Suitable products and services for Hamburg
Planten un Blomen is the large park in the heart of Hamburg, right next to the city center and the exhibition grounds. The name is Low German for plants and flowers. For visitors, it is above all one thing: a place where you can do absolutely nothing for an hour amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, without having to travel anywhere else.
The areas
- The Japanese Garden With a teahouse, the largest of its kind in Europe. The quietest part of the park.
- The rose garden, the most noticeable area in summer.
- The tropical greenhouses, open all year round and, in case of rain, one of the few free indoor options in the city.
- The large playground With a water play area, it's a popular spot for families in the summer.
- The park lake with the stage for the water light concerts.
The water light concerts
From May to September, water light shows take place on the park lake in the evenings: fountains illuminated to music. They run daily, later in the summer than in the spring, because they require darkness.
Admission is free. Those who want a good seat should arrive half an hour early, as seating around the pool is limited. It's one of the few evening events in Hamburg that's free yet still quite impressive.
In winter
During the colder months, the roller skating rink transforms into an ice rink and is one of the largest in the city. Skates can be rented on site, and because the rink is located in a park, the setting is quite different from that of an indoor ice rink.
The rest of the park is quiet and sparsely visited in winter. The greenhouses are then the warmest free place in the center, which more people should know.
When one arrives
On weekday mornings the park is almost empty. Sunny weekend afternoons in summer are the busiest time, especially on the lawns and at the playground.
Suitable products and services for Hamburg
For a day trip to the city, it's intended as a stopover, not a destination: an hour between the city center and the evening's entertainment. Those wanting a full day in nature are better off going to the city park or Jenischpark (see below). Insider tips for the weekend.
Directions and Practical Information
The park has several entrances and is located between Dammtor, the exhibition halls, and St. Pauli. It's just a few minutes' walk from Dammtor station, which is the most convenient access point.
Entry is free, both to the park and the greenhouses, and to the water light shows. This makes Planten un Blomen one of the destinations that makes a day trip to Hamburg affordable, see [link/reference]. Hamburg sights.
What the park is not
It's not a place for a full day trip, nor is it an attraction in the sense of a tourist landmark. Anyone arriving with that expectation will be finished and disappointed after forty minutes.
It's a break. It works better for that than anything else in the city center, and those who plan their day with a real break instead of three destinations in a row will be able to continue exploring in the evening. And if your legs give out completely, HafenCity offers... NAIPO Relax Lounge with twenty minutes in a massage chair.
Suitable products and services for Hamburg
By the NAIPO editorial team Massage and product experts from Hamburg
Product experts, service technicians and massage enthusiasts from Alsterwell GmbH — specializing in massage technology for over a decade, with its own workshop and showrooms for test sitting.
Reviewed by David Eberst, co-founder of NAIPO
