Reeperbahn, Kiez and no closing time: Hamburg is made for stag and hen parties. Here's how to plan your stag do or hen party in Hamburg, with checked venues and the best things to do on St. Pauli, in the Schanze and by the harbour, costs per person and ready-made itineraries.
Good to know
Cocktails and clubs are what get expensive, not beer. Beer in a Kiez pub €3.50–5, cocktail €10–14, club entry usually €5–15, and some parties on Große Freiheit cost nothing at all. With pubs instead of cocktail bars and pre-drinks at your accommodation, budget €60 instead of €120 a head.
All costs and money-saving tips ↓On Friday and Saturday nights and before public holidays the U-Bahn runs all night, roughly every 20 minutes, as do many S-Bahn and bus lines. During the week the night buses numbered in the 600s take over every 30 minutes. Reeperbahn station (S-Bahn) and St. Pauli (U3) are right in the middle of the Kiez.
HVV journey planner ↗For big groups a shared taxi is worth it: Hansa-Taxi 040 211 211, Taxi Hamburg 040 666 666, plus FREENOW, Uber and Bolt. Agree beforehand who gets out where, and the fare gets split fairly.
There practically isn't one. On Friday and Saturday nights pubs and clubs may stay open all night; from Sunday to Thursday there's only a “cleaning hour” from 05:00 to 06:00. Lots of Kiez venues stay open until morning.
Around the Reeperbahn and Hans-Albers-Platz, glass bottles and glasses are banned on the street at weekends and on nights before public holidays from 22:00 to 06:00, and breaking the rule means a fine. So pour the shots for your Bauchladen tray into plastic. In St. Georg, Hansaplatz has its own ban, daily from 17:00.
By ICE you'll reach Hamburg's main station from Berlin in just under 2 hours, from Cologne in around 4 and from Munich in 5.5 to 6. Long-distance coaches stop at the ZOB right next door, and from the airport the S1 takes around 25 minutes to the city centre.
HVV tickets and timetables ↗Stay on St. Pauli, in the Schanze or in St. Georg and you can walk home at night. On weekends with the DOM, Hafengeburtstag or Schlagermove, group apartments and hostels go early and cost more, and May is the most expensive month.
May to September is the best time for boats, the Elbe beach and terraces, and May is the sunniest month. It rains in Hamburg all year round, so plan an indoor activity as a fallback.
Then the stag or hen do usually falls to you, plus rings, speech and signing as witness on the big day. What else is coming your way and what the job costs is in our guide.
Best man and maid of honour duties →Plan & map
All the venues and activities on one map: filter by bars, clubs, activities and tours, add your favourites with “+ Add to plan” and share the plan with your group via a link, no account needed. Can't be bothered searching? The itinerary generator builds you a ready-made schedule.
Hamburg activities by type: click an idea and the list and map show only what matches.
One to two hours of stories about the Reeperbahn, Herbertstraße and Große Freiheit, some with shots or club entry. Afterwards the group knows its way round the Kiez.
Harbour cruises from the Landungsbrücken, with the lights in the evening. It gets louder on the party boat from Frau Hedi.
Mix your own cocktails with a bartender showing you how, or spend a morning in the hammam above the Landungsbrücken.
Good for the afternoon, when the group still needs to pull together. Bigger groups play in parallel and compare results.
For groups who like to compete: blacklight mini golf, mini golf among film sets, bowling or VR as a team.
A comedy club or comedy tour, for groups where not everyone wants to dance until five in the morning.
A professional photographer comes along, with the Speicherstadt and the Elbe as a backdrop.
Casino on the Reeperbahn or on the Esplanade, 18+ with photo ID. A suit isn't required, but it makes the best theme.
The traditional pub on Silbersackstraße has shaped life on the Kiez since 1949. Kiez characters, students and tourists drink at the same bar, the beer is cheap and the atmosphere honest. The classic first stop on any pub crawl; closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Pub on Hamburger Berg, open round the clock and known as Germany's toughest pub. Kiez characters meet night owls and curious tourists here. Rough and unvarnished, more a stop for the story than the place for the whole evening.
Beach club on Hafenstraße, a few steps from the Landungsbrücken. In summer you sit in the sand looking out at the container ships, in winter in the heated hut. Groups of up to 14 people can book online, larger groups on request.
Bar and football pub on Lange Reihe in St. Georg. Breakfast from the morning, the kitchen stays open late, and on Fridays and Saturdays it's open until 04:00. Pub classics and a weekly menu, a good start or nightcap away from the Kiez.
Bar on the Reeperbahn with its own beer pong tables and seating for around 120 people. Groups can have private parties with or without a drinks package, finger food and, if you like, your own tournament. The place where the bride or groom has to show how steady their aim still is.
Bar on the upper floor of Große Freiheit 36. Latin and reggae sounds with cocktails on Fridays and Saturdays, and changing exhibitions on the walls, with the pictures for sale. Quieter than the club below, good for catching your breath between two parties.
Harbour pub on Große Elbstraße in Altona, close to the Fish Market, in business since 1947. Wooden bar, leaded glass, shark motifs and a jukebox full of oldies, plus its own house beers. One of the last real sailors' pubs on the Elbe; you can book through the website.
Restaurant, bar and event venue on the Reeperbahn with a roof terrace: from the rooftop bar “Lighthouse” you look out over the Kiez and the skyline. A live band plays on Fridays from 22:00, and a DJ on Saturdays. Hamburg food and cocktails; book tables online.
Beer garden with a harbour view at the Landungsbrücken: Astra on draught in the open air, the perfect sundowner before the night on the Kiez (season spring to autumn).
Craft beer bar on the ground floor of the Tanzende Türme, right at the start of the Reeperbahn. 24 taps with its own beers and guest beers from Hamburg and the north, plus burgers and wings, vegetarian too. Room for around 250 guests, good for pre-drinks with big groups.
Bar on Schulterblatt, right opposite the Rote Flora. Known for its caipirinha happy hour until 22:00 and the big terrace out on the street, the meeting place of the Schanze on warm evenings. A good place to start before you move on.
Bar on Hamburger Berg with a living-room feel: orange wallpaper, plastic chandeliers, disco balls and a photo booth for the group picture. DJs play Wednesday to Saturday, and it closes when nobody's left standing. You can hire the back room just for your group.
Hip-hop bar on Hamburger Berg with a dance floor, table football and a photo booth. Old school from Wu-Tang to Biggie, every night from 18:00 or 19:00 until late. You can hire the upper floor as your own party venue, with a beer pong package on request.
Pub institution at the start of Friedensallee in Ottensen, open daily from 16:00. Astra and cocktails at fair prices, with a mixed crowd. There are no reservations, so if you're a bigger group, come early.
Said to be Hamburg's oldest wine tavern: a wood-panelled room that looks as it did a hundred years ago, lots of wines by the glass from Germany, Austria and France, and a small French menu. Better for small, quieter groups of up to about eight people.
Café-bar in the middle of Ottensen's pedestrian zone, coffee by day and drinks in the evening. It has its own beer and good gin cocktails, two rooms and benches outside the door. A relaxed start to the evening before you head towards the Kiez.
Sofa bar on Neuer Pferdemarkt with mismatched sofas and a living-room feel. Cocktails, beer and long drinks, with seats outside on the pavement. It fills up fast in the evenings, so groups should come early. Schulterblatt and Feldstraße U-Bahn station are round the corner.
Cultural venue right on Schulterblatt with a café, bars and event spaces over four floors. Gigs, poetry slams, quiz nights and club nights take turns. Rooms can be hired for private parties, good for a group with mixed tastes.
Bar and restaurant on Spadenteich, at the start of Lange Reihe and a few minutes from the main station. Breakfast at weekends, the kitchen stays open late, and on Fridays and Saturdays it's open until 02:00. Book tables through the website.
Cocktail and lounge bar in St. Georg, close to the Alster and the main station. More than 90 cocktails, Mediterranean small plates to share and low lighting, with DJs on some nights. Book at weekends; you can hire the whole bar for your own party.
Rooftop bar on the seventh floor of the Le Méridien hotel, right on the Außenalster, with panoramic views over the water and the city centre. Floor-to-ceiling windows inside, a terrace outside, DJ music in the evenings. Dress code smart casual; book by phone or email.
Cocktail bar on historic Deichstraße by the Nikolaifleet canal, a few steps from the Speicherstadt. Signature drinks with a story and a room with more than 300 lights. Groups of eight or more should email ahead, and from 20 people the bar is yours. Card payment only.
Small club on Große Freiheit with a big history: this is where the Beatles played their very first Hamburg gig in 1960. Today it hosts gigs from rock to indie and comedy nights. More a stop for music fans than the place for a big group night.
Live club in the former cattle slaughterhouse between Karoviertel and the Schanze, with around 600 places. Indie, rock and singer-songwriters, plus comedy and parties. Outside on the Lattenplatz, football is shown for free. Many gigs sell out early.
Big music club on Große Freiheit with a main hall, the Kaiserkeller in the basement and the Galeria upstairs. The Beatles played on the Kaiserkeller stage in 1960. Big parties on Fridays and Saturdays, often for not much money, plus gigs by well-known bands.
Indie, punk and rock club, an institution on St. Pauli for decades. It's now in the half-timbered building on the Reeperbahn that used to house the Top Ten Club. Parties on Fridays and Saturdays from 23:00, entry usually in single figures. Bands like The White Stripes and The Hives played here early on.
Stylish live and club basement right on the Reeperbahn, known for jazz, funk and electronic nights beneath its glass hatch. For groups with slightly more discerning musical taste.
One of the biggest live venues on St. Pauli, right on Spielbudenplatz, with room for around 1,500 people. Rock, pop, hip-hop and metal on stage, plus regular club nights with well-known electronic DJs. Get your tickets for gigs in advance.
Club in the basement of the Klubhaus St. Pauli, designed like an underground station: tiled walls, seating like in a train compartment, and a bar built from parts of an old train. Gigs, comedy and club nights with music changing from techno to hip-hop. The venue can be hired.
Club on the fourth floor of the flak tower on Feldstraße, with a big hall and a tower room holding around 1,000 people between them. Gigs from rock to hip-hop and electronic nights with international DJs. Parties strictly 18+, and the U-Bahn stops right outside at Feldstraße.
Karaoke and party club on Große Freiheit. First you sing on the open stage, then everyone dances. Groups can book their own lounges, good for a night when the bride or groom has to take the mic.
Small electronic club beneath the Reeperbahn with a powerful sound system in a tight space. House and techno, plus hard nights of hardtechno and hardgroove. Parties from Thursday to Sunday, usually from 23:00 until morning. For groups who want to dance, not talk.
Club in the middle of Große Freiheit, named after the Hans Albers film. Gigs and parties, with party nights mainly on Fridays and Saturdays. Große Freiheit 36, Colibri and Indra are only a few steps away, ideal for moving on.
Escape rooms in the Klubhaus St. Pauli on Spielbudenplatz. The rooms take two to eight people, including an '80s-style Kiez room for over-18s. What makes it different: no countdown, it's all about the story and the fun rather than the clock. Bigger groups split across several rooms.
💡 Book online in advance: rooms for up to 8 people, so split big groups across several rooms.
Escape rooms on Springeltwiete, a few minutes from the main station. Several rooms for two to eight people, 60 minutes of play, with stag and hen parties as a category of their own. At weekends slots are by arrangement only, so ask early.
Blacklight entertainment centre in Stellingen with 18 holes of 3D mini golf, plus VR, a laser maze, arcade games and a pizzeria with a bar. Parties for up to 100 people are possible, and stag and hen parties are explicitly welcome. Open until 24:00 at weekends; book ahead.
💡 Book for groups: works in any weather, during the day too.
The party barge leaves from Landungsbrücke 10 and runs through the harbour every hour. You hop on or off at every stop. In the evenings there are DJs, live bands and themed parties, all year round. You can also charter the boat for your own party.
💡 Sailings sell out fast: get your tickets online in advance.
Shared virtual reality experience in HafenCity: as a team you dive into interactive worlds, an unusual highlight for tech-minded groups.
Hamburg's big funfair comes to the Heiligengeistfeld three times a year, in spring, summer and winter, for around a month each time. Entry is free; rides and food cost extra. It's right next to the Kiez, ideal for an afternoon before the long night.
💡 Only when the DOM is on (3 times a year): check the dates beforehand.
Indoor mini golf in HafenCity: 18 holes on artificial grass among elaborately painted film sets, no blacklight. A round takes 60–90 minutes, and clubs and balls are included in the entry. Weatherproof and close to the Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie.
Bowling centre in Barmbek, right by the U3 station Hamburger Straße, with more than 15 lanes for up to eight people each. Burgers and salads in-house, and event packages for stag and hen parties can be booked online. Open until 24:00 on Fridays.
Casino on Millerntorplatz, right opposite the Tanzende Türme at the start of the Reeperbahn. Blackjack and roulette from the evening, plus around 100 slot machines. You get in from age 18 with photo ID. A night out in suits makes the perfect theme, but it's not compulsory.
💡 ID required, 18+. Dress code: smart, which fits a James Bond theme perfectly.
The elegant casino on the Esplanade: roulette and blackjack in smart surroundings, the polished contrast to the Kiez (mind the dress code and don't forget your ID).
Cocktail class led by bartenders, three to four hours, with ingredients, spirits and bar tools included. Open sessions mostly on Friday and Saturday evenings; private group classes for about 6 to 25 people on request, explicitly for stag and hen parties too.
Turkish steam bath above the Landungsbrücken: warm up, then a scrub and foam wash, followed by tea in the relaxation room. Reservations only, closed on Mondays. Tuesday and Wednesday are women-only days, so for a weekend stag or hen do, keep an eye on the mixed days.
Cult restaurant in the Schanze with huge schnitzels, cold beer and no-frills service. Open through the night, from 17:00 until lunchtime the next day. The classic stop for hearty food after a night out.
Tim Mälzer's restaurant in the old cattle hall of the slaughterhouse, opposite Sternschanze station. A deli at lunchtime, then from 17:00 a restaurant serving meat and grilled food, with mains around €30. Book early for weekends; you can reserve up to 60 days ahead.
💡 Book early, it fills up fast at weekends.
Brewpub in the Schanzenhöfe, right next to the Ratsherrn brewery that runs it. Around 30 beers on tap and more than 50 in bottles, plus regional food and bread from the wood-fired oven. Groups book online; open daily from lunchtime.
💡 Group tables can be booked online.
Brewpub right at the Landungsbrücken with its own beer from the in-house brewery and northern German food. Three floors and a big harbour terrace, plus a function room for private groups of up to 80 people. Brewery tours with tastings can be added.
💡 Groups should definitely book: roof terrace with a view of the harbour.
Hamburg's oldest brewpub, right in the Old Town. Long tables, its own pils and hearty food, made for big groups who want a proper meal first and then make a night of it.
The Hofbräuhaus on the Esplanade: litre steins, a rowdy atmosphere and room for whole teams. If you want to kick off your stag or hen do loud and Bavarian, this is the place.
Bavarian tavern on Großneumarkt with a beer garden and pork knuckle-sized portions. Sturdy benches, big tankards and honest helpings, a reliable, hearty start to the evening for hungry groups.
Restaurant in the Zeisehallen, an old ship propeller factory, with brick walls and an industrial feel. Italian and Mediterranean food and wood-fired pizza, with a terrace in summer. The rooms work for bigger groups too; book online.
Family-run restaurant in the Portugiesenviertel with around 100 seats inside and more outside, good for big groups. Bacalhau, grilled sardines, lots of fish and pastéis de nata for dessert. A few minutes' walk from the Landungsbrücken.
The bestseller among Kiez tours: 2 hours of red-light district, stories and places you wouldn't get to on your own.
Kiez tour with local characters and entertainers, packed into 100 minutes.
90 minutes of the harbour at night: the atmospheric start before you head to the Kiez.
The best-known name on the Kiez: offbeat, loud, with a look behind the scenes. A stag and hen classic.
Guided pub crawl across St. Pauli: 4 hours, shots included, and VIP entry to a club at the end.
Creepy, funny live show in the Speicherstadt: actors take you through 600 years of Hamburg's dark history. An offbeat daytime activity with a few thrills.
2-hour tour, 2 cult drinks, then entry to the Dollhouse, with the level of mayhem up to you.
Stand-up comedy with changing acts at the Schmidt Theater on Spielbudenplatz: laugh yourselves warm before you head to the Kiez.
Comedy on wheels: a city tour across Hamburg with a live comedian, including a stop at a trendy bar. Sightseeing and laughs in one.
Hamburg's only harbour cruise with live comedy: 60 minutes of harbour, Elbphilharmonie and punchlines. A relaxed, funny start from the water.
An eccentric inspector takes you to Hamburg's dark side, and you solve a case together. Hands-on fun for the whole group.
Guided photo tour to Hamburg's most beautiful spots: the photographer shows you how to pose, and you get professionally edited pictures. The keepsake for a hen do daytime programme.
The floating piers on the Elbe are the easiest meeting point in the city: the S-Bahn and U-Bahn stop right in front, harbour cruises leave from here, and ferry 62 takes you down the Elbe on a normal HVV ticket. The Reeperbahn is a few minutes' walk away.
Central, easy-to-reach meeting point in the city centre: from Rathausmarkt it's a few steps to Jungfernstieg on the Binnenalster, ideal for gathering and strolling before the programme.
Waterfront landmark with a free viewing platform (the Plaza) and the photogenic Speicherstadt next door: a great starting point with a harbour backdrop for the group photo.
The main street of the Schanze, with cafés, bars, restaurants and small shops. In the middle stands the Rote Flora, an old concert hall that has been squatted for decades. In the evenings lots of young partygoers gather around the piazza, a good place to arrive.
The square on the south side of the Reeperbahn has been a place of entertainment for more than 200 years, hence the name. Around it are the Schmidt Theater, the Operettenhaus and the Klubhaus, and the square itself hosts a night market, a food truck festival and, in winter, Santa Pauli. Everything is within walking distance from here.
Cosy quarter between the Landungsbrücken and the Michel with Portuguese and Spanish restaurants, perfect for a relaxed group meal before the evening.
Guide prices excluding travel, food & accommodation. Check the provider for today's prices.
🗺️ Open route in Google MapsNeighbourhoods
Hamburg doesn't have one single party strip but six areas, each with its own character. Most groups eat in the Schanze, in Ottensen or by the harbour, then head to the Kiez and stay there until morning. All the neighbourhoods are close together, on foot or a few stops on the U-Bahn or S-Bahn.
For the long night
The heart of every Hamburg stag or hen do. On Hamburger Berg the pubs line up one after another, and on Große Freiheit you'll find the clubs where the Beatles played their first Hamburg gigs. Start at the Silbersack and see where the night takes you; at weekends things keep going until morning.
For food and bars before the Kiez
Around Schulterblatt, the Schanze sits outside as soon as the sun comes out. Younger and more relaxed than the Reeperbahn, with small, packed bars. In the Schanzenhöfe you eat at the brewpub, and after the night out there are giant schnitzels at Erikas Eck.
For daytime plans and the group photo
The Landungsbrücken are the easiest place to meet, and the harbour cruises leave from here. The Plaza at the Elbphilharmonie has the best view over the harbour, and in the Portugiesenviertel, the Portuguese quarter just behind it, you can eat well without paying much. In summer the evening starts on the Elbe beach.
For a meal together
Altona's pub and restaurant district around Ottenser Hauptstraße and Friedensallee. In the Zeisehallen, an old propeller factory, you eat at big tables, then move on to the corner pub or Hamburg's oldest wine tavern. The plan for groups who want a good meal first.
For a relaxed start
Right behind the main station is Lange Reihe, with cafés, pubs and bars, home of the LGBTQ scene, a mixed crowd and an open atmosphere. If you arrive by train, this is where you have your first drink. For a smarter evening, head up to the roof terrace on the Alster.
For beer halls and big tables
Between Rathausmarkt and Großneumarkt you'll find beer halls and taverns that can handle big groups. Good for a meal together on the first evening, once everyone has arrived. If you still want to gamble afterwards, the casino is on the Esplanade.
Sample itinerary
This is what a weekend that works in Hamburg looks like, with a different focus depending on your group. You'll find every venue in the planner above, where you can swap out individual stops.
Easy to reach on the U3 and the S-Bahn, with a harbour backdrop for the first group photo.
A beer hall or the Portugiesenviertel, both a few minutes' walk away.
A beer at the Silbersack, then door to door. Leave the glass bottles behind: the ban applies on the street.
If you've still got it in you, go dancing. Lots of places stay open until morning.
Around Schulterblatt, sitting outside if the weather plays along.
Escape room, blacklight mini golf or laser tag for the action crowd, a photo shoot or cocktail class for the hen do.
Hamburg looks best from the water. In summer, a sundowner in the sand afterwards.
An hour of stories about St. Pauli, and afterwards you're right in the thick of it.
Bars on Hans-Albers-Platz, then a club. If you last until morning, you'll end up at the Fish Market on Sunday.
First drink on Lange Reihe, a few minutes from the main station.
Big tables, fish and pastéis de nata, close to the Landungsbrücken.
Cocktail bar on the canal; let them know in advance if there are eight or more of you.
The bride has to take the mic, then everyone dances.
Steam bath and scrub above the Landungsbrücken; book ahead.
With a professional photographer through the Speicherstadt and down to the Elbe.
StrandPauli on Hafenstraße, in the heated hut in winter.
Three to four hours mixing your own, private group classes on request.
A guided Kiez tour with the Olivia Jones team or a rooftop bar on the Alster.
First beer at the corner pub on Friedensallee; get there early, it doesn't take reservations.
Wood-fired pizza in an old propeller factory.
Hamburg's oldest wine tavern, wood-panelled, for smaller groups.
Take your time in St. Georg, then the U-Bahn to HafenCity.
Weatherproof, 18 holes, a round takes 60–90 minutes.
A walk round with a view over the harbour; get your ticket in advance.
Its own beer, a harbour terrace, and a brewery tour if you want one.
The harbour at night, then you decide whether to head on to the Kiez.
Your group's a bit different? The itinerary generator builds a plan around your group, budget and mood, using the same venues.
Budget
Hamburg is more expensive than Leipzig and cheaper than Munich. Cocktails and clubs make the biggest difference; beer and food stay reasonable.
| Option | Per person | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| One night out | €60–120 | dinner, drinks in bars and pubs, club entry |
| A day with an activity | €100–180 | plus an activity such as a Kiez tour, escape room or harbour cruise |
| Weekend | €200–400 | two nights out, one activity, one night in a double room, travel not included |
Guide prices per person, based on the prices of the venues and tours on this page. The bride or groom usually doesn't pay; their share is split across the group. The planner above adds up what your programme costs.
Travel isn't included, as that depends on where you're coming from. Accommodation is based on the country's price level. Work out your own budget with the cost calculator.
Seasonal tips
These festivals come round every year. If your weekend falls on one of them, you've got a ready-made programme, but also packed streets and expensive beds. If you'd rather keep things quieter, plan around them.
Hamburg's funfair on the Heiligengeistfeld, for around a month right next to the Kiez, free entry.
From April to October you sit in the sand on the Elbe beach; in winter the beach club moves into the heated hut.
The world's biggest harbour festival, over a long weekend in May, with an arrival parade of ships and around a million visitors.
A Schlager parade in summer: trucks from the Heiligengeistfeld via the Landungsbrücken and the Reeperbahn, with hundreds of thousands of people in '70s outfits.
The DOM in summer, from late July to late August.
Europe's biggest club festival, four days in September with hundreds of gigs in the clubs around the Reeperbahn.
The DOM in winter, from early November to early December.
Friday and Saturday with no closing time; on St. Pauli things keep going until morning.
April to October 05:00–09:30, November to March 07:00–09:30, with live music in the Fischauktionshalle.
Viewing platform above the harbour; get your ticket in advance. Perfect for the group photo.
Questions
