Hamburg U-Bahn

The Hamburg Metro, a major underground transport system in Hamburg, northern Germany, covers 104 kilometres with four lines and 91 stations. Inaugurated in 1912, the Metro is one of the oldest and third most used underground transport systems in Germany, thanks to the diligent work of Siemens & Halske and AEG. Since its inauguration, the Metro has been continuously expanded, further improving its connectivity with the city’s public transport systems. Single tickets start at 3.30 euros ($3.93). Operating hours are from 4am to 1am, with slight variations between lines.

The Hamburg Metro, also known as the “U-Bahn”, operates in Germany and carries approximately 540,000 passengers per day. The metro operates 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays only.

It does not use driverless trains, has no air conditioning or platform screen doors, and passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms. The standard fare is between €3.20 and €8.70, and the ticketing system is based on the principle of honour.

Metro map of Hamburg

Map of Hamburg Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Hamburg Metro map in PDF format.

About Hamburg

Hamburg is a state in the northern region of the Federal Republic of Germany. The city covers an area of 755 square kilometres and is divided by the River Elba. Hamburg has a population of around 1.8 million, making it one of the country’s largest metropolises. The city’s riverside port, an iconic landmark, is one of the oldest and busiest maritime trading hubs in the country.

While not a huge tourist hotspot, Hamburg is undoubtedly attractive, with traditional architectural styles lining its streets and numerous canals and artificial lakes scattered throughout the city, drawing comparisons to Venice or Amsterdam. In addition to its rich cultural heritage, Hamburg’s gastronomy, particularly its seafood, is a highlight for visitors. Due to its coastal location, the city enjoys a warm, humid climate with temperatures ranging from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius in the warmer months, reaching up to 30 degrees Celsius in the summer and fluctuating between 0.3 to -1 degrees Celsius in the winter.

Hamburg’s Transport System

Inaugurated on 15 February 1912, Hamburg’s subway system winds through the city on 104 kilometres of track. It is seamlessly integrated with the S-Bahn, a suburban rail line that serves the entire Hamburg metropolitan area. Designed to accommodate standard-size electric carriages via a 750 volt DC rail, most of the rolling stock is DT5 type, known for its internal sprinkler system. The Hamburg Metro system is operated by the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV), a public utility company, and serves approximately 600,000 passengers daily.

• Name: U-Bahn
• Length: 104 kilometres
• Track Width: 1.435 mm
• Number of Lines: 4
• Number of Stations: 91
• Maximum Speed: 72 km/h
• Operator: Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV)
• Daily Passengers: 600,000
• Established: February 15th, 1912

Historical Background

The Hamburg underground project was awarded to Siemens & Halsker and Berlin’s AEG in 1906. The first section was completed in 1907 and the inaugural line from Rathaus to Barmbek opened in 1912. This line combined both underground and elevated tracks.

The first line, the U1, was continuously extended over the following decades, with around 20 stations added. However, the expansion came to an abrupt halt during the Second World War due to the ‘Operation Gomorrah’ bombings, which destroyed the section between Hauptbanhof and Rothenburgsort.

Seven decades passed between the original inauguration of the Hamburg subway and the start of the second line, U2, in 1970. The third line, U3, opened in 2009, while the fourth line, U4, opened in 2012 as part of a major expansion and modernisation programme.

Lines and Stations of the Hamburg Metro

The Hamburg Metro consists of four lines and 91 stations, covering most of the city. Most of the lines are underground, with a few sections on the surface. The system is managed by the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV), which is responsible for the city’s rail and bus systems.

U1 Line

The U1 line runs along the north-south axis of the city, following a U-shaped route around the city. Starting at Norderstedt Mitte station and ending at Ohlstedt / Großhansdorf, it covers 55.8 kilometres and includes 46 stations. The U1 line, recognisable on maps by its blue colour, is operated by DT4 trains.

U2 Line

The U2 line crosses the city from north to south and then east to west in an L-shape. It is 24.3 kilometres long and has 25 stations. This line, marked in red on underground maps, terminates at Niendorf Nord and Mümmelmannsberg. The U2 fleet consists of DT4 trains.

U3 Line

The U3, a circular line that connects all the axes of the city, is 20.6 kilometres long and has 25 stations. It terminates at Barmbek and Wandsbek-Gartenstadt. It can be identified on underground maps by yellow lines and is served by DT4 trains.

U4 Line

The U4, the newest addition to Hamburg’s underground system, runs from east to west, parallel to the U2 for much of its route. Its terminus is at HafenCity Universität and Billstedt. With a total length of 12.2 kilometres, it is the shortest line in the city’s underground system. Its fleet consists of both DT4 and the more modern DT5 trains.

Integration with Other Transport Networks

Despite its extensive coverage, the Hamburg Metro is fully integrated with other transport systems to enhance and extend its service area. The most notable of these is the S-Bahn, a commuter rail network that extends throughout the Hamburg Metro area, combining both underground and surface lines. The S-Bahn stretches over 147 kilometres and includes 6 lines that cross the city from all sides. The network consists of 68 stations, some local, some part of the national rail system.

In addition to the S-Bahn, the HVV offers two other public transport systems for wider coverage. The first is the bus network, which covers more than 920 kilometres within the city and its suburbs. The bus network has 1,300 stops served by a fleet of 800 vehicles.

Hamburg also has a metrobus system divided into 23 lines. Unlike the conventional bus network, the Metrobus runs parallel to the underground lines and shares most of their stops. This system is one of the fastest modes of transport after the rail system.

The rapid bus system, with 8 lines, complements the metro system. It serves the residential areas of the city and connects them to the city centre. It runs along the outskirts of the city, providing a safe and fast transport alternative.

Finally, the HVV offers a fleet of small electric cars called Switchh for tourists and residents. These vehicles can be hired at any time and can be driven almost anywhere in the city centre. Payment plans depend on the total distance travelled and generally range from 8 euros ($9.43) to 90 euros ($106.08).

Connection to the Airport

Hamburg- Fuhlsbüttel International Airport, Germany’s fifth largest airport, is just 25 minutes from the city. Comparable in size, facilities and daily arrivals to Berlin’s Tegel International Airport, it is only 9 kilometres from the city centre. There are a number of ways to get to the airport. However, the easiest, cheapest and quickest is to take the S-Bahn. The S1 line has a station right outside the airport. A journey from Hamburg’s main railway station, Hamburg Hauptbanhof, costs just €3 and takes 24 minutes. On arrival at Hamburg Hauptbanhof, passengers can transfer to the underground or a bus line within minutes.

Operating Hours and Train Frequency

The Hamburg Metro runs continuously from 4am until 1am the following day. This timetable may vary slightly depending on the line and day of the week. The average frequency is every five minutes during the day and every ten minutes at night. These times are subject to change.

U1 Line

The first train leaves Nordestedt Mitte at 4:07 and the last train arrives at Großhansdorf station at 1:11. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, this metro line runs continuously until 1:00 on Monday morning.

Trains normally leave each station every five minutes from opening until 20:00. After this time, trains leave each station every 10 minutes. On weekends and public holidays trains run every 20 minutes.

U2 Line

The first train leaves Niendorf Nord at 4.20am and the last train arrives at Mümmelmannsberg at midnight the following night. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, trains run continuously until 12:23 on the following Monday or working day.

The average frequency on weekdays is every five minutes. After 20:00, the frequency reduces to every 15 minutes. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, trains leave each station every 20 minutes.

U3 Line

The U3 line opens at 4:18, with the first train leaving from Barmbek station. It closes at 12:42 after the last train has arrived at Wandsbek-Gartenstadt station. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the line runs between 4.28am and midnight.

From Monday to Friday, trains leave each station every ten minutes between opening time and 10am. After 10am the frequency increases to every five minutes. On weekends and public holidays the average frequency is 10 minutes.

U4 Line

The U4 line starts with the first train leaving HafenCity Universität at 4:30 a.m. and ends with the last train arriving at Billsted at 12:07 a.m. the following day. On weekends and public holidays, trains run continuously from 4 a.m. until midnight the following day.

On weekdays, trains arrive at each station every 10 minutes and this frequency is maintained throughout the day. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, trains arrive at each station every 20 minutes between 4am and 7.30am, and every 10 minutes thereafter.

Prices, Tickets, and Passes

Hamburg Metro offers a wide range of tickets and passes. The price of a single ticket may vary depending on the distance travelled, the age of the passenger and the mode of transport used. All prices are set by Hamburger Verkehrsverbund GmbH (HVV), the company responsible for financing and controlling the local transport network.

The HVV uses an area-based system to set fares. The city is divided into concentric circles or rings, each identified by a letter, to cover the city centre and its suburbs.

Rings A and B, the only ones served by the U-Bahn, represent the city of Hamburg itself and some of its immediate suburbs. The other rings, C, D and E, are served by S-Bahn and bus lines and represent the outskirts of the city and nearby villages.

In addition to the ring system, there are also different types of fares, depending on the type of journey. These are:

• Single ticket: This ticket is for one person and one journey and allows you to travel between any of the city’s rings. The price varies according to the area covered.
• 9am day ticket: This ticket allows travel from 9am for up to one adult and three children aged 6-14. It is ideal for passengers who require more than one journey per day.
• Day Pass: This ticket allows you to make several journeys around the city in one day. It is valid for one adult and up to three children aged 6 to 14.
• 9 AM Group Ticket: Allows up to five people to travel on one ticket. Can only be used after 9am.
  Single ticket – child: This is for children aged 6 to 14 who need to make a simple journey (without transfers or connections).
• 9 am day ticket – child: This has the same benefits as the 9am adult day pass but at a reduced fare. It can only be used by children between the ages of 6 and 14.
• Student tickets: These are for students aged 11 to 21 from any academic institution.

The table below gives more information about the ring system and the corresponding prices for each ticket:

Please note that these prices are current and subject to change. Always check the HVV website or ticket machines for the latest prices.

In addition to the above tickets, there are special tickets for use within the city centre. These include: Short Journey Tickets, which cost €1.60 (US$1.88) and only allow you to travel through a certain number of stations; Local Distance Tickets or Kurztrecke, which cost €2.20 (US$2.58); and the Hamburg Card, which costs €10 (US$12.35). The latter allows five users to travel within the city’s various rings for five days.

Future expansions

Hamburg is one of the fastest growing cities in Germany over the last 10 years. As a result, the city’s public transport system is undergoing continuous expansion, with a number of upgrades already underway. One of the HVV’s major plans is to extend the U4 line between HafenCity Universität and Elbbrücken. This is expected to be completed in 2018. In addition, a new station for the U1 (Oldenfelde) is already under construction and is expected to open in 2019.

In addition, two other projects have been approved, but construction has not yet started. Both involve extending the U4 line between Horner Rennbahn and Dannaralee stations and between Elbbrücken and Hargburg Rathaus stations. In addition, work on a new line is expected to start in 2021. This line, the U5, will run between Bramfel and Osdorf. Two extensions of the U2 line are also planned: from Mümmelmannsberg to Bergedorf and from Niendorf Nord to Oldesloer Strasse.

Advice

Although Hamburg is one of the safest cities in Germany, it is always advisable to take certain precautions when using public transport. Passengers are advised to take care of their personal belongings and to hang any bags or rucksacks in front of their bodies.

In order to locate lost or misplaced items, passengers are advised to wait five days and call the city’s Lost Property Central Office. HVV staff will forward any items found to this office within the specified timeframe.

Passengers who are in any doubt about the type of ticket they should use are advised to visit the official HVV website or call 040-19449. Any passenger with reduced mobility can request access to a special plan designed by the HVV, which includes special prices and recommendations regarding the accessibility of each station.

Trivia

• The HVV has produced a special leaflet for refuges currently living in Hamburg, detailing all the services and features of the public transport system. These leaflets contain a number of tips on how to use public transport and are available in the following languages German, English, Tigrinya, Arabic and Farsi.
• The HVV subsidiary also offers a parking service called Park+Ride. This service allows passengers to rent a car, park it at any HVV station and continue their journey by other means of transport.
• Bicycles are allowed on all HVV networks and there’s no extra charge.
• Among the many services offered by the HVV is a programme designed to help Hamburg’s new residents. It offers personalised help in navigating the various modes of transport available. You can contact them on 040/19449.

Sightseeing with the Hamburg Metro

Hamburg is one of the most attractive cities in Germany. Although it is an eminently commercial city, and much of its urban development revolves around it, it remains a city full of opportunities for enjoyment. It is considered one of the leading engines of German culture and a major culinary destination. The city also prides itself on its parks and gardens, which provide a perfect balance to the lush urban landscape. Read on to find out more about some of the city’s most interesting attractions and how to get there by underground:

Miniatur Wunderland: This is the largest miniature model in the world. It was designed as a model railway exhibition, with 5 sections stretching over 11 thousand metres. Some call it the “Little German Wunderland”. Located at Kehrwieder Strasse 2-4 | Block D, 20457, it’s easy to get to on the U-3: it’s a short walk from Rödingsmarkt station.

Hamburg Museum: This is Germany’s largest history museum. The building itself is remarkable, as it is one of the most important classical buildings in the city. It dates back to the early 20th century. The museum houses some of the most important works from the Baroque period, built by the Dutch artist Jan van Valckenborgh between 1616 and 1625. To visit the museum, take the U3 to St. Pauli station.

Heiligengeistfeld: This is one of Hamburg’s most popular attractions, visited by locals and tourists alike. Located in the St. Pauli district, this themed amusement park offers rides for the whole family. It is particularly popular at night, thanks to its beautiful light show. To visit Heiligengeistfeld, take the U2 underground to Messehallen station.