St. Pauli Piers & Old Elbe Tunnel
St. Pauli Landungsbrücken / Alter Elbtunnel
The gateway pier of Hamburg's harbour, where harbour cruises and public ferries depart; next to it is the pedestrian tunnel under the Elbe, opened in 1911.
The St. Pauli Piers are a series of floating landing stages, with a stone waiting hall topped by a clock tower on the shore. This is the main departure point for harbour cruises (Hafenrundfahrt, about one hour, with views of container terminals and giant ships). A budget option is to ride public ferry line 62 on a regular transit ticket, passing the Museumshafen and the Elbe beaches on the way to Finkenwerder while enjoying the harbour scenery. The old St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel on the west side of the piers opened in 1911. Pedestrians and cyclists can take the historic large lifts down to a depth of 24 m, then walk through a roughly 426-metre tiled tunnel to the opposite bank. Looking back from there, you get a panoramic view of the piers, the concert hall and the city skyline. Pedestrian use is free. Near the piers are the museum sailing ships 'Rickmer Rickmers' and 'Cap San Diego'. The port's anniversary in May features a large parade of ships.
Opening hours
Piers open all day; old tunnel pedestrian passage open 24 hours (some sections under maintenance)
Nearby sights
- Reeperbahn
- Bismarck Monument
- Rickmer Rickmers Museum Ship
- Cap San Diego Museum Ship
- U-434 Submarine Museum
- St. Michael's Church
- Krameramtsstuben
- Hamburg Fish Market