Lübeck day trip from Hamburg: train, bus and buying advice

Guided tours usually leave from Hamburg's main station, run six to eight hours and include a walking tour, the Holstentor museum and often a marzipan tasting. The schedule is tight.

By regional train you are more flexible and cheaper: the ride takes only about 45 minutes, so a spontaneous trip without advance booking works well too.

The Holstentor gate is the landmark of the Hanseatic city and houses a small city history museum; viewing it from outside is free, the museum itself charges admission.

The brick-gabled old town is entirely on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Allow an extra hour for the famous marzipan makers, including a tasting and a small museum.

Start early: from late morning both the Holstentor and the narrow old-town lanes fill up. Realistically the Holstentor, the old town and marzipan in one day need six to seven hours.

The marzipan makers include a small tasting. There is no obligation to buy; if you want to skip a long pitch, choose a tour that explicitly keeps the visit short.