – 37.90€ | Single – 31.90€ Group – 52.90€ | Single – 41.90€ Group – 69.90€ | Single – 48.90€ Group – 86.90€ |
| Hamburg CARD & no public transportation | Single – 4.50€ Group – 6.90€ | Single – 7.50€ Group – 9.90€ | Single – 9.90€ Group – 10.90€ | Single – 12.50€ Group – 13.90€ | Single – 13.50€ Group – 16.90€ |
The Gourmet Upgrade is available for 2€ per day for a single and 4€ per day for a group ticket.
The Maritime Upgrade is available for 19€ for an adult + 10€ per additional child on a single ticket for one day or from 19€ on a group ticket for a single day. The price is dependent on how many days, the number of people and which ticket you’re getting so it’s easier to check when booking.
Summary
If you’re planning to visit a lot of Hamburg’s best tourist attractions, the Hamburg CARD is essential for saving money! The free use of public transportation makes getting around the city a synch, all you have to do is enjoy your stay in the historical city Hamburg is!
If you’re still looking for more information you can find some frequently asked questions here!
