Hamburg's tourism rebounds with 2.1% rise in overnight stays last year

A steady but slow rebound for Hamburg's hotels and attractions. Why did this port city trail behind Germany's tourism leaders?

, and Administrator

2026 March 14 . 7:07 AM

1 min read

The image shows an old book with a map of the city of Hamburg, Germany, with text written on it.... — The image shows an old book with a map of the city of Hamburg, Germany, with text written on it. The map is detailed and shows the streets, buildings, and other landmarks of the area. The text on the book provides further information about the city, such as its population, streets, and landmarks.

Guests Stayed More Than 16 Million Times in Hamburg - Hamburg's tourism rebounds with 2.1% rise in overnight stays last year

Hamburg saw a rise in tourist numbers last year, with overnight stays climbing by 2.1 percent. The city recorded nearly 336,000 more visitors compared to the previous year. However, growth remained slower than in other major German cities.

In 2022, Hamburg logged around 16.5 million overnight stays. Hotels maintained an average occupancy rate of 77 percent. Visitors from Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria led the international arrivals, with increases ranging from 2.8 to 5.5 percent.

Over the past five years (2021–2025), Hamburg's overnight stays grew by roughly 15 percent—from 7.2 million to 8.3 million. This figure lagged behind Berlin's 25 percent rise (32 million to 40 million), Munich's 22 percent increase (12 million to 14.6 million), and Cologne's 18 percent growth (6.5 million to 7.7 million). Official data suggests Hamburg's slower recovery stems from sharper declines during the 2020–2021 pandemic. Meanwhile, fewer tourists arrived from the United States and the United Kingdom compared to previous years.

Hamburg's tourism sector showed signs of recovery in 2022, though growth rates trailed those of other German destinations. The city's hotel occupancy remained strong, while European neighbours drove most of the increase in international visits. The overall rise in overnight stays marks a gradual rebound from pandemic lows.