Hamburg is a city I see myself returning to again and again. This was my third time in Hamburg and I still have so much left I want to see. I love the mix of the old and the modern.
This time we had a pleasant stay at the Holiday Inn Hamburg. Keep reading for my detailed review and all the information you need to decide if it’s the right place for you.
Note: This post includes affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information.
Contents
- About the Holiday Inn Hamburg
- Rooms
- Exercise Facilities
- Pool
- Dining Options
- Hotel Bar
- Service
- Other Amenities at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
- Holiday Inn Hamburg Room Rates
- Is the Holiday Inn Hamburg Kid-Friendly?
- Rewards Program
- Abseiling at the Holiday Inn
- Location
- Transportation Links
- Overall Review of the Holiday Inn Hamburg
- Expert Tips for Staying at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
About the Holiday Inn Hamburg
The hotel originally opened back in 1995 as the Forum Hotel. It became the Holiday Inn Hamburg in 2002. It’s a four-star hotel with 385 non-smoking rooms and suites, some with views over the Elbe River. They also have 17 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 180 people.
While the hotel is in the process of remodeling all its rooms, the one we stayed had not been redone. We did get a sneak peek at the new rooms which are very stylish and modern.
Find out more about the hotel on their website here.
Rooms
The hotel offers several different room types. We stayed in an Executive Room on the 15th Floor with amazing views of the city and port. It was a good size with a queen-size bed, desk, table, and small couch that could be converted into another bed. The closest was huge, so plenty of space if you want to bring a lot of clothes. There was a flat-screen tv, but we didn’t have much time to watch it.
Unlike many other hotels, the Holiday Inn Hamburg has a free mini-bar in every room and it is replenished daily. There aren’t any alcoholic options, but it was still nice to be able to come back to the room and know there would be chilled Coke, Fanta, or sparkling water waiting. We also used the minibar to keep the chocolate bars we made at the Chocolate Museum cold.
The bathroom was clean and what you expect in a four-star hotel. It had a bathtub/shower with good water pressure. (Note: The remodeled rooms have updated bathrooms.) We enjoyed the bathrobes and slippers too. There was plenty of counter space around the sink for makeup or other bathroom items. The hotel is transitioning to dispensers for toiletries as part of its initiatives to be better for the environment.
Like some other hotel rooms in Hamburg, not all rooms are air-conditioned. For most of the year, you probably wouldn’t even miss it. We happened to visit when it was unseasonably warm i.e. a heatwave. During the day we were out sightseeing and in the evenings, we turned on the fan and opened the windows. It was fine and we slept well. The Holiday Inn Hamburg is working on adding air-conditioning to all rooms, but in the meantime, if it is a concern for you please make sure the room you book has air-conditioning.
The room is well-designed for business travelers. The desk offers a comfortable space to get some work down and the wifi was fast (and free). It was nice not to have to log in each time you turned on your device. If you need to print anything (like a Ryanair boarding pass), the business center downstairs offers that for free.
Exercise Facilities
The hotel does have a small gym for those that want an indoor workout when they travel. It has a few machines including a treadmill, bike, and weights. The big windows let in a lot of light and offer nice views too.
The on-site fitness center is open from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm daily.
If you prefer to get your exercise outdoors, there is a gravel 1 km trail that goes through Entenwerder Park perfect for a walk or a short jog. There is also a golf driving range only a two-minute walk away.
Pool
The pool at the Holiday Inn was like heaven so be sure to bring your bathing suit. It’s indoors so it can be used year-round. The water temperature was perfect – not too hot or too cold. It was a unique shape, almost like a kidney bean. The stairs leading into the pool were grand and gentle. The room had floor to ceiling windows where you could watch the world go by. The time we spent at the pool was relaxing. I just wish we had been able to stay longer, but we had lots to see in Hamburg.
The pool is open from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm daily.
Dining Options
The hotel has one restaurant, Elbgarden, that overlooks the water and offers both regional and international dishes. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 6.30 am to 3:00 pm and from 6.30 pm to 10:00 pm. On Sunday, it is open from 6:30 am to 3:00 pm.
We enjoyed starting our days at the restaurant. The breakfast buffet had quite the selection and our waiter was attentive and friendly. In addition to your typical breakfast staples like scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and fruit, they also had a pancake machine and real honey from the honeycomb. My favorite part might have been the selection of bread (especially the variety of brown wholegrain ones) and pastries.
If you prefer to eat in your room, the hotel also offers 24-hour room service.
Hotel Bar
You won’t find the typical hotel bar at the Holiday Inn Hamburg. Instead, it’s a more relaxed pub called the Windfang. The decor has a maritime theme perfect for Hamburg. They serve cocktails in addition to beer and if you’re hungry they do offer some food options as well. It’s open until 1:00 am.
We just peeked in during the day since we didn’t get back to the hotel until late most nights, but it’s nice to know that there was a laid-back option for nightlife at the hotel.
Service
The Holiday Inn Hamburg has what they call the Holiday Inn Can-do Promise. That is their promise to do whatever they can to make your stay as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. All staff that we encountered were friendly and helpful. When we checked in, we were escorted to our rooms even though we didn’t have much luggage.
Other Amenities at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
- There is a Finnish sauna in the pool area that is free for all hotel guests. The sauna is heated daily from 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm, but they will heat it up for you other times on request. They have rain showers, massage showers, and foot showers too!
- The hotel has a massage pro available who offers a wide range of massage and body treatments including a classical massage, a Ritual Polynesian massage or a Ritual Siam treatment for the balance of body and soul.
- The hotel offers complimentary newspapers in the lobby and free access to the press reader app which allows you to enjoy thousands of newspapers and magazines on your device.
Holiday Inn Hamburg Room Rates
The rates for the rooms at the Holiday Inn vary depending on room type and the timing of your stay. Since the hotel is not located right in the city center, you are able to save money and still have a four-star quality room. The standard rooms start under €100.
Click here to check rates at the Holiday Inn Hamburg for specific dates.
Is the Holiday Inn Hamburg Kid-Friendly?
While we only saw one child during our stay, the Holiday Inn Hamburg is well-suited for families with children. Kids aged 17 and under can stay for free when sharing their parents’ room. Additionally, up to four kids ages 12 and under can eat free any time of the day in the on-site restaurant. There is also a children’s playground with slide, swing, and more right at the hotel and only for hotel guests!
Rewards Program
The Holiday Inn Hamburg is part of the IHG Rewards program so you can earn or redeem points for your stay. Other brands that are part of IHG include Intercontinental, Kimpton Hotels, Crown Plaza, Voco, Hotel Indigo, Even Hotels, Avid Hotels, Hualuxe Hotels, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites.
Abseiling at the Holiday Inn
Yes, you read that correctly, if you time your visit right, there is the opportunity to abseil down the outside of the hotel’s tower. House running, as it is called in Germany, is not for the faint of heart. It starts 50 meters above the ground. Find out the dates and get more information here.
Location
The Holiday Inn Hamburg is located in the Rothenburgsort section of Hamburg, which is south of the city center and next to HafenCity.
Note: There are other Holiday Inns in Hamburg. This Holiday Inn is located at Billwerder Neuer Deich 14.
Transportation Links
Many of the top attractions in Hamburg are located in the city center which is about three miles from the Holiday Inn Hamburg. It’s a short 10-minute drive (taxi ride) or 20-30 minutes by public transportation.
The Billhorner Muehlenweg bus stop is a short walk from the hotel. Several different city buses (3, 34, 154) go to different parts of the city from there. If you prefer, the new Elbbrücken station is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
For those that are driving, the Holiday Inn has plenty of parking in their garage for €19.50 per day. They also have vehicle charging stations.
Overall Review of the Holiday Inn Hamburg
We loved our stay at the Holiday Inn Hamburg. Our executive room was spacious, well-equipped, relaxing, and quiet. The staff made us feel at home. We enjoyed our time in the pool and the breakfast buffet gave us plenty of fuel for our busy days.
You can also read reviews on Tripadvisor here.
I hope to make it back to stay in one of the remodeled rooms.
-Anisa
PS If you are planning a trip to Hamburg, be sure to check out my free travel planning checklist.
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Expert Tips for Staying at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
- Don’t skip breakfast! The delicious buffet will keep you fueled throughout the day.
- Take advantage of the free non-alcoholic drinks in the mini-bar.
- Make time to visit the pool, it was such a relaxing experience.
- Get the Hamburg Card to save money during your visit. It includes unlimited public transportation and discounts on attractions, restaurants, and theater tickets.
Disclosure:
We were guests of the Holiday Inn Hamburg. All opinions are our own.​
This post also contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you. Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit. The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.
Last Updated on January 12, 2021