St Michael's Church combines many things at once: history, faith, music, views, encounters. Hardly any other place in Hamburg achieves this so effortlessly. As soon as you enter, you feel the vastness of the space. Unlike many other churches, the interior is flooded with light - without any heaviness.

The tower is particularly popular: take the lift or 452 steps to reach the platform at 82 metres. From there, you can look out over the harbour, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the Speicherstadt warehouse district and the Alster lake. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Altes Land.

In addition to church services and guided tours, organ concerts are regularly held here - even at lunchtime. Many guests come just for this: music in a unique setting. There are exhibitions, readings and guided tours in the crypt; the historical tombs in particular tell a lot about Hamburg's past.

Secret tip: Come up to the tower in the evening – the so-called „Nachtmichel“ offers a spectacular view of the city in the glow of lights, with significantly fewer crowds than during the dayüber.

1. The flag at the top of the tower is changed on special occasions – for example, on church holidays or anniversaries.
2. The daily tower hymn is played live by a trumpeter – twice a day, for centuries.
3. In the foundation of the tower, there is a historic water level stone that served as a water level indicator during storm surges.
4. The copper cladding of the tower's helmet was completely renewed in 2008 – old pieces were later sold as souvenirs.
5. Inside the church, there is a barometer stone that was previously used for weather forecasting.
6. The large organ has its own winding mechanism, which becomes audible during concerts – a rare detail.
7. For the reconstruction after the war, original blueprints were used that had survived in a safe.
8. The Michel has its own emergency power connection to ensure the bell still rings during power outages.
9. On the facade, remnants of cannonballs from the 19th century are visible, which were intentionally preserved.
10. In the crypt, occasional silent film concerts take place – accompanied by live organ music.

The Michel is open to everyone – literally and in a figurative sense. History enthusiasts have a lot to discover here, music lovers enjoy the organ concerts in impressive acoustics, and those who want to see Hamburg from above can't miss the observation deck.

Families can experience the ascent as a little adventure, especially when the brass player plays at the top. For people with mobility impairments, there is an elevator – just like barrier-free access to the church and crypt. Also, as a place of tranquility in the middle of the city, the Michel has its place.

Consejo: Merece la pena venir por la mañana - especialmente los fines de semana. Es mucho más tranquilo por la mañana y tienes la torre casi para ti solo.

Note: Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time. The Nachtmichel can be booked seasonally – usually between May and September.

The Michel is not a place you visit just once. You can sit down there and let the space affect you, experience Hamburg from above, or simply listen to the sound of the organ. What defines this place is its accessibility – both architecturally and humanly. No opulence that overwhelms you. No must-do program. Rather, it’s a place where you can be different: quiet, curious, impressed, or just present.

Whether as a starting point for a city walk, as a concert experience, or as a viewpoint – St. Michael's Church belongs to Hamburg just like the harbor. And it reveals itself to you anew each time you look closely.