Old Elbe Tunnel

The Old Elbe Tunnel (Alter Elbtunnel, officially St. Pauli Elbtunnel) in Hamburg has carried people beneath the Elbe River since 1911. You ride vintage elevators down a domed shaft, walk through two tiled tubes about 24 meters (80 feet) below the surface, and come up on the harbor island of Steinwerder with one of the best skyline views in the city. It is free, open around the clock and one of the most unusual things to do in Hamburg.

Where it is and how to get there

The northern entrance sits in a domed stone building at the west end of the St. Pauli Piers (Landungsbrücken), on the Elbe waterfront. From Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, take the S1 or S3 S-Bahn or the U3 subway to Landungsbrücken station, a ride of just a few minutes, then walk along the piers to the dome. The S1 also runs direct from Hamburg Airport. Local trains are part of the HVV network, and the Deutschlandticket is valid. There is practically no parking at the entrance, so leave the car behind.

Why it matters

In the late 1800s, Hamburg's port expanded onto the south bank of the Elbe, and tens of thousands of dock and shipyard workers had to cross the river every day. Ferries struggled with the crowds and with fog, storms and ice. The answer was a tunnel with vertical shafts and elevators, a solution that needed very little space on the crowded riverbanks.

Construction started on July 22, 1907, with about 4,400 workers digging under compressed air; three of them died of decompression sickness. The tunnel opened on September 7, 1911 and was celebrated as a feat of engineering. When a new highway tunnel opened downstream in 1975, locals began calling this one the "old" tunnel. It is a protected monument and was named a Historic Landmark of Civil Engineering in Germany in 2011.

What to see

• The domed shaft building: About 22 meters (72 feet) across inside, with a gallery overlooking the elevator shaft.
• Historic elevators: Six elevators per shaft descend about 23.5 meters. The large wooden-paneled cages once carried cars and other vehicles; today glass passenger elevators and stairs run alongside them.
• Two tubes: Each is roughly 426 meters (1,400 feet) long, lined with glossy white tiles that create a striking vanishing-point view.
• Tunnel animals: 167 small ceramic reliefs of fish, crabs, mussels, rats and even discarded everyday objects decorate the walls. They were restored or recreated during the recent renovation.
• Steinwerder viewpoint: On the south side, step to the waterfront for a panorama of the St. Pauli Piers, St. Michael's Church and the Elbphilharmonie.

Renovation complete

After decades of wear, the Hamburg Port Authority carried out a long restoration. The east tube reopened in April 2019, and since May 4, 2026 both tubes are open to the public again, with around 360,000 new tiles laid in each tube.

Opening hours and tips

As of October 2026, pedestrians and cyclists can use the tunnel 24 hours a day, free of charge. The only closure is on New Year's Eve, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Stairs and passenger elevators run at all times, while the large freight elevators operate Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Private cars have not been allowed through since 2019.

Walking one way takes 10 to 15 minutes. Allow about an hour for the round trip with photos and the view from Steinwerder. Thanks to the elevators, the tunnel works with strollers and wheelchairs.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially if you are already at the St. Pauli Piers. It costs nothing, takes little time and combines engineering history with a great photo spot. Pair it with a ride on a HADAG harbor ferry, the Sunday-morning Altona Fish Market or an evening on the nearby Reeperbahn.