Quick answerHamburg is a city in Germany, with 1,973,896 people inside the city limits in 2024. The wider metropolitan area had about 5.4 million people in 2024. It is best known for the Port of Hamburg, the Speicherstadt and the Elbphilharmonie. Its official language is German, and its currency is the Euro.
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany, with about 2.0 million people inside the city limits and about 5.4 million in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region (2024). It stands on the River Elbe in northern Germany and is the country's largest port.
Key facts
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,973,896 (2024) |
| Population (metro) | 5,425,628 (2024) · Hamburg Metropolitan Region (Metropolregion Hamburg) |
| Elevation | 6 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Berlin |
| Language | German |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Coordinates | 53.55° N, 10° E |
Overview
Hamburg stands on the River Elbe in northern Germany, about 100 kilometres from the North Sea. With 1,973,896 residents at the end of 2024, it is Germany's second-largest city, and its metropolitan region holds 5,425,628 people. The city covers 755 square kilometres and is known for its port, the largest in Germany and one of the largest in Europe, which has shaped its history for more than 800 years.
Hamburg was a leading member of the Hanseatic League, the medieval trading alliance, and a free city for much of its history. Its warehouse district, the Speicherstadt, and the neighbouring Kontorhaus district are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Elbphilharmonie concert hall, opened in 2017 on the harbour, has become the city's modern landmark. Hamburg is also known for its lakes, canals and bridges — the city has more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam and London combined, according to local counts.
What Hamburg is known for
- Port of Hamburg
- Speicherstadt
- Elbphilharmonie
- Hanseatic history
- Canals and bridges
Landmarks
- Speicherstadt
- Elbphilharmonie
- Port of Hamburg
- Hamburg Town Hall
- St. Michael's Church
- Planten un Blomen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Hamburg?
Hamburg had 1,973,896 residents inside the city limits at the end of 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), making it the second-largest city in Germany. Its metropolitan region had 5,425,628 people. The city covers 755 square kilometres on the River Elbe.
Where is Hamburg and what is it known for?
Hamburg is on the River Elbe in northern Germany, about 100 kilometres from the North Sea. It is Germany's largest port and a former leading city of the Hanseatic League. The city is known for the Speicherstadt warehouse district, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall and its many canals and bridges.
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Keep exploring
- Germany — the country Hamburg is in
- Berlin — another city in Germany
- Munich — another city in Germany
- Cologne — another city in Germany
- Albert Einstein — German science figure
- Ludwig van Beethoven — German music figure
- All cities in Germany
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.