9 of the best places to stay in Hamburg

If you’re planning a trip to Hamburg, one of the most important choices is where to stay. Hamburg’s a large, spread out city with thousands of hotels, hostels and AirBnBs so choosing the best hotel in Hamburg for your trip makes a huge difference to how much you’ll enjoy your trip.

All the hotels, hostels, B&Bs and apartments below are tried and tested by me and my favourite travel blogger friends. Whatever you’re looking for from your accommodation, here are the very best places to stay in Hamburg.

Premier Inn Hamburg City Centre

The Premier Inn Hamburg City Centre is one of the best places to stay in Hamburg if you’re looking for a great combination of location, comfort and price, and it’s where I chose to stay on my trip to Hamburg.

The location is unbeatable for a short sightseeing break; just across the canal from the Speicherstadt, across the road from the Chilehaus and the Chocoversum chocolate experience, and within 15 minutes’ walk of the Elbphilharmonie, the City Hall (Rathaus) and the Alster lake. Getting around the rest of the city from this hotel is really easy too. Meßberg metro station is right outside and has good connections to St Pauli, the Hauptbahnhof and the airport.

The rooms at the Premier Inn are really comfortable, and the ones on the canal side have beautiful views over the Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie in the distance. I absolutely loved my stay at the Premier Inn Hamburg City Centre and would definitely recommend it to other visitors to Hamburg.

See my full review of the Premier Inn Hamburg City Centre and check prices on Booking.com

Westin Hamburg

If you’re looking for the best address in Hamburg, in an iconic building with stunning views in every direction, then the Westin is the best Hamburg hotel for you. This luxury hotel sits directly above the Elbphilharmonie in Hafencity, on the edge of the Speicherstadt and boasts a spa with 20-metre indoor pool, an exclusive lounge for guests and a restaurant.

At a regular rate of over £200 per night ($250) the Westin was too expensive for my budget trip to Hamburg, but luxury travel blogger Fernweh Sarah loved it so much she stayed there twice, and if you book early prices can be as low as £150 per night ($180). This hotel would be a perfect choice for a special occasion or romantic trip – lying in bed (or in the bath!) watching the sun set over the city would be an awesome experience.

Read more reviews of the Westin Hamburg hotel and check prices for your dates on Booking.com.

Superbude St. Pauli

Recommended by Taylor of Travel Outlandish

Superbude St. Pauli sits somewhere between hotel and hostel, but it’s anything but a standard version of either. The rooms are wallpapered with newspaper and construction nettings serves as the backboard to beds. There are plastic cones for lampshades and plungers for coat hangers. And the designers described it best, explaining the rooms are “the integration and misappropriation of local everyday objects and materials.”

There are hostel amenities like lockers and common spaces, but rather than dorm-style accommodation, rooms sleep two and six people and have an ensuite bathroom. And if you’re feeling especially ridiculous, they have a Rockstar Suite where you and five of your closest pals can share one very long bed.

The location is fantastic, right in the middle of the alternative neighbourhood of St. Pauli but closer to hip Sternschanze than the Reeperbahn red light district. And Hamburg isn’t your average city, so why stay in an average place? I can at least promise that Superbude St. Pauli is the antidote to average.

Read more from Taylor: Cool things to do in Hamburg

Check prices and see more reviews of Superbude St. Pauli Hotel and Hostel on Booking.com.

Hotel Atlantic Hamburg

Recommended by Stuart Forster of Go Eat Do

Hotel Atlantic Hamburg is and always has been a luxury hotel and one of the top places to stay in Hamburg. When the property opened in 1909 it served as a place of rest for passengers travelling first class on liners to and from North America.

The hotel has 221 guestrooms and suites. Overlooking the Alster Lake, it is within easy strolling distance of Hamburg’s upscale stores. If you’re staying here and don’t want to head outside, you could always spend time unwinding in the airy Energy Clinic Spa on the third floor.

Fans of James Bond movies may recognise the globe and sculpted figures on the Atlantic’s rooftop from Tomorrow Never Dies, filmed when Pierce Brosnan played 007.

If you enjoy local traditions and have had your fill of Labskaus, Hamburg’s culinary speciality, why not splurge on a bowl of lobster bisque in the hotel’s fine-dining Atlantic Restaurant? The delicious recipe dates from the year the hotel first opened its doors.

Read more reviews and check prices for the Hotel Atlantic Hamburg.

Best Western Premier Alsterkrug Hotel, Hamburg

Recommended by Tea from Culture Tourist

Best Western Premier Alsterkrug is a lovely hotel located in the Alsterdorf neighbourhood, in a northern part of Hamburg. Its location is very convenient for people travelling to Hamburg with a car or via the airport.

It’s a lovely hotel with a warm, homey feeling, but also with some great amenities and professional service. It’s the right choice for families visiting Hamburg because it has spacious rooms and an option of getting a baby crib into your room. It’s located in a quiet neighbourhood, just next to the River Alster and surrounded by nature. So, an excellent place for strolling around and exploring the city at a slower pace.

There is a restaurant on the ground floor that serves delicious breakfast and traditional German food throughout the whole day. The hotel also has a spa and fitness facilities. So, it could be an excellent hotel in Hamburg for couples. Prices start from 99 euros for a double room.

See more reviews of the Best Western Premier Alsterkrug hotel in Hamburg.

Generator Hostel

Recommended by Laura from Country Girl Explores

A fantastic place to stay in the heart of Hamburg is Generator Hostel. The hostel is situated right next to the main train station in St Georg which is one of the coolest and most central areas of Hamburg!

On the doorstep of excellent city-centre attractions such as Deichtorhallen, Landugsbruecken, Harbour City, the historic Speicherstadt or the famous Reeperbahn, it’s the ideal place to base yourself on a trip to Hamburg. Generator Hamburg also offers free walking tours every morning which is a great way to learn more about the city and to find your way around.

Generator Hostel is well suited to backpacking budget travellers, those travelling solo and the young at heart! The hostel has an awesome bar and chill-out area which is a great place to meet new international friends and to have some fun. The hostel has a great selection of dorm rooms, female-only dorms and private rooms so there is something to suit everyone.

Read more reviews and check prices for Generator Hostel Hamburg.

Meininger Hotel

Recommended by Frankie from As The Bird Flies

It’s fair to say I didn’t know what to expect when I booked to stay at the Meininger Hotel in Hamburg. Budget hotels aren’t really my style, especially those that also offer hostel-style dorm accommodation. However, within a few minutes of checking in to the Meininger Hotel in Hamburg, I realised this wasn’t a hostel, and it also wasn’t your typical no-frills budget hotel either. In fact, I would say it came with quite a few frills as it had very stylish and comfortable rooms and communal areas.

I stayed in a private double bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom. I had lots of room and slept very well. Breakfast was included and there was more than enough choice and food for me to fill up on before a busy day exploring.

The hotel is located in the Altona district and I could easily walk to the nearest S-Bahn station and in just a few stops I found myself in the famous Reeperbahn and St Pauli districts. I also enjoyed walking around the area finding some very cute cafes and shops that were nearly all only occupied by locals. Altona is also a great area to stay if you enjoy green spaces.

Aside from the decent breakfast, the high standard of service and cleanliness, my favourite thing about staying at the Meininger was how it was a hotel for all kinds of traveller from me, the solo female traveller, through to groups, couples and even families with small children. You can read a full review of Meininger Hotel in Hamburg here.

Check prices for the Meininger Hostel Hamburg.

Heikotel Hotel Am Stadtpark

Recommended by Kacie Morgan of The Rare Welsh Bit

If you’re looking for an affordable yet stylish place to stay relatively close to Hamburg city centre, consider staying at Heikotel Hotel Am Stadtpark in Winterhude.

One of six hotels and residential apartments owned by Heikotel in Hamburg, the hotel is conveniently located just a short walk away from the nearby Saarlandstraße U-Bahn station, Hamburg Stadtpark recreational ground, a traditional German cafe and a pub.

Inside, the decor is sleek and stylish and my room was equipped with everything I needed for my stay. The room rate also included a scrumptious all-you-can-eat continental breakfast buffet. The hotel also benefits from its own bar, fitness room and business facilities, making it ideal for anyone travelling for work or even just for a relaxing leisure stay.

Rooms are priced from just €89.50 per night, with a minimum stay of two nights.

Check prices and see more reviews of Heikotel Hotel Am Stadtpark on Booking.com.

Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

Recommended by Lydia from Africa Wanderlust

When you combine luxury with value and world-class service, you get Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten! This rustic upscale hotel overlooks the Aussenalster Lake. You will get to experience a Europen style 5-star hotel at its best. The hotels 156 rooms and suites are updated with the finest amenities a hotel of its calibre has to offer. Some of the luxury highlights include world-renowned international cuisines in its four magnificent restaurants and bars. Also, you will have access over 1000 square meters of the top of the line spa and fitness facility.

But wait, there is more! Each function room for events or meetings has traditional European inspired design that will take your breath away. Whether you are a tourist, business traveller, or planning a wedding, the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten will exceed your expectations.

The average daily price of a room is $260. That amount is a steal since similar luxury hotels in the same vicinity cost $100 more. Fairmont Hotel is indeed one of the best hotels in Hamburg. You get the best of both worlds – affordable plus luxury.

Read more reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten on Booking.com.

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Have you stayed in an amazing hostel or awesome hotel in Hamburg? Please tell me about it in the comments.