The Best Tips for Every Stop
1. Central Station / Kirchenallee
Start the Historicus City Tour here on our Top Tour Line D – an exciting audio story for time travelers of all ages. Together with Historicus, children can explore Hamburg’s history, famous figures, and the city’s most important events in an entertaining way.
2. Spitalerstraße
The car-free Spitalerstraße and Mönckebergstraße make up Hamburg’s largest shopping district. If shopping is on the agenda, children will find plenty of toy and book stores. Culture lovers can also easily reach the following on foot:
- Hamburger Kunsthalle (Art Museum) (about 5 minutes)
- Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (Museum of Arts and Crafts) (about 5 minutes)
- Deichtorhallen (one of Europe’s largest art centers, dedicated to contemporary art and photography) (about 5 to 12 minutes)
3. Holzdamm
From here, you and your family can set out on a cruise around the Alster. The cruises take you along the Inner and Outer Alster, past villas, parks, and sailboats—a relaxing boat tour for all ages.
4. Dammtor
From the Dammtor stop, walk about 3 minutes southwest to reach Planten un Blomen, one of Hamburg’s most beautiful parks. Children can explore the unique Bullerberge playground with its climbing hills, tunnels, suspension bridges, and slides; splash around in the water play area with fountains and waterways in the summer; or take a stroll through the Japanese Garden.
5. Fontenay
Steig hier aus und genieße einen Spaziergang entlang der Außenalster. Der Weg führt durch Hamburgs grüne Lunge mit vielen Wiesen, Enten, Schwänen und kleinen Spielmöglichkeiten – ideal für eine Pause mit Kindern.
6. Alster
There’s plenty to discover around the Outer Alster: watch sailboats, count swans, enjoy an ice cream, or just play on the big lawns. If you’d like, you can rent a pedal boat for the whole family.
7. Blaue Moschee (Blue Mosque)
The stop is located right on the Outer Alster and is especially suitable for families with young children. Heading toward Alsterperle (Stop 8), you’ll find a series of playgrounds, large green spaces, and places to sit. While the kids play, you can enjoy the view of the Alster or take a break with ice cream, coffee, or a small snack. You can also spot swans, ducks, sailboats, and stand-up paddlers along the shore.
8. Alsterperle (Cafe)
The Alsterperle stop is an ideal spot for families with young children. Along the green lakeside path on the Außenalster toward the Hotel Atlantic on Holzdamm, you’ll find several playgrounds, large grassy areas, and plenty of opportunities to take a relaxing break. Children can watch swans and ducks, spot boats on the Alster, and enjoy an ice cream or snack along the way.
9. Valentinskamp
From the Valentinskamp stop, you can reach Planten un Blomen Park in about 8–10 minutes on foot. Head southwest along Jungiusstraße to the park. Kids love the Bullerberge playground with its climbing hills, tunnels, and slides, as well as the water play area in the summer. There are many restaurants and casual spots around Valentinskamp where you can stop for lunch with the kids.
10. Neuer Jungfernstieg
The perfect starting point for a leisurely stroll along the Binnenalster, where traffic is kept to a minimum. Kids love the new play areas with trampolines, a dancing carillon, and a misty water play area. The Alster Fountain is sure to amaze visitors. Sitting on the benches along the shore, little explorers can get up close to the elegant seagulls—a special experience that includes ice cream, a break, and a view of the water.
11. Rathaus / Schlemmermarkt (City Hall / Food Market)
Right at the stop, you’ll find newsstands, cafés, and quick snacks for a short family break. Start your visit to the Europa Passage from here, where you’ll find plenty of shops, ice cream parlors, and storefronts to explore. A little hidden gem for kids is the large bookstore across the street – perfect for browsing and reading.
12. Rathaus (City Hall)
The vast Rathausmarkt (City Hall Market), home to Hamburg’s impressive City Hall, is a fascinating stop for families. Children can explore the magnificent facade, the large courtyard, and the many statues at City Hall. There are plenty of places nearby to take a break: cafés, bakeries, snack bars, and public restrooms. In the nearby Europa Passage, there are also many store windows, ice cream shops, and a large bookstore to browse.
13. Rödingsmarkt
Explore the historic Alsterfleete (Alster Canals) with your children. From the bridges, you can watch the boats go by and take great photos. The nearby Fleetinsel (fleet: that’s slow german and means tidal watercourse island) is the perfect spot for a peaceful stroll. For older children, St. Nikolai Church – a memorial to World War II – is a fascinating place to discover Hamburg’s history.
14. Michel (Church St. Michaelis)
Hamburg’s St. Michael’s Church is a highlight for families. Take the elevator up to the observation deck—from here, children can explore the harbor, the Elbe River, and the many ships. Nearby is the Museum of Hamburg History (about a 5-minute walk), featuring fascinating ship models and stories about Hamburg.
15. Hamburg DOM
The Summer- and Winter-DOM-amusement rides on Heiligengeistfeld are about a 15-minute walk away- a great destination for families with children.
What is the Hamburg DOM ? It is the largest folk festival in northern Germany and a huge fair that takes place three times a year (in spring, summer, and winter) at the central Heiligengeistfeld in St. Pauli.
16. Reeperbahn
Get off at the Reeperbahn stop and discover the family-friendly side of St. Pauli. Right across the street is the famous Davidwache, arguably the smallest police station in the world. Just a few steps further on, the Panoptikum awaits you with its lifelike wax figures of celebrities, athletes, and historical figures.
Starting in fall 2026, Spielbudenplatz will gain a new attraction: the LIGHTHOUSE, an impressive immersive 3D screen. Spectacular three-dimensional animations make the screen a real eye-catcher for young and old alike. And if you get hungry along the way, there are plenty of places around Spielbudenplatz to grab a quick bratwurst or fries before continuing on your city tour.
17. Hafenstraße
From the bus stop on Hafenstraße, it’s just a short walk uphill to Park Fiction. There you’ll find surreal-looking plastic palm trees, a large lawn with a view of the Port of Hamburg, and a basketball court – perfect for a quick break or a spontaneous game if you have a ball with you.
If you follow Hafenstraße westward, you’ll reach the fish market. For families who like to start their day early, a visit is especially worthwhile on Sunday mornings between 7:00 and 9:30 a.m.: That’s when the market criers, stalls, and the lively hustle and bustle create a true Hamburg atmosphere.
18. Landungsbrücken
At the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, the boats for harbor tours depart—a trip on the water is a real highlight for many children. There are also plenty of places to grab a snack and restrooms right on site.
The Old Elbe Tunnel is right next door. You can take the historic elevators down under the Elbe for free and walk through the 426-meter-long tunnel to the other side of the river. If you’re looking for a quieter break, walk a few minutes east from the Landungsbrücken, past the Landungsbrücken subway station, into the Portugieser Quarter—there are plenty of restaurants there.
19. Baumwall
At Baumwall, you can enjoy a wonderful walk along the water with your children, with a direct view of the Elbphilharmonie. The wide path leads all the way to the Elbphilharmonie without crossing any streets—making it easy to navigate with a stroller and ideal for younger children.
From the Baumwall U-Bahn and S-Bahn station, walk about 5 minutes along Kajen Street by the water to the Eiscafé am Kran.
20. Auf dem Sande
Get off at the “Auf dem Sande” stop and follow in the footsteps of the popular children’s series “Die Pfefferkörner”. The historic Speicherstadt is one of the series’ main filming locations. Numerous exciting cases were filmed among the old brick warehouses—with a little luck, you’ll recognize familiar locations and can go on your own little detective tour.
Just a few steps away, two of Hamburg’s most popular attractions await: Miniatur Wunderland (Miniature Wonderland) and the Hamburg Dungeon. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll back to the stop and continue on your city tour.
21. Am Kaiserkai
Get off at the Am Kaiserkai stop and walk across the Mahatma Gandhi Bridge to the Elbphilharmonie. The short walk takes you right through HafenCity and offers great views of the harbor basins, ships, and modern architecture.
After just a few minutes, you’ll reach the Elbphilharmonie (Concert Hall). Even the curved, 82-meter-long escalator leading up to the Plaza is a real highlight for kids. Once you reach the top, a fantastic panoramic view of the harbor, the Speicherstadt, and the Elbe awaits you.
22. Überseequartier
There’s plenty for families to discover around the Überseequartier stop on Line D. On one side, Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier impresses with its modern architecture, numerous stores, and exciting glimpses into the new HafenCity. You can take a break by the water and enjoy the view of the harbor basins and passing ships.
On the other side of the station, Grasbrookpark (Grasbrook Park), with its water playground, invites you to splash around, play, and explore—a real highlight for kids on warm days. The family dog is also welcome to come along and explore the green spaces. Meanwhile, parents can treat themselves to a little break with a coffee or a snack from the bakery around the corner.
23. Osakaallee
At the Top-Tour stop on Osakaallee, the view opens up from modern HafenCity into Hamburg’s maritime history. Just a few steps away stands the impressive Kaispeicher B – one of the city’s oldest surviving warehouse buildings and now home to the International Maritime Museum. Across nine decks, children and adults alike can discover the fascinating world of ships, the seas, and seafaring.
For young explorers, there’s an exciting scavenger hunt with Captain Kuddel: Through puzzles and search tasks, they’ll playfully make their way through the museum, past impressive ship models and maritime treasures. Attractive family tickets are available for families.
24. St. Annen
The St. Annen stop is located right in the heart of the historic Speicherstadt. There’s plenty to discover among the imposing brick buildings – exciting photo opportunities, small bridges, and the unique atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site make for a memorable stroll for the whole family.
Since the St. Annen stop is served only infrequently by Line D, families are advised to get off at the Osakaallee stop. From there, the highlights of the Speicherstadt and many attractions are easily accessible—ideal for a relaxed exploration with children.