Public Transportation with the Hamburg CARD

Public transportation with the Hamburg CARD

Use buses, subway and suburban trains as well as harbor ferries in the HVV free of charge – simply show your Hamburg CARD and go.

Public Transportation with the Hamburg CARD

The Hamburg Card as a Public Transport Ticket

The Hamburg Card is a tourist card that serves as a ticket for the entire HVV Greater Hamburg area (city area). It allows unlimited travel on all buses, U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains as well as the harbor ferries. The journey to the airport (S1) is also included. However, it is not valid for trips to the surrounding countryside.

Validity begins on the selected day at 0:00 AM and ends the following day at 6:00 AM. 1- to 5-day passes are available - as an individual card (for 1 person, incl. up to 3 children aged 6-14) or a group card (for up to 5 people). No validation of the card is necessary.

Practical Use

  1. Bus & Train: Board the bus at the front and briefly show your Hamburg Card to the driver. U-Bahn and S-Bahn have no barriers - simply board (carry your ticket with you).
  2. Ticket Control: During ticket inspections, simply show your Hamburg Card (digital or paper). With group cards, all travelers must stay together as there is only one shared ticket.

Timetables and Public Transport App

HVV App: Download the free hvv App (Download: App Store / Google Play). The app offers route planning, shows real-time departure times and provides information about service disruptions on the lines.

Operating Hours: U-Bahn and S-Bahn run Monday-Thursday approx. 5:00 AM - 12:30 AM. On weekends (Friday/Saturday and Saturday/Sunday nights), many lines also operate throughout the night. On other nights, night buses take over service after the trains stop operating.

Important Lines for Tourists

  • Airport: The S-Bahn S1 runs every 10 minutes from Hamburg Airport directly to the main station (approx. 25 min journey time).
  • Main Station: The main station is the central interchange hub with connections to all S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines.
  • Attractions: Direct connections to many highlights, e.g., Landungsbrücken (U3, S1/S3), Elbphilharmonie (U3 to Baumwall or Ferry 72), Reeperbahn (S1/S3 or U3 St. Pauli), Speicherstadt (U3 Baumwall).
  • Transfer Hubs: Important stations for transfers are Jungfernstieg (city center, U/S-Bahn junction), Altona (station in the west, near Fish Market) and Landungsbrücken (transfer to harbor ferries).
  • Scenic Routes: Bus 111 (Altona ↔ HafenCity along the Elbe), Ferry 62 (Landungsbrücken ↔ Finkenwerder as an affordable harbor cruise) and U3 circle line (panoramic view of harbor and city).