The Old Elbe Tunnel opened in 1911 as the St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel, built to carry the shipyard and dock workers who lived on the north bank to the yards on the south bank without relying on ferries. The Hamburg tourism board gives its length as about 426.5 metres and its depth as nearly 24 metres under the river. Four large lift cages carry people and vehicles from the entrance building at the Landungsbrücken down to the tunnel, where two tiled tubes run under the water. Today it is a quirky piece of working infrastructure that visitors treat as an attraction: you ride the lift, walk through the long tiled tube and come up on the south side in Steinwerder, where the quay gives a famous view of the harbour front, the Michel and the Rickmer Rickmers. It is free to walk and makes a good short expedition from the city centre.
How it works
You enter at the domed building at the Landungsbrücken and take a lift down. The tourism board states that motor vehicles are barred until further notice, so the tunnel is currently for pedestrians and cyclists, who use the passenger lifts, and cyclists may also use the goods and glass lifts. Bikes should be pushed into the passenger lifts during busy periods.
The page also notes that the freight lifts run on set hours and that glass passenger lifts run all day on weekdays, so check lift operating times before you go, particularly at weekends. The walk through the tube takes around ten minutes at an easy pace, and the tiled walls echo with footsteps in a way that is quite atmospheric.
What to see
The real reward is on the other side. When you emerge at Steinwerder you can walk to the quay and look back across the river at the skyline: the Michel, the Landungsbrücken piers, the Rickmer Rickmers and the line of cranes and ships. It is one of the best free viewpoints in Hamburg, and the light is especially good late in the afternoon. There are a few cafés and snack stands on the south bank in season, and the area is quieter than the north side.
Making the most of it
Combine the tunnel with a harbour cruise, a visit to the Rickmer Rickmers and a climb up the Michel for a day of port views. If you go with children, tell them about the lifts and the long tube, which is a small adventure in itself. Wear flat shoes, as the floor is tiled and can be damp, and bring a rain jacket in autumn and winter.
The tunnel is also a pleasant evening walk when the quay lights come on. Because it is part of the city’s infrastructure, it can be closed for maintenance, so check the tourism board page for current information before you plan a special trip. If you are on a budget, this is one of the highest-value free things you can do in the city.
What to expect
The experience
A free walk through a tiled tunnel under the Elbe, reached by lift, with a skyline view on the far side.
Best time
Late afternoon, so you can stand on the south quay in good light.
How long
About an hour including the lifts and the view on the far side.
Tips
Check lift hours, wear flat shoes and push your bike into the passenger lift in busy periods.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who likes unusual infrastructure and a free viewpoint over the harbour.
- Families
- Children enjoy the lifts and the long echoing tunnel.
- Couples
- A good late-afternoon walk with a skyline photograph at the end.
- Pair with
- A harbour cruise, the Rickmer Rickmers and the Michel.
- Time needed
- One hour, or longer if you linger on the south quay.
Good questions
Is the Old Elbe Tunnel free?+
It is free for pedestrians to walk, and the tourism board page lists no entry price. Lift operating times vary.
How long is the tunnel?+
About 426.5 metres, and nearly 24 metres under the river. The walk through takes around ten minutes.
Can I take a bike or a car?+
Cyclists can use the lifts, but motor vehicles are barred until further notice.
What is on the other side?+
The tunnel emerges at Steinwerder, where the quay gives a view of the harbour front, the Michel and the Rickmer Rickmers.
Where does it start?+
At the domed building by the St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, next to the harbour piers.
