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Speicherstadt
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Historical site
The Hamburg Speicherstadt is the world's largest historic warehouse complex, constructed between 1883 and 1927 on thousands of oak piles within the Hamburg port. The district was established as a free port zone to facilitate duty-free goods handling following the unification of Germany. Its architecture is defined by the Brick Gothic of the so-called Hanover School, featuring red brick facades, copper roofing, and delicate turrets. Intersected by numerous canals known as 'Fleets,' the layout allowed goods to be unloaded directly from barges into the warehouse floors using hydraulic winches. In 2015, the Speicherstadt, along with the adjacent Kontorhausviertel, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, the historic warehouses no longer exclusively house carpets, coffee, and spices, but also accommodate museums such as Miniatur Wunderland and various agencies. The preservation of this ensemble exemplifies the sensitive treatment of industrial cultural heritage in a modern metropolis. The area is linked to the old town and the new HafenCity by numerous historic bridges.
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Top sights: Sandtorpark · Pickhubenbrücke · Kannengießerbrücke
- Nearby: Altona (4 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Rain mm | 70 | 55 | 50 | 40 | 58 | 71 | 84 | 71 | 58 | 63 | 63 | 71 |
📋 Practical info
Address
Am Sandtorkai / Alter Wandrahm, 20457 Hamburg
Hours
24/7
Entry
free
Website
Transit
U3 to Baumwall or U4 to Überseequartier
Parking
Parking garages in Hafencity (approx. €3.50/hr), hardly any public parking.
Accessibility
Cobblestones hinder wheelchair access, bridges mostly have ramps.
Photos
Publicly allowed without restrictions, tripod use on bridges often necessary.
Best time
Blue hour or at night when the facades are illuminated.
Audio guide
no (various apps and guided tours available)
Geography
Facts
- Constructed on over 3.5 million oak piles
- UNESCO World Heritage site since 2015
- Total area of approximately 26 hectares in the port
- Construction period spanned from 1883 to 1927
- Home to the world's largest model railway museum
- Length of the warehouse complex is about 1.5 km
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Speicherstadt (10)
Kannengießerortbrücke
Bridge in Hamburg.
Hauptquartier der Pfefferkorner (Staffeln 1-4)
Attraction in Hamburg, filming location of the series.
Forum StadtLandKunst
Gallery in Hamburg.
Kaffeemuseum Burg🏛 museum
Café and roastery on ground floor, coffee museum in basement.
Glasgalerie Stölting
Gallery in Hamburg.
Galerie Hafenliebe
Gallery in Hamburg.
Sights nearby
Frequently asked questions
Is the Speicherstadt a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes, the Speicherstadt was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015, along with the Kontorhaus district and the Chilehaus.
When is the best time to visit?
The Speicherstadt is particularly atmospheric at dusk and at night, when the brick buildings and canals are illuminated.
Can you explore the Speicherstadt by boat?
Yes, during high tide, barges sail through the narrow canals (Fleete). At low tide, some canals are too shallow for boats.
Which museums are located in the Speicherstadt?
It is home to Miniatur Wunderland, the Hamburg Dungeon, Spicy's Spice Museum, and the Speicherstadt Museum on the district's history.
What does the name Speicherstadt mean?
Translated, it means City of Warehouses. It is the world's largest historical warehouse complex built on oak piles.
Speicherstadt: where is it located?
Speicherstadt is located in Hamburg, Germany.
Speicherstadt: what is there to see?
Highlights include Sandtorpark, Pickhubenbrücke, Kannengießerbrücke.
Speicherstadt: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Speicherstadt: why is it worth visiting?
The Hamburg Speicherstadt is the world's largest historic warehouse complex, constructed between 1883 and 1927 on thousands of oak piles within the Hamburg port.
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