Attraction
Elbphilharmonie
Herzog & de Meuron's glass concert hall on a 1960s brick warehouse, with a public Plaza 37 metres up that gives a full circuit of views…
International Maritime Museum
Nine exhibition decks in Hamburg's oldest surviving warehouse, Kaispeicher B, holding a vast private collection of ship models, paintings, charts and seafaring objects.
At a glance
- Type
- Maritime museum
- Area
- HafenCity, Hamburg, Germany
- Opening
- Open daily · 10:00–18:00
- Official site
- imm-hamburg.de
Good to know
- Step-free access
- Lifts
- Café
- Museum shop
- Public guided tours
Why we recommend it
The International Maritime Museum occupies Kaispeicher B, a brick warehouse built in 1878 and 1879 that is the oldest surviving storage building in Hamburg. The collection was built up over decades by Peter Tamm and was previously shown privately in Othmarschen before the museum opened here in June 2008. It describes itself as the world's largest private maritime collection, and it fills nine exhibition decks over roughly 12,000 square metres.
The oldest object is a dugout canoe found in the Elbe, and highlights include model ships carved from whalebone and ivory, a reproduction of Shackleton's lifeboat the James Caird, letters written by Horatio Nelson and a large collection of marine paintings. The museum holds 35 bone ships, model ships carved from bone, which it describes as the largest private collection of its kind, and rare books such as a 1657 atlas. One deck is given over to tens of thousands of miniature ship models, most in 1:1250 scale, laid out in vast glass cases. There are also uniforms, historic globes, sea charts, around 15,000 cruise ship menus and a large archive of photographs and construction plans.
The naval history displays include material from the world wars, such as the baton of Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz shown alongside a 1946 newspaper report on the Nuremberg trials, and a guided tour helps to put such objects in context. Public tours are offered for a small supplement on top of admission. Temporary exhibitions change regularly and often suit families.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, and a cheaper late ticket is sold from 16:30 if you only want a quick look. All exhibition areas are step-free, with two lifts, an accessible toilet and plenty of seating, and the museum has been assessed under the German Reisen für Alle accessibility scheme. Family tickets are available. Allow two to three hours; ship enthusiasts can easily spend longer. There is a café and a shop with a maritime bookshop.
Kaispeicher B stands on Koreastraße on the edge of HafenCity and the Speicherstadt, so the museum combines easily with a walk through the warehouse district and its canals.
International Maritime Museum FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, according to its website.
How many floors does the museum have?
The exhibition is spread over nine decks covering about 12,000 square metres.
Is the museum accessible?
Yes, all exhibition areas are step-free, with two lifts, an accessible toilet and plenty of seating.
Is there a cheaper late entry?
Yes, a reduced ticket is sold from 16:30 for visitors who arrive late in the day.
How long should you allow?
Two to three hours for a good look at the main decks.
Are there guided tours?
Yes, public guided tours run for a small supplement on top of admission.
Where is it?
In Kaispeicher B, Koreastraße 1, on the edge of HafenCity and the Speicherstadt.
Is it suitable for children?
Family tickets are available and temporary exhibitions are often aimed at families.