Holiday Inn Hamburg Review: A Four Star Hotel in Hamburg

Close up of the sign on the roof of the Holiday Inn Hamburg
by Anisa // 0 Comments

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.

Front entrance to the Holiday Inn Hamburg
While you can easily see the tower of the hotel from a distance, the main entrance is off the main streets.

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.

newly remodeled room at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
A glimpse inside the newly remodeled rooms at the Holiday Inn Hamburg

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.  

Anisa admiring the view of Hamburg
Anisa admiring the view

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.

bed at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
Our bed was comfy!

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.

bathroom in one of the remodeled rooms at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
The bathrooms in the newly remodeled rooms have a sleek and modern design.

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.

Lobby and Business Center at the Holiday Inn in Hamburg
You can find the business center just to the right when you enter the lobby of the Holiday Inn Hamburg

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.

Gym equipment at Fitness Center at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
I like all the windows in the gym at the hotel

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.

Anisa by the pool at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
Anisa loved the indoor pool at the hotel.

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. 

the hot food selection at the breakfast buffet at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
Breakfast was truly a feast at the Holiday Inn Hamburg! This is just the selection of hot breakfast foods.

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.

The hotel bar called the Windfang at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
The maritime theme of the WIndfang Pub is perfect for Hamburg.

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.
view of Hamburg from the Holiday Inn
You can see the beautiful towers of some of the buildings in Hamburg from the hotel.

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.

Anisa in her room at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
Anisa in her Executive Room at the Holiday Inn

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.

looking down the staircase at the Holiday Inn Hamburg
Looking down one of the staircases at the Holiday Inn Hamburg.

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.

Russell and Anisa on the roof of the Holiday Inn Hamburg with views of the city of Hamburg in the background.
Anisa and Russell enjoyed the great views of Hamburg from the rooftop and their room in the Holiday Inn Hamburg.

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.

Pin For Later

bed in holiday inn hamburg with text overlay

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

About the Author

Anisa is an experienced international traveler with extra pages in her passport and stamps from 41 different countries across 5 continents (and counting). She was born and raised in Texas. After a 13 year stint in NYC, she moved to England to live with her husband.

>