Experience Hip and Happening Nightlife in Hamburg

Where to go out in Hamburg

A big part of Hamburg's culture is embedded in its life after dark. Choose from discos, karaoke bars, and neighbourhood tours of themed bars or live music venues. Night life in St. Pauli is a must for travelers seeking excitement. Within this area, the Reeperbahn street is surely the most famous. (Take the S-Bahn to the Hamburg-Reeperbahn station or the U-Bahn to St. Pauli.) Though it's known as the city's red-light district, what many don't realize is that this stretch is home to both pubs and nightclubs aplenty, along with several cabarets and theatres. Expect an edgy vibe, casual to trendy dress depending whether visitors plan to hang out at the local bars or head to the more chic clubs, and no shortage of places to drink and dance.

Meanwhile, the Schanzenviertel feels much more bohemian. Take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to Sternschanze to access this part of nightlife in Hamburg. Here you can find low-key wine bars and good crowds for conversation. The area surrounding the Großneumarkt square also has plenty of options for more entertainment, including a range of pubs and cocktail bars.
For St. Georg night life, head to Lange Reihe, an upscale yet still eclectic street known for its multicultural eateries and affordable cocktail bars, for a fun, relaxed evening of Hamburg nightlife. This street, a key player in the night life of St. Georg (this district is sometimes known as the “Global Village") is unique in the city for its multicultural feel. The area is also easy to reach, given that it's serviced by both the S-Bahn and U-Bahn at the city's main train station, more commonly referred to as Hauptbahnhof.

Theatre in Hamburg

The English Theatre of Hamburg, just near the Mundsburg U-Bahn station, is the city's oldest English-language theatre. The stately Thalia Theater, meanwhile, in the heart of the city, offers a mix of international performances. The Hamburg State Opera, originally founded in 1678 (albeit in a very different and long-gone building) offers an incredible repertoire, from classic and contemporary opera to ballet, at an admirable, accessible price range (from four to 160 euros for tickets). Focusing on Hamburg, the St. Pauli Theater is the city's oldest private theatre, and one of its most sophisticated. Featuring a new premiere every month, the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, adjacent to the city's Main Station, is a classic, venerable institution, founded in 1900. With so many theatres, it's clear nightlife in Hamburg is about more than just bar-hopping.

What to know about going out in Hamburg

Note that the U-Bahn and S-Bahn train systems close around 01:00, re-opening at about 04:00 (be sure to check individual train timetables), but run all night on weekends and public holidays, making nightlife in Hamburg a snap in terms of public transportation.
There's no doubt that visitors enjoy the vibrancy and variety that nighlife in Hamburg has to offer. The international culture, plethora of languages you will hear and people you encounter while visiting this German harbour city will surely encourage you to head out after dark to take advantage of the local nightlife scene. Whether visiting a Hamburg discotheque or keeping it low-key at one of the city's jazz clubs or live music venues, visitors tend to be pleasantly surprised by the city's evening entertainments.

Author: Ricardo Carvalho

Guest Relation Manager of NH Collection Hamburg City

In Hamburg we say “Moin”! My name is Ricardo Carvalho and I'm a “Hamburg Jung” (Hamburg boy) with Portuguese roots. I was born here, and I live in and love Hamburg.
In order to share my enthusiasm for the city, I started training as a hotel specialist at the NH Hamburg Altona in 2007, and moved to the NH Collection Hamburg City in 2015.
With the philosophy of the NH Collection brand as well as the special service Guest Relations offers I have found my perfect job! I am always happy to show my guests the most beautiful city in the world and enjoy making their visit to Hamburg as memorable as possible.