Passende Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu hamburg
HafenCity is Hamburg's newest district, and it can be explored entirely on foot. This route takes you from the edge of Speicherstadt to Baakenhafen in seven stops, with planned breaks. Allow a good two hours, or a full morning if you're with children. The route follows the water from west to east.
Stop 1: Speicherstadt at the Edge
The walk begins at the transition between Speicherstadt and HafenCity. Strictly speaking, the brick warehouses and canals are no longer part of HafenCity, but they are the best starting point. A glance from one of the bridges is enough for a first impression. If you want to delve deeper, save that for the way back.
Stop 2: Elbphilharmonie Plaza
From Speicherstadt, it's just a few minutes to the Elbphilharmonie. The Plaza is the public viewing platform of the building, and the view is free. You'll see the harbor, the Elbe, and the city all around. A circular path leads around the outside of the building. Bring a jacket, as it's almost always windy by the water. At peak times, there may be a queue. An early start or some patience will help then.
Stop 3: Marco Polo Terraces
From Kaiserkai, you walk along the water to the Marco Polo Terraces. The wooden and grassy steps open onto Grasbrookhafen. This is the first built-in break: sit down, look at the water, do nothing. You can get coffee nearby; the terraces themselves are simply public space.
Stop 4: Grasbrookpark with a Relaxation Stop
Directly behind the terraces is Grasbrookpark, a green park with a large playground. For families, this is the longest stop on the route, so plan plenty of time here. Everyone else will find meadows and benches.
If you want a break from the hustle and bustle, you'll find it right by the park: The NAIPO Relax Lounge is located at Am Grasbrookpark 1. You book a private, air-conditioned room with a massage chair online, which can also be done spontaneously from your phone. You remain dressed and don't need to prepare anything. Next to it, there's a "Light" area as an open space. What's bookable is shown in the Relax Lounge overview. If you're interested in the chairs themselves, you can try them out in the same store. After that, you continue; half the route is still ahead of you.
Passende Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu hamburg
Stop 5: Überseequartier
Further east lies the Überseequartier, the commercial center of HafenCity. Shops, restaurants, lots of activity. Honestly: If you're looking for peace and quiet, walk through quickly. Nevertheless, the quarter is practical, as you'll find toilets, places to eat, and everything else that's usually missing on a route here.
Stop 6: Lohsepark and Hannoverscher Bahnhof Memorial
Lohsepark is the large green axis of HafenCity, wide, open, and significantly quieter than the district before it. In the park is the Hannoverscher Bahnhof Memorial. It commemorates the people who were deported from this station during the Nazi era. Take a few minutes for this. It is not a place to rush through, and it is part of this route.
Stop 7: Baakenhafen with Play Island
Finally, the path leads to Baakenhafen, the eastern end of the route. In the harbor basin, there is an artificial play island with a playground and meadows, connected by a bridge. For children, the island is the second major playground stop on the route. Everyone else sits by the water and looks at the harbor basin instead of shop windows. A train station for the return journey is not far.
If you have more time
Explore Speicherstadt in depth. On the way back, a loop through the canals and over the bridges is worthwhile. It's most beautiful at dusk when the facades are illuminated.
International Maritime Museum. The museum is located in a historic Kaispeicher in the heart of HafenCity and easily fills half a day.
Continue to the Elbbrücken. From Baakenhafen, you can extend the promenade eastward. At the end, a view of the Elbbrücken and a train station for the return journey await you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the route suitable for strollers?
Yes. HafenCity is flat and consistently well-paved, and the promenades are wide. Stairs can usually be avoided. Only in Speicherstadt are there sections with cobblestones. Grasbrookpark and the play island are easily accessible with a stroller.
How long does the walk take?
With breaks, you'll need a good two hours. With playground stops and a museum visit, it can take a morning or more. The route can be shortened at any stop, as the nearest train station is never far away.
Do I need to plan the break in the Relax Lounge in advance?
No. Appointment booking is done online and also works spontaneously on the go. How a visit proceeds is described in the Relax Lounge Guide.
Passende Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu hamburg
Written by NAIPO Editorial Team · Massage & Product Experts from Hamburg
Product experts, service technicians, and massage enthusiasts at Alsterwell GmbH — specializing in massage technology for over a decade, with our own workshop and showrooms for test sitting.
Fact-checked by David Eberst · Mitgründer von NAIPO
