Hamburg Card or Hamburg City Pass?
Two cards, two principles. The Hamburg Card is a transport ticket with discounts, the Hamburg City Pass an entry package for 20+ attractions. Here you see which card fits your plans.
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Book the Hamburg City Pass- 20+ attractions included
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Comparison
What is in which card?
The table sets the two cards side by side, feature by feature.
| Feature | Hamburg Card | Hamburg City Pass |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Discount card: reduced prices on site | Entry included: visit once for free |
| Attractions | up to 50% off at 150+ partners | 20+ attractions fully included |
| Harbour & Alster cruise | up to 28% off | included |
| Hop-on hop-off bus | discounted | included |
| Public transport (HVV) | included | optional add-on |
| Validity | 1 to 5 days, as a single or group card | 1 to 7 days, prices tiered by age |
| How you use it | via the official "Hamburg - Erleben & Sparen" app or as a printout | PDF by email, activated on first use |
| Issuer | Hamburg Tourismus GmbH | Turbopass |
| Best for you if | you use buses and trains a lot and want discounts on selected highlights | you plan to visit many attractions and want entry fees fully covered |
Table of Contents
Two cards, two calculations
The names sound alike, the products are not. The Hamburg Card is the official tourist card of Hamburg Tourismus GmbH and at heart a transport ticket: it is valid in HVV zone AB on the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, buses, harbour ferries and the S1 to the airport, and adds discounts at over 150 partners on top, up to 50 percent at museums and up to 28 percent on harbour and Alster cruises. You still pay for admission, just less. It comes in 1 to 5 day versions as a single card (one adult plus up to three children aged 6 to 14) or as a group card for up to five people. The official rules are published by the issuer, Hamburg Tourismus.
The Hamburg City Pass by Turbopass turns the principle around: it pays for a fixed package. More than 20 attractions and tours are included once for free, among them the grand harbour cruise, the Alster cruise, the hop-on hop-off bus, a guided walk through HafenCity or along the Reeperbahn, the Michel, the Kunsthalle and the International Maritime Museum. Public transport is an optional add-on. The pass is valid for 1 to 7 consecutive days, prices are tiered by age, and it arrives as a PDF by email.
Which card for which trip
- A weekend packed with sightseeing: the Hamburg City Pass. If you manage a harbour cruise, the Michel and a museum in one day, the daily price is usually covered; the hop-on hop-off bus moves you between the stops.
- Lots of buses and trains, few paid admissions: the Hamburg Card. It replaces the HVV day ticket, and you pick up the discounts along the way. For families with children up to 14, the single card is especially good value because the children travel with you.
- Arriving by plane with many attractions planned: the City Pass with the public transport option. Then the S1 from the airport, city travel and admissions are settled in one purchase.
- Only a single attraction: neither. A single ticket is cheaper.
Which venues and tours the pass covers is on the Attractions page; durations and age tiers are explained on the Prices page.
FAQ
Questions about the comparison
Short answers on choosing between the two cards. All questions about the pass are on the FAQ page.
Can I combine both cards? +
Yes, but it rarely makes sense. If you book the City Pass with the public transport option, free travel is already included. Combining them only pays off if you also plan to visit many Hamburg Card discount partners that are not part of the pass.
Which card is better for families? +
It depends on your programme. The Hamburg Card takes up to three children aged 6 to 14 for free and covers public transport. The City Pass charges per person with child and youth prices, but the harbour cruise, the hop-on hop-off bus and the museums are fully paid for. With two or more attractions a day, the pass usually comes out ahead.
Do I still need an HVV ticket with the City Pass? +
Only if you book it without the public transport option. With the option you travel free in HVV zone AB for the duration of the pass, including to the airport. Details are on the Public Transport page.
Busy itinerary? Then the pass.
Harbour cruise, hop-on hop-off bus, Michel and museums on one ticket: choose your duration and travellers, the pass arrives instantly by email.