An Expat's Guide to Living in Hamburg

Best Areas to Live in Hamburg

In large German cities, neighborhoods are typically divided into bezirke (districts) and broken down further into stadtvierteln (city quarters/boroughs). If you're though craving a smaller city in Germany with better access to nature, you might love living in Thuringia.

In Hamburg, there are 7 districts and 104 boroughs. That seems like a lot but you don’t have to know them all. Residents in Hamburg tend to know a handful of them, which orientates them when talking about the city.

However, the most important thing that we tend to pay attention to as Hamburgers is the central lake called the ‘Alster’, which comprises Außenalster and smaller Binnenalster. (Fun fact: they’re artificial lakes!) Many people refer to where they live in terms of which direction from Alster Lake a place is.

For example, if someone lives in the neighborhood Eilbek, they might say they live east of the Alster to be a bit more general.

West Side

With this in mind, there is a common notion that the west side of the Alster is the ‘cooler’ area to live, especially when thinking of university students or young professionals.

I’ve heard this joke many times and you can actually see it play out in Ebay ads where people tend to name their preferred neighborhoods for finding an apartment and they’re all located on the west side of the Alster.

For this cool reputation, people also pay the price, either financially or in the amount of space that they get for the budget they have.

It all just depends on what is most important to you – price, vibe, nearby nightlife, food options, connectedness? All of these things can vary considerably based on location.

📍I recommend getting a feel for the West Side before you follow the crowd and call it home, too. Book a few nights at one of these hotels or rentals while you house hunt for a long-term stay:

• Budget Stay: RetroPop Minihotel: You'll likely never stay somewhere cuter than this hotel, plus instead of typical hotel rooms, you'll get a lofted studio for more space.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Das kleine Grindel: Stay right in the heart of the university area at this calm hotel, surrounded by green space.‍
• Luxury Stay: The Fontenay Hamburg: Enjoy views of Alster Lake day and night from your room or from one of the 2 swimming pools.
  

Finding a Job in Hamburg as an International

I think looking for a job is equally nerve-wracking in any city so while looking for a job in Hamburg is no walk in the park, it's not any more challenging than other cities, in my opinion.

I would recommend checking the typical job search websites, such as:

• Linkedin
• Indeed
• StepStone

Besides those sites, there are several large, international companies stationed in or around Hamburg that are popular with expats and international candidates because they are HQs or just use English as the company language. Companies such as Airbus, Beiersdorf, and Statista.

There are also many marketing and advertising agencies in Hamburg that work with international clients so you can filter the results on one of the job search websites to be in English language (or whichever language you want) and really narrow down where you may want to apply.

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Cost of Living in Hamburg

Did you know that Hamburg hosts the highest density of millionaires in Germany? Luckily, this doesn’t have much of an effect on the rest of us.

A monthly public transportation ticket costs about €70.

A one bedroom apartment costs between €680-950 per month.

Quick tip: Apartments in Germany refer to all rooms in ads, i.e. a one bedroom apartment would be called a ‘two room’ apartment in Germany because both the bedroom and living/dining room are considered rooms. Just something to be aware of when looking!

Expected Salary

If you're planning to move to Hamburg for a job, you'll be happy to hear this next bit.

Salaries are about 12% higher in Hamburg than the Germany-wide average, which is €3,810 per month. The average income in Hamburg is €4,270 per month, with the lower average being €1,080. Of course this depends on the field, level of education, and experience.

I once interviewed at a job in Hamburg where they were very transparent about how they came up with their initial salary offers. They used a table with one axis corresponding to education level and the other axis corresponding to years of experience – but of course you should negotiate at the end of the day if this does not meet expectations.

Keep in mind that if you're a non-EU citizen and working in Germany, just be aware that you need to earn a certain salary or above to meet the requirements for most visas.

Note the prices and salaries written here are based on data from 2021.

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Learning German

Is it necessary to learn German in order to live in Hamburg? It depends.

Short-term answer: not at first. You can get along just fine in English for everyday tasks. It’s uncommon that Northern Germans in general can’t speak at least conversational English, let alone in a tourist city like Hamburg.

Long-term answer: you should make learning it a priority if you plan to stay longer than a year or two. If you see a permanent residence visa in your future or even citizenship, you will have to prove that you have a certain level of language skills anyway.

There are plenty of places where you can take courses in Hamburg, from the affordable classes with 20+ participants at Volkshochschule, to the pricier intensive courses in small groups that you can find at places like the Goethe Institut.

Or, if you'd prefer learning German online, I recommend:

• Drops: Use the free version of this app for 5-minutes of vocab lessons a day. This is good for improving vocab but little else.
• Mondly: If you want to have a little bit more practice, this app is similar to Duolingo but has less silly prompts and more realistic phrases and sentences.
• Babbel: Babbel is similar to Mondly but also teaches cultural tidbits during the language lesson.
• iTalki: If you're more serious about learning to speak the language, this platform allows you to have 1:1 or group lessons with native teachers.

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The Social Scene

There’s something for everyone and every interest in Hamburg. As an international city, there's really a wide range of people living in Hamburg, so you're sure to find your tribe.

To get you off on the right foot...

• Do you like techno and raving? Head to PAL. ‍
• Are you looking for the LGBTQ+ scene? Head to any bar on the Lange Reihe or some of the bars on the Reeperbahn.‍
• Do you prefer chill bars where you can talk with your friends and enjoy the ambience? Check out some of the places in Eppendorf and Eimsbüttel. ‍
• Are you ready for a crazy night out filled with drinks, dancing, and music? There are lots of popular places in Sternschanze or the Reeperbahn, especially the Hamburger Berg.

Best Things to Do in Hamburg

Want more? There are plenty of other fun things to do in Hamburg in order to make friends and settle in. A few of my favorites include:

• Check out one of the many pub quizzes going on. There are regular quizzes taking place at The Fleetenkieker Irish Pub, Freundlich + Kompetent, and don’t forget Monkey Quiz which takes place at rotating restaurants/bars. Plus, many quizzes take place in both German and English!
• Wine tasting at any of the many wine bars
• Illusion museum
• Get a great view of the Elbe from the viewing platform at the Elbphilharmonie
• Walk through Planten un Blomen, one of the most popular parks in the city
• Visit the Hamburg art museum
• When it’s sunny, enjoy a drink at one of the handful of beach bars in the city
• When it’s rainy and cold, do an escape game with your friends
• Visit one of the city’s many movie theaters, with most of them showing films in the original version

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Best Places to Eat or Drink

‍Although Germany isn't famous for its food, you'll be happy to know there are plenty of great spots to dig in or just grab a drink. My must-visit restaurants, cafés, and bars in Hamburg include:

Käthners 23

This restaurant is an absolute hidden gem. It’s located in the Barmbek neighborhood and it’s basically in the middle of a residential area. The hook is that they have a rotating menu that changes every 2 weeks based on locally-sourced ingredients they can get. The decor inside is eclectic and reminds you of a thrift store. Definitely book a table ahead of time and enjoy this local treat!

Südhang

This restaurant and wine bar is one of those places that you always walk past and think ‘I should go there, it looks nice’ but for some reason you never go in. Well this is your sign to finally do it! They have a lovely wine selection (which you can also purchase by the bottle in their downstairs shop). Their menu is quite small, but it’s very good and prepared in such a lovely way. It’s perfect for a cozy, romantic date or a fancy night with the girls.

The Special Connection

Whether you just want a coffee or a full brunch, this place is wonderful. Inside, they have a bright but cozy interior with plenty of plants hanging around. When the weather is nice, they have beach chairs outside where people can sit and enjoy the sun (when it’s out) with their coffee. The location is also right next to the harbor, so it’s a perfect prelude to a day exploring that area of the city or walking along the Elbe river. Added bonus: it’s super instagrammable with their cute decor and dishware.

Drip Bar

This local favorite is an actual hole in the wall. Seriously – the first time I went there, I nearly missed it because it’s so inconspicuous. The bartender even told me that they don’t do any external advertising, just word-of-mouth. Well here’s the word: go! They have super delicious cocktails and the bar gets its name from the way they infuse their own alcohols. It drips slowly over many hours, similar to how cold brew is made. I won’t give away too many details, but make sure to make a trip there if you can.

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Helpful Apps for Hamburg Life

If you're new in Germany, or even just to Hamburg, you might not know about these apps but once you move here, you'll rely on them often.

When you move here, I recommend you download:

• HVV: HVV stands for Hamburger Verkehrsverbund and they run all of the bus, U-Bahn, and S-Bahn lines in the city. We use the app to get more accurate timetables and destination planning than with Google Maps. You can also buy tickets within the app so you don’t have to navigate the grimey machines at the stations.
• MOIA: The ride-sharing service for Hamburg. (Also in Hannover.) It’s like Uber Pool, but the electric, German version.
• Too Good To Go: They enable people to pick up unsold food from restaurants and markets. You get a surprise bag of food at a discounted price.
• Flink: Flink promises to deliver you groceries in 10 minutes. It’s great if you’re sick or just don’t feel like buying the necessities once in a while. They don’t have everything that a normal supermarket has, but it gets the job done in a pinch and the prices aren’t any higher.
• StadtRAD: The biggest bike-sharing system in Hamburg. There are bike stations all over the city and it’s very affordable.

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Pros & Cons of Living in Hamburg 

I could hype up this city all day but we have to keep it real because no place is perfect.

The Weather

The biggest con that any Hamburg resident will warn you about is the weather. It is extremely rainy and gray in this city for a majority of the year. It’s estimated that there are about 187 days of the year where it rains, which is just over half the year. Make sure you have a raincoat and strong umbrella!

Because we are so far north, what I always tell people is this: the highs are high and the lows are low.

Summer is great because we get up to 17 hours of sunlight per day and you can enjoy a sunlit evening until about 11pm on some days. But in the dead of winter when it’s the exact opposite and we’re getting 17 hours of darkness per day, it can feel so draining and depressing. That’s why most of us take vitamin D during this time – as prescribed by our doctors, of course.

Public Transportation

A big pro in my opinion is the well-connected public transportation system. In Hamburg we have U-Bahns, S-Bahns, buses, regional trains, and the airport.

Here's what you need to know about each public transport option:

• U-Bahns tend to run every 5 minutes and are more focused around the city center or denser metropolitan areas, and they run both underground and above ground.
• S-Bahns cover a greater area around the city and the stations tend to be a bit further apart, and they also run underground or above ground depending on the area.
• Buses are your best bet if you don’t live near an U-Bahn or S-Bahn station, and sometimes they’re even more direct than the ‘faster’ choices.
• Regional trains can take you to destinations such as Lübeck or Bremen quite quickly and hassle-free.
• Finally, the airport is super convenient because it’s not that far from the city center and it’s easily accessible by bus or S-Bahn line 1.

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Will You Try Living in Hamburg?

Looking for the perfect German city to call home? While there are certainly pros and cons to living anywhere, Hamburg is a fantastic option.

As a big city with a large international community, you'll be able to settle in and meet people faster than in most small towns.

Life in Hamburg is a lot of fun, even if dark and rainy at times. Will you give it a try?