Hamburg has an abundance of quirky, colourful and vibrant street art, especially within the districts and backstreets of the diverse German city. Whilst the works may not be as well known as those in Berlin, Hamburg offers visitors and residents alike a great experience of the lively and unique art scene on show throughout the large metropolis. Without a doubt, I’d recommend including the street art in your itinerary, in order to truly grasp the Hamburger culture. With this in mind, here are my recommended sightseeing points for street art in the city:
1st Stop – Sternschanze
Sternschanze is a shrine for street art lovers, filled with street art on practically every corner, which is why I started my street art walking tour here. Sternschanze is easily reachable through S-bahn, U-bahn and bus, being only 12 minutes away from Hamburg’s Hauptbahnhof (central station). From the outset, the street art is in sight. Walk from there to Schanzenstraße and under the bridge. Then, turn onto Susannenstraße.
Turn left onto Bartelsstraße, where you’ll find one of the many impressive murals dotted around Hamburg. Continue the tour by checking out the surrounding streets, including Rosenhofstraße and Schulterblatt.
Once you’ve seen what Sternschanze has to offer and had a drink at one of the many quirky bars or cafes there, continue along Schulterblatt, turn left onto Schanzenstraße and right onto Ludwigstraße, then onto Sternstraße and left onto Schlachthofpassage. You’ve now reached the Karolinenviertel (Karolinen District) of Hamburg.
2nd Stop – Karolinenviertel
The Karolinenviertel showcases more creative street art. Remember to look out for the dog!
Climb up these steps to get a good view of the Heinrich-Hert-Turm (TV Tower) in the distance.
Then, cross the river bridge and make your way to Markstraße and Mathildenstraße and the surrounding streets, where you’ll see a great deal more of artwork. At Markstraße, there is also a small green space with a fascinating ceramic bench, as well as another mural.
Then, make your way to Neuer Kamp and take a stroll to Gilbertstraße, taking in your surroundings along the way. You’re now approaching the Altona-Altstadt (old town) and St. Pauli districts, where some of my favourite street art is on show.
3rd Stop – Altona-Altstadt/St. Pauli
Once reached, don’t miss the street art on Paul-Roosen-Straße, Clemens-Schultz-Straße and Talstraße.
Take a look at this incredible mural on Paul-Roosen-Straße – my personal favourite, close to the famous Reeperbahn nightlife district.
4th Stop – To come soon!
Whilst these are my favourite areas for street art in Hamburg, it is not of course only limited to this. Street art encompasses almost every quarter of Hamburg, so be sure not to miss out on the unique creativity that Hamburg boasts. Other areas where street art is prevalent include the St. Georg area of Hamburg, the Hamburg Hafen (harbour) area, as well as in the neighbourhood Ottensen, all of which are to be explored more by myself too and updated on this blog accordingly! For more street art photos, be sure to take a look at my gallery of photos, all of which are mine, below. Danke schön for reading and enjoy Hamburg!
Joshua
@joshuamdenny (Instagram)
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