Comparison · Berlin vs Hamburg · Germany
Berlin vs Hamburg
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Museumsinsel Berlin Juli 2021 1 (cropped).jpg : Kasa Fue derivative work: Georgfotoar, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Berlin for Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate; choose Hamburg for Elbphilharmonie and Port of Hamburg. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 255 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 255 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Berlin
- May–September
- Best time for Hamburg
- May–September
Side by side
| Berlin | Hamburg | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Germany | Germany |
| Known for | Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island | Elbphilharmonie, Port of Hamburg and Speicherstadt |
| Best time to visit | May–September | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $160–$280 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 25°C (77°F) | July, 23°C (73°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 4°C (39°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BER | HAM |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Berlin for…
Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate. Berlin is a sprawling, green city of distinct neighbourhoods, reunited only in 1990 after 28 years divided by the Wall. Mitte holds the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag dome, Museum Island and the Holocaust Memorial, while the remains of the Wall run from…
Choose Hamburg for…
Elbphilharmonie and Port of Hamburg. Germany's second-largest city is built around water: the working port on the Elbe, the canals of the UNESCO-listed Speicherstadt warehouse district and the two Alster lakes in the centre. Visitors come for the Elbphilharmonie's free viewing plaza, Miniatur…
Top sights compared
| # | Berlin | Hamburg |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandenburg Gate | Elbphilharmonie and Plaza |
| 2 | Reichstag and its glass dome | Speicherstadt |
| 3 | Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe | Miniatur Wunderland |
| 4 | Museum Island | Harbour boat tour and ferry 62 |
| 5 | Neues Museum | Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel |
Food compared
| Berlin | Hamburg |
|---|---|
| Currywurst | Fish sandwich |
| Döner kebab | Franzbrötchen |
| Berliner Pfannkuchen | Labskaus |
| Eisbein | Hamburg fish pan |
Which is cheaper?
Berlin and Hamburg cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $150–$260 in Berlin and $160–$280 in Hamburg (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Berlin on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Berlin and Hamburg are about 255 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Berlin and 3 in Hamburg.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Berlin or Hamburg cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 in Berlin and $160–$280 in Hamburg (estimates).
+Is Berlin or Hamburg better for a first trip?
Pick Berlin for Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate, or Hamburg for Elbphilharmonie and Port of Hamburg.
+How far is Berlin from Hamburg?
About 255 km in a straight line.