The Hamburg Dungeon takes visitors on a 90-minute journey through 600 years of the most horrible parts of history. Theater, storytelling and rides are used to immerse visitors in stories of the city’s past.
The dungeon is centrally located in the middle of the Speicherstadt warehouse district, close to Miniatur Wunderland and several other popular attractions. The underground prison only allows children over ten years old to enter. Be warned that there will be shocks and frights during the tour.
Descend into the dungeon in a creaking elevator. You’ll be welcomed by a sinister character eager to share stories of plague, torture and other grisly episodes from Hamburg’s past. Be guided from the Torture Chamber, a round room with no corners in which to hide, to the Inquisition Room, where you may find yourself standing trial for any crime imaginable. The shows are interactive and include a lot of audience participation.
Actors will guide you through famous chapters of Hamburg’s history. Learn about the Great Fire, as well as lesser-known episodes such as the unusual execution of pirate Klaus Störtebeker. Find your way out of a Labyrinth. Watch behind you, as there are plenty of shocks and scares along the way.
The story of the 1717 floods is told with a fast-paced water ride, so be prepared to get wet. Some of the more hair-raising parts of the tour, such as the free-fall section at the end of the water ride, are optional.
Plan your visit before you go because tours in English are not available every day. Unless you speak German, this will be essential since a large part of the tour involves storytelling. Get discounted admission by booking online in advance.
Catch public transportation because parking nearby is limited. The Dungeon is just a few minutes’ walk from S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations.
