Free sightseeing: fish market on Sunday morning

Highlights

A colourful hustle and bustle with over 300 years of tradition
There is a lot to discover here: from fish rolls to souvenirs, from fruit baskets to raincoats
Up to 70,000 visitors on a market day
Live music in the fish auction hall

A market as colourful as life itself: loud, crowded, fun

What is there to see here?

Since 1703, just about anything you can imagine has been traded across from the fish auction hall. In addition to fish, many other fresh goods are sold here, including vegetables, fruit and plants. The market criers loudly advertise their goods and pack the woven baskets until a buyer is found. Whether flowers, souvenirs or clothes, there is something for everyone here. The adjoining fish auction hall is not where the fish is sold – instead, it is a venue for live music and dancing, which starts early in the morning. ‘Early’ is the key word here: the fish market on the banks of the Elbe takes place from April to October on Sundays from 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (From November to March from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.). So you have the choice of either ending a long night of partying here or waking up very early.

And where do we go from there?

From the fish market, you can take a nice walk along the Elbe. Heading towards the city centre, you will soon reach the old Elbe tunnel, Hafenstraße and the Landungsbrücken, as well as the Portuguese quarter. If you are heading towards Altona, it is worth visiting the docklands, the timber port or the Altona town hall.