Alster Arcades

The Alsterarkaden (Alster Arcades) in Hamburg are a row of white arches along the Kleine Alster canal, a few steps from the Rathausmarkt. The elegant ensemble in Italian style was built after the Great Fire of 1842 and is one of the most photographed spots in downtown Hamburg. You can stroll beneath the arches, browse the shops and cafés or simply walk along the water and enjoy the view of City Hall.

History

Architect Alexis de Chateauneuf designed the arcades in an Italian style, with an emphasis on symmetry and round arches. The arcade itself was built from 1842 to 1843, after the Great Fire, and the five-story buildings behind it were finished by 1846. The corner building on Jungfernstieg dates from around 1900. The arcades are considered a prominent example of the architecture that emerged after the fire.

On December 31, 1989, an arson attack caused a fire, and one building burned out and was demolished. The original state had been restored in 1951, and the facade has stayed white. Tenants today include shops such as Wempe, Armani and Burberry. Since January 2025 the owner is Harm Müller-Spreer, who bought the arcades for 120 million euros after the Signa insolvency.

What to see

• The view from the Kleine Alster: the best view of the white arches is from the walk along the Kleine Alster toward the Rathausmarkt. Hamburg City Hall is easy to photograph from here.
• Details: look up as well: old lanterns, iron railings and gilded fish and tridents between the round arches are still there.
• Mellin Passage: between the arcades and the Neuer Wall shopping street lies the small Mellin Passage, Hamburg's oldest shopping passage. Its Art Nouveau wall and ceiling paintings survived.
• Shopping and breaks: under the arches you find small shops, restaurants and cafés, among them the Arkaden-Café with a large choice of cakes.

Planning your visit

Plan about 30 to 60 minutes for a walk along the arcades and through the Mellin Passage; this is our estimate. It combines well with Jungfernstieg, the Binnenalster lake and City Hall. If you want to shop, allow more time.

Admission and opening hours (as of October 2026)

The arcades by the water are free to visit. Shops, cafés and the Mellin Passage have their own opening hours, which we have not checked individually.

How to get there

The Alsterarkaden are in the Neustadt district, postcode 20354. From the Jungfernstieg U-Bahn station it is only about a five-minute walk. We could not confirm parking details.

Nearby

The Rathausmarkt with City Hall and the Jungfernstieg on the Binnenalster are right next door. The Alsterhaus department store is nearby, and Neuer Wall is the neighboring shopping street.