How to Get Around Hamburg Easily?

Hamburg is a harbor city with a population of over 1.8 million in the north of Germany. With its vast network of public transportation and its many attractions, it can be difficult to wanting figure out the best way to get around.Let’s take a look at all the different types of transport available and the best way to use them when in Hamburg.

Public Transportation

Public transportation is the truest and most widely used form of transportation, both for Hamburgers and visitors alike. Hamburg boasts an extensive public transport system with both an above-ground train as well as an underground subway system. Both the S-Bahn (above-ground train) as well as the Subway run off of the same ticketing system, and buying one ticket will allow you to use both forms of transport.

For longer pleasure trips around the city, there is also a public ferry system which takes you to various undisclosed places along the river Elbe.

Getting a Ticket

The Hamburg public transport system or HVV works on a zonal basis. Meaning that the further out of town you travel, the more expensive your ticket will be. There are various forms of tickets available, ranging from single ticket fares to day tickets and even week tickets (if staying in Hamburg long enough).

Day tickets come in different varieties as well, ranging from your standard day ticket which allows you to travel across 2 or more zones (depending on which ticket you buy), to a joint HVV and HHA ticket which allows you access to both the public transport and the public ferry systems.

The most cost effective options for visitors, however, are usually either the single fare tickets or the 7-day tourism passes. Now, if you are travelling across 3 or more zones on a regular basis, then you might want to consider investing in a 7 day pass, which will be cheaper than buying multiple single fare tickets by a considerable margin.

For detailed information about all kinds of tickets with prices and information about special discounts for children and seniors, check out this link. And for information about the various routes of HVV and HHA, visit their official website.

Bicycles

Bicycle usage is very popular in Hamburg, with dedicated bike lanes on most of the main roads and through many parks. In fact, it’s been estimated that around 37% of all trips made in Hamburg are made using a bike – so the city definitely caters towards this form of transport.

If you want to use your own bike, then there are plenty of bike shops where you can pick up a secondhand or hire one for the duration of your stay; with important details like how much it costs and where to pick it up from being outlined on the shop’s website ahead of time.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to commit to buying a bike for your stay then you can opt for renting one via one of the many bike rental companies located throughout the city. Fun tours can be booked with many of these companies, allowing you to take in the sights at your own pace and really get to know the city during your trip. The most famous bike tour company in Hamburg is Radtour Hamburg, and they have plenty of different options to choose from for any traveler visiting the city.

Taxis

Hamburg also has an extensive taxi network serving hundreds of thousands of customers each year – so there’s no shortage of them when needed. When traveling by taxi in Hamburg, passengers can expect fares to be higher than average due to Hamburg’s strict taxi regulations and its high population density.

When hailing a taxi on the street, make sure to check the meter and make sure that it’s running correctly before getting inside; otherwise you may end up paying significantly more than you should be. It’s also worth noting that there is a three-euro minimum fee that applies each time you take a taxi in Hamburg.

It’s also important to note that all taxi drivers in Hamburg are required by law to accept credit and debit payments; so visitors will not have to worry about carrying large amounts of cash with them when taking a taxi from one place to another inside Hamburg.

If you want to order a taxi in advance, then many companies offer an online booking service for this exact purpose – such as Hamburg Taxi online. As well as this, it’s possible to hail a taxi from the street; although you will likely have to wait quite some time for one to pass by due to their popularity.

In conclusion, there are many different ways to get around Hamburg – ranging from public transport systems, bike hire companies and even taxis. Whichever method you decide to use on your travels make sure that you plan ahead and have all necessary information in order before travelling; such as prices and times for any trains or buses that you plan on using, as well as knowing where your closest bike hire stands are located or which companies offer online taxi bookings.