St. Pauli Piers (Landungsbrücken)

The St. Pauli Piers (Landungsbrücken) in Hamburg are the city's floating harbor terminal and one of the top things to do in Hamburg. Behind a long stone hall crowned with green copper domes, ferries, harbor cruise boats and launches come and go all day, while cranes and dry docks fill the opposite bank of the Elbe. It is free, central and the best place to understand why Hamburg calls itself Germany's gateway to the world.

Where it is and how to get there

The piers sit on the north bank of the Elbe in the St. Pauli district, a short ride from the city center. From Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (main station) the S-Bahn lines S1 and S3 reach Landungsbrücken station in a few stops; the U3 subway line stops here too, running on an elevated track with harbor views. The S1 also runs directly from Hamburg Airport, so you can go from the terminal to the waterfront without changing trains.

Hamburg itself is well connected: high-speed ICE trains link it with Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich. All local trains, buses and harbor ferries belong to the HVV network, and the Deutschlandticket is valid on them. Driving into the area is not recommended, as traffic and parking near the piers are tight.

A short history

The first landing stage opened in 1839, set slightly offshore so steamships could take on coal. The ensemble you see today was built between 1907 and 1909 to plans by the Hamburg architects Raabe & Wöhlecke: a continuous floating pier modeled on Liverpool's, plus a terminal building about 205 meters (670 feet) long, built of volcanic tuff and decorated by sculptor Arthur Bock. Transatlantic liners of the Hamburg America Line once docked here.

Allied air raids in World War II wrecked much of the complex. The current pontoons date from 1953 to 1955, and the whole site has been a protected monument since 2003.

What to see

The pontoons stretch for roughly 700 meters and rise and fall with the tide, so the gangways tilt at different angles through the day.

• Gauge tower: The clock tower at the eastern end shows the time and the current water level, and its bell strikes every half hour in the pattern of a ship's bell.
• Old Elbe Tunnel: A domed building at the western end hides the entrance to the 1911 tunnel under the river, still open to pedestrians and cyclists.
• Museum ships: The green three-masted Rickmer Rickmers is moored at the east end, and the cargo ship Cap San Diego lies a few steps further at the Überseebrücke. Both can be visited.
• Harbor views: Watch container ships, cruise ships and tugboats pass the shipyards opposite.
• Fish sandwiches: Snack bars and seafood restaurants line the pontoons. A Fischbrötchen, a bread roll with pickled herring or other fish, is the classic order.

Harbor cruise vs. public ferry

Commercial harbor tours leave constantly in season, from large boats to smaller launches that can enter the canals of the Speicherstadt warehouse district. If you need English commentary, ask the operator before you buy a ticket.

For a cheaper ride, locals use the HADAG harbor ferries, which run on regular HVV tickets. Line 62 from Pier 3 heads downriver toward Finkenwerder, passing the Dockland office building and the Övelgönne museum harbor with its sandy river beach. Line 72 goes to the Elbphilharmonie, and Line 73 crosses to the musical theater on the south bank, with a great view back to the piers.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, and you will probably pass through more than once. A quick stroll takes 30 to 60 minutes; add a ferry, the tunnel and a museum ship and you have a half-day. Entry is free and the piers are open around the clock. Weekday mornings are calmest, while summer weekends, the Port Anniversary (Hafengeburtstag) in May and the Hamburg Cruise Days draw big crowds. Prices for food and tours are in euros (EUR).

Nearby you can walk to the Altona Fish Market, the Reeperbahn and, along the waterfront, to the Speicherstadt and HafenCity.