St. Michael’s Church, Hamburg

St. Michael's Church, Hamburg tickets: which one to buy

Saint Michael's Church, known as the Michel, stands in the Neustadt district of Hamburg, a short walk from the Landungsbrucken harbour and the Speicherstadt warehouse district, and it is the symbol of the city. Entry to the church is by a small donation or fee, and the tower, the crypt and a multimedia exhibition are ticketed separately or in combination.

The tower's viewing platform, at about 106 metres, can be reached by stairs or by lift, which makes it accessible to everyone, and it gives a panoramic view of the harbour, the Elbphilharmonie, the Alster lakes and the city. Walking tours of Hamburg include the Michel along with the harbour, the Speicherstadt, the Town Hall and the Krameramtsstuben, historic almshouses nearby. Organ concerts are held regularly, including a short midday recital on most days. Combined tickets for the tower and crypt are cheaper than buying them separately.

Visiting St. Michael's Church, Hamburg: what to see

The church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times: the first church was struck by lightning in 1750, and its replacement, built between 1751 and 1762 by Ernst Georg Sonnin and Johann Leonhard Prey, burned down in 1906 during repairs. The church was rebuilt in the same baroque style and damaged again by bombs in the Second World War, then restored. It is one of the largest Protestant churches in Germany, with space for 2,500 people. Inside, the church is bright and elegant, painted white and gold, with curved galleries and a large pulpit. It has five organs, including the great organ with more than 6,500 pipes.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the composer and son of Johann Sebastian Bach, is buried in the crypt, which also holds the tombs of other notable Hamburg citizens. A trumpeter plays a chorale from the tower every morning and evening, a tradition dating from the eighteenth century. The crypt, one of the largest in Europe, holds tombs and an exhibition about the history of the church. The multimedia show in the crypt explains the fires and reconstructions. The church's clock tower has the largest clock faces in Germany. The altar is made of marble, and the pulpit is decorated with gilded carvings. The galleries provide views of the whole interior. The bells ring for services and special occasions across the harbour district.

St. Michael's Church, Hamburg opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, with the tower open until the evening, longer in summer. The midday organ recital, usually at noon, lasts about fifteen minutes. The tower is especially beautiful at sunset, when the harbour lights come on. Hamburg is lively all year, and the harbour's birthday festival in May, the Hamburg Cruise Days and the Christmas markets bring crowds. The weather is often grey and rainy. Allow about forty-five minutes for the church and tower, and walk down to the Landungsbrucken for a harbour boat tour. The Elbphilharmonie concert hall's public plaza, reached by a long escalator, is about fifteen minutes' walk and free with a timed ticket.