Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg is one of the world's most spectacular concert halls and the city's modern landmark. A shimmering glass structure with a wave-shaped roof rises from an old brick warehouse on the Elbe River, and its public viewing platform, the Plaza, offers sweeping views of Germany's largest port. You do not need a concert ticket to visit, but since October 2026 access to the Plaza is no longer free. Here is what to know before you go.

Where it is and how to get there

The Elbphilharmonie stands at the western tip of the HafenCity district in Hamburg, northern Germany, next to the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district.

• Subway: take the U3 to Baumwall, then walk about ten minutes across the bridge.
• From Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (central station): the U3 reaches Baumwall in a few minutes.
• From Berlin: fast trains connect the two cities in under two hours.

Parking in the building is limited, so public transportation is the easier choice.

The story behind the building

The base is Kaispeicher A, a warehouse built in the 1960s. Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron designed the glass superstructure on top. Construction started in 2007 and became notorious for delays and costs: instead of the planned €77 million, the final bill reached about €866 million. The Plaza opened in November 2016, and the inaugural concert was held on January 11, 2017. The building quickly became a magnet, with more than 4.5 million Plaza visitors in its first year.

What to see

• The Tube: an 82 m (269 ft) curved escalator that carries you through the old warehouse in about two and a half minutes.
• The Plaza: a public walkway 37 m (121 ft) above the ground that wraps around the building, with views of the harbor, container terminals and the city's church spires.
• The facade: about 1,100 glass elements, 595 of them individually curved.
• The Grand Hall: 2,100 seats arranged around the stage in a "vineyard" layout, lined with about 10,000 acoustic panels known as the "White Skin". You can see it on a concert or a guided tour.

The building is about 110 m (361 ft) tall and also houses a hotel and private apartments.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, after almost ten years of free access, the Plaza charges admission since October 5, 2026:

• Plaza ticket: €5 per person
• Reduced: €3 for ages 3 to 17, students and other eligible groups
• Free: children under 3; school classes and kindergarten groups receive free tickets on site
• Guided tours: €13

The Plaza is open daily from 10 am to midnight, with last entry at 11:30 pm. Buy tickets online to guarantee a time slot, or at the ticket pavilion on the forecourt. Concert ticket holders can access the Plaza from two hours before their performance.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. Even a 30- to 60-minute visit to the Plaza delivers some of the best views in Hamburg, and the Tube escalator is an experience in itself. Come at sunset for the most atmospheric light over the harbor. If you can, book a concert in advance: tickets for the Grand Hall sell out quickly, but the acoustics are world-famous. Combine your visit with Miniatur Wunderland and the Speicherstadt nearby, or a harbor boat tour from the Landungsbrücken piers.