THE ELBE PROMENADE
A promenade with a special charm
Stroll with a view of the harbour: the Jan-Fedder-Promenade
The best way to experience Hamburg’s maritime flair is along the Elbe!
The Jan-Fedder-Promenade winds its way between HafenCity and the Landungsbrücken for 1.3 kilometres along the river and offers breathtaking views of the harbour, ships and the skyline of the Hanseatic city. But the promenade is not only beautiful, it is also an important part of Hamburg’s flood protection. Learn more about the history and special features of this popular place.
Before the promenade was renamed Jan-Fedder-Promenade in 2022, it was simply called Elbpromenade. However, after the death of the Hamburg cult actor, who was known for playing police officer Dirk Mathies in the TV series Großstadtrevier, many Hamburg residents wanted to create a lasting memory for the actor – and so the renaming came about.
From flood protection to promenade
The history of the promenade is closely linked to the history of storm tides. Hamburg was repeatedly hit by the waters of the North Sea, including the devastating flood disaster of 1962. In order to better protect the city in the future, an extensive flood protection system was built in the following decades, and today the promenade is located on one of the flood protection dikes. But the mere protective wall was not enough for the people of Hamburg. They longed for a place to stroll and enjoy the view of the water. So the promenade was gradually transformed into an attractive leisure area.
Architecture and design
Today, the promenade is an architectural masterpiece. A broad, black basalt pathway and spacious steps make it a real eye-catcher that blends harmoniously into the landscape. Wide steps invite you to linger and sunbathe, while viewing platforms offer fantastic panoramic views. The section between Landungsbrücken and Baumwall, designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, is particularly impressive.
A place for everyone
The Elbe promenade is a place for people to meet and enjoy urban life. It is a meeting place for joggers and walkers, cyclists and skaters, tourists and locals. On sunny days, the promenade is full of colourful activity, and the cafés and restaurants along the promenade invite you to linger. Whether you are having an ice cream, drinking coffee or enjoying a fish sandwich – here you can let your soul dangle and let your gaze wander over the Elbe.
Events and highlights
The Elbe promenade is also the venue for numerous events. Whether it’s the harbour birthday or the New Year’s Eve fireworks, there is always something going on here. The open-air concerts in summer are particularly popular, attracting thousands of visitors.
Contact / connection
- Red Double-Decker
- Stop 1, St. Pauli Piers
- HVV
- Underground: U3, Baumwall or Landungsbrücken
- S-Bahn
- S1, S2, S3 Landungsbrücken
- Address:
- Jan-Fedder-Promenade
- Vorsetzen 72
- 20459 Hamburg