What to do on a rainy day in Hamburg

Let’s face it: If you come to visit Hamburg, the chances are quite high it’s going to rain. The typical Hamburgers are used to the grey weather and take a rough storm as if it was a gentle drizzle. And if you’re winy about the cold, they’ll say in a typically nordic manner: "you might be sweet, but you’re not made of sugar – no need to be afraid of that little bit of water making you melt." Yeah, I heard that sentence quite a lot. So, if you (like me) belong to the sorts of people who do not enjoy walking in cold rain, you must have some backup plans. Here are a few ideas about what to do on a rainy day in Hamburg.

Start your day with a long brunch

The good thing about rain is that you won’t have bad conscious spending hours having a good and solid brunch. Since you won’t have to bother going anywhere soon when it's bucketing down, you might as well take your time. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing better than brunch anyway, right? My recommendation for one of those long and lazy brunches is the iconic Café May. For only 5,40 Euro (during the week and 7,40 Euro on weekends) you’ll get a rich all-you-can-eat buffet with croissants, cinnamon rolls, fresh buns and german bread, home-made jams, cereals, scrambled and hard-boiled eggs, a selection of cheeses and hams, a big bowl of delicious curd with raspberries, fresh fruits and orange juice. This café is a hot spot among locals, not only because of the amazing breakfast and good coffee, but also the cool ambiance. You’ll find Café May in nine different locations around Hamburg, all of them super stylish and alternative with cozy vintage furniture and board games, free to use. It’s the kind of place you want to spend a whole rainy forenoon at...

Café May

Hein-Hoyer-Straße 14, 20359 Hamburg, Deutschland

Relax in the Holdthusenbad

After an extensive brunch, you can continue treating yourself in one of the finest spas in Hamburg – The Holdthusenbad. Here you’ll get to relax in thermal baths, steam baths, and nine different kinds of saunas like the light play sauna or aromatic eucalyptus sauna. A day ticket costs around 20 Euros but is absolutely worth the money for what you get. What’s so special about this particular spa is the historic building, featuring architectonical elements of the 1920s and therefore giving the unique and charming atmosphere. And the best thing is: unlike many other wellness centers, it’s very central, close to the metro station U1 Kellinghusenstraße. So relax, enjoy, and restore!

Holthusenbad

Goernestraße 21, 20249 Hamburg, Deutschland

End your day at the Planetarium

And here I got the perfect ending of your rainy day in Hamburg: The Planetarium! It’s one of my all-time favorite places in the city, no matter if it’s rainy or sunny! Like many others, space has always mesmerized me – but growing up in a big city like Hamburg, where the lights always brighten up the night sky, it’s almost impossible to see the stars. But luckily, the Planetarium can take you on a trip into the universe, revealing the beauty of our galaxy, stars, and planets. My favorite show is called "See you on the dark side of the moon," mixing psychedelic visuals with galactic sceneries underlined with the music of one of my favorite rock bands: Pink Floyd. The show lasts for about an hour and costs 13 Euros.

Planetarium Hamburg

Linnering 1, 22299 Hamburg, Deutschland

With these few ideas, you now should be prepared what to do on a rainy day in Hamburg. And I hope you’ll get some sunny days, too!