Accessibility
The Elbphilharmonie is open to all – and visitors can take that literally. We aim to make it easy for people with disabilities to visit both the new concert hall at the harbour and the historic Laeiszhalle on Johannes-Brahms-Platz.
Accessibility in the Elbphilharmonie
Access for Wheelchair Users and Persons with Limited Mobility
Getting to the Elbphilharmonie
Underground, Bus and Ferry
Underground line U3: Baumwall (approx. 450 m from the Elbphilharmonie)
Underground line U4: Überseequartier (approx. 1,000 m from the Elbphilharmonie)
Bus 111: Am Kaiserkai (Elbphilharmonie) (approx. 150 m from the Elbphilharmonie)
Ferry 72 (from Landungsbrücken pier): »Elbphilharmonie« pier (approx. 80 m from the Elbphilharmonie)
All stops are fully accessible for wheelchair users or persons with limited mobility.
With the Car
Parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available on floors 4 and 5 of the Elbphilharmonie multistorey car park. Pay stations also cater for the needs of the disabled. Call buttons offer a direct connection to the car park headquarters via phone and video.
There is a headroom restriction of 2.10 metres.
Contact
phone: +49 711 305 703 05
service@apcoa.de
www.apcoa.de/en
The Plaza, Grand Hall and Recital Hall cannot be accessed via the multistorey car park directly. Please use the »B« lifts to travel to the ground floor. From there, take the »A« lifts to the Plaza behind the turnstiles (Plaza or concert ticket required).
Seating for Wheelchair Users
All concert halls at the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle offer seating for wheelchair users. You can select wheelchair spaces when booking by email at barrierefrei@elbphilharmonie.de (please provide your complete postal address and a telephone number), by phone at +49 40 357 666 66 or in person at one of our ticket shops, subject to availability.
It is also possible to book a companion seat in the booking process – a ticket for companions of disabled visitors (with a »B« disability pass) is free of charge. Seating for accompanying persons is located in the immediate proximity of the wheelchair spaces.
We currently do not offer the possibilty to book a wheelchair space or companion seat online.
Find out more about discounts for severely disabled personsLifts
To the Plaza
Lifts to the Plaza are signposted in the entrance area (lift group »A«) and are located in the tunnel to the right of the long escalator.
Restaurant Visit
Diners of Störtebeker Elbphilharmonie can access the restaurant with the »B« lifts from the ground floor or from the multistorey car park directly.
To the Halls
The Grand Hall and Recital Hall are only accessible via the Plaza.
To the Grand Hall
Once you have reached the Plaza, there are two lifts (lift group »C«) to the Grand Hall. The main cloakroom is on the 11th floor. From there, take the lift to the floor noted on your ticket. Depending on your seat, there could be a few steps to negotiate in the hall.
Wheelchair spaces are located on the 13th and 15th floors, and are fully accessible. Accessible toilets are located on the north-facing side of the 12th floor and on the right-hand side of the bar on the 13th floor. Concert hall staff will be happy to assist you.
To the Recital Hall
Use the »C« lifts from the Plaza to access the Recital Hall. The cloakroom and the entrance to the auditorium are located on the 10th floor.
To the Kaistudios
The Kaistudios are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors and can be reached using the »B« lifts situated in the tunnel on the ground floor – to the right of the long escalator.
Wheelchairs
Please note that it is not possible to borrow a wheelchair at the Elbphilharmonie.
Guidance System for Visitors with Visual Impairments
The tactile paving system begins on the forecourt of the Elbphilharmonie and guides you into the building and up to each floor. There is a notice indicating which floor you are on at the end of every banister. Our staff will be happy to help if you have any questions.
The opening season of the Elbphilharmonie brought important insights into the functionality of the new concert hall. Step markings have been improved for increased visibility.
- All foyer steps have now been marked with a 15-mm-wide, black band.
- In addition, the beginning and end of each staircases has been marked using an additional 15-mm-wide, black band.
- In the Grand Hall, the steps at the transition from the rows of seats to the stairs are now marked more clearly with six dots that can be felt by the feet.
- All of the newly installed markings have been applied in a way that allows them to be felt with a cane.
Guide Dogs
Please indicate when booking if you wish to bring a guide dog to a concert or event.
Assistance for Visitors with Hearing Impairments
Grand Hall
Block E and parts of blocks I and K in the Grand Hall are fitted with an induction loop. Hearing aid users can use this to listen to the musical or spoken performance wirelessly through their own hearing aid, provided that the hearing aid is fitted with a »T« switch. If you require this assistance, please select a seat in one of these areas when booking and inform the in-house staff on the evening of the concert.
Seats fitted with an induction loopIn addition, remote receivers are available for all areas in the Grand Hall. Visitors with hearing impairments who are interested in using a receiver are asked to enquire at the cloakroom. The receivers can be connected to a pair of headphones or a induction neck loop for the use of hearing aids fitted with a »T« switch. Please note that visitors currently must provide their own headphones or induction neck loop. The remote receivers are compatible in all areas of the Grand Hall.
Recital Hall
Remote receivers are also available for the Recital Hall. Visitors with hearing impairments requiring this service are kindly asked to enquire at the cloakroom.
Accessibility in the Laeiszhalle
Accessible Entrances
Grand Hall / Brahms Foyer: Gorch-Fock-Wall
The Grand Hall and the Brahms Foyer are only accessible to folding wheelchairs or wheelchairs under 72 cm in width.
Recital Hall / Studio E: Artists’ Entrance at Dammtorwall 46
The Recital Hall and Studio E are only accessible to folding wheelchairs or wheelchairs under 68 cm in width.
Parking Facilities
Three parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available at the Gorch-Fock-Wall entrance. Six parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are available directly in front of the Artists’ Entrance on Dragonerstall.
Seating for Wheelchair Users
All concert halls at the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle offer seating for wheelchair users. You can select wheelchair spaces when booking by email at barrierefrei@elbphilharmonie.de (please provide your complete postal address and a telephone number), by phone at +49 40 357 666 66 or in person at one of our ticket shops, subject to availability.
It is also possible to book a companion seat in the booking process – a ticket for companions of disabled visitors (with a »B« disability pass) is free of charge. Seating for accompanying persons is located in the immediate proximity of the wheelchair spaces.
We currently do not offer the possibilty to book a wheelchair space or companion seat online.
Find out more about discounts for severely disabled personsAccessible Website
Our website – www.elbphilharmonie.com – has been developed to ensure that its content is as accessible as possible. The W3C recommendations served as the basis for these provisions, which are being continually expanded.
- The contents of this website can be read by all devices. In other words, you can visit our website on your smartphone, tablet, computer or laptop.
- Navigate our website easily even without a mouse: all webpage features can be controlled using your keyboard.
- All fonts can be increased and reduced in size via your browser settings.
- Each image on our website generally contains an alternative text that explains the image’s contents.
Contact us!
If you have any questions or comments about accessibility at the Elbphilharmonie and at the Laeiszhalle please contact us via our online contact form.
Send an enquiry