Plaza
A panoramic view of the port and the city from a height of 37 metres above ground level
Plaza closed
As a result of the new Germany-wide coronavirus restrictions that have been issued, all concerts at the Elbphilharmonie and Laeiszhalle have been cancelled until further notice. The Plaza and the Visitor Center also remain closed.
It is not currently possible to book Plaza tickets. For questions regarding previously purchased tickets that are no longer valid due to the Plaza closure, please contact the Elbphilharmonie team by email at plaza@elbphilharmonie.de.
Visiting the Plaza During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Health and safety is our top priority so we are limiting the number of people allowed on the Plaza at any given time; you must keep a minimum distance of 1.5 metres from other people. Visits are controlled by issuing tickets. Plaza tickets can be booked in advance online or, if tickets are still available, in person on the day of your visit. Especially during the coronavirus pandemic, we recommend booking online in advance to assist in reducing queues at the ticket desks and thereby minimise the risk of infection.
Visitors are required to wear medical face masks on the Plaza, in the corridor leading to the Ticket Shop and on the »Tube« escalator. Please note that face visors are not regarded as face masks under the Hamburg SARS-COV-2 Containment Regulations.
Please note that, in accordance with Section 5 Par. 1 No. 3 of the Hamburg SARS-COV-2 Containment Act, persons with symptoms of an acute respiratory disease will not be admitted into the building.
Opening times and tickets :Please note: the information desk, Plaza, Elbphilharmonie Shop and Visitor Center are currently closed; it is not possible to book tickets
Tickets for Individuals or Small Groups of Up to 6 Persons
- By booking online in advance you assist in reducing queues at the ticket issuing points.
- Visit on the same day; free Plaza tickets are available at the Visitor Center and from the information desk at the entrance.
- Ticketholders for concerts in the Elbphilharmonie Grand and Recital Halls gain admission to the Plaza from one hour before the start of the event.
Tickets for Groups of 7 Persons or More
- Book from one day (or earlier) in advance at the Elbphilharmonie Visitor Center or online for a booking fee of €6 per person.
- Same-day visit: tickets are available at the Elbphilharmonie Visitor Center, at the information desk (10:00–22:30 daily) in the entrance area of the Elbphilharmonie or online for a booking fee of €6 per person.
Opening Times
- Plaza: 10:00–23:00 daily (last admission 22:30)
- Elbphilharmonie Shop on the Plaza: 10:00–22:00 daily
- Information desk in the entance area: 10:00–22:30 daily
- Visitor Center, Am Kaiserkai 62: 10:00–20:00 daily
What is the Plaza?
A Meeting Place
In the interior area of the Plaza you will find stairways and lifts to the concert halls, the takeaway café »Deck & Deli«, and the lobby of »The Westin Hamburg« hotel. Information on the Elbphilharmonie, books, CDs and souvenirs are for sale in the Elbphilharmonie Shop.
Visitors can discover the Elbphilharmonie in different ways with the Smart Table, a digital infotainment table – from a high-speed drone flight to a detailed picture gallery.
Please note: as a result of coronavirus restrictions, the Smart Table is not currently available for use by visitors.
The Inner Plaza
Dramatic reflecting surfaces, vistas, approaches and passageways are all important architectural features of the Elbphilharmonie. This includes the Plaza: in the centre point of the Plaza, a light shaft allows visitors to get a glimpse of floors 12 to 17 of the Grand Hall foyer.
Several areas are covered with reflecting glass, shimmering fragments of harbour life, the sky and the city.
Particularly prominent are leaning columns that allow for an unobstructed flow of people on the Plaza. From the outside, it seems as if the glass structure is floating above the old red-brick warehouse.
The Outer Plaza
At approximately the centre of the Plaza on both longitudal sides of the building, two eight-metre-high wind deflectors open up to reveal large facade cutouts that overlook the inner city and the harbour. Visitors can walk all the way around the Elbphilharmonie on the outer Plaza.
Getting to the Plaza
The way to the Plaza is an experience in itself: from the main entrance of the Elbphilharmonie, an 82-metre-long, curved escalator with elaborate lighting leads visitors up through the old Kaispeicher building. At the top, on the 6th floor, a panorama window offers a spectacular view down the river Elbe towards the harbour and docks. Visitors then take a second, shorter escalator up to the Plaza on the 8th floor.
Approximately 8,000 discs glitter in the two-way Tube – the world’s first curved escalator, with a total travel time of approximately 2.5 minutes.
On Offer on the Plaza
Elbphilharmonie Shop
A selection of products and souvenirs, made exclusively for the Elbphilharmonie, are for sale in the Elbphilharmonie Shop. Also available: books and CDs by many artists featured in the current season, the Elbphilharmonie Magazine as well as information on the Elbphilharmonie.
Opening Hours
10:00–22:00 daily / currently closed
Deck & Deli
On the Elbphilharmonie Plaza, freshly baked produce, ice cream and tempting cold and warm savoury snacks are on offer. In addition to a large selection of soft drinks, wine, sparkling wine and coffee, visitors can try the complete variety of Störtebeker cask beer varieties.
Opening Hours
10:00–20:00 daily / currently closed
The Westin Hamburg
In the upper part of the Elbphilharmonie, The Westin Hamburg’s 244 rooms and suites offer a spectacular view of the river Elbe, the Speicherstadt and the HafenCity. The entrance to the lobby is located on the Plaza.
Good to know
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How is Plaza admittance regulated?
In principle, a Plaza ticket entitles access to the Plaza. The operator, however, reserves the right to limit access, especially in the case of overcrowding. In addition, controls can be carried out by our security company as well as by the police and other regulatory agencies. Every visitor could be subject to a security control.
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Is a Plaza ticket valid for public transportation?
No, a Plaza ticket may not be used as a HVV (public transportation) ticket.
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Do restaurant customers require Plaza tickets?
Yes. Restaurant customers who make a reservation in advance receive confirmation and the corresponding number of Plaza tickets in the form of PDF files by email.
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Is the Plaza accessible for persons with mobility disabilities?
Yes, the Plaza is fully accessible via lifts. These are located in the main entrance area of the Elbphilharmonie (please follow the signs).
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How do I get from the parking garage to the Plaza?
Visitors first go to the ground floor from the parking garage. Upon presentation of a Plaza ticket, visitors may then access the Plaza from the main entrance area.
Please primarily use car park levels 2 and 4. From there, follow the signs through the staircase to the ground floor and then take the Tube escalator to the Plaza. Please avoid using the lifts if possible.
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Is it allowed to take photography and video recordings?
Video recordings and photography for private purposes are permitted. Please respect the privacy of other visitors and do not interfere with regular Plaza operations. Employees may not be photographed or filmed.
Video recordings or photographs for editorial or commercial purposes are only permitted with prior approval from the Press Office of the Elbphilharmonie.
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Are there toilets for visitors on the Plaza?
Free public toilets are located on the western tip of the Plaza, adjacent to the Elbphilharmonie Shop, and are accessible via stairs.
Persons with mobility disabilities and wheelchair users may use the B elevators situated at the entrance of the Elbphilharmonie Shop. The accessible toilets are open – a key is not required.
Further toilets are located behind the ticket shop at the main entrance of the Elbphilharmonie.
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May dogs be taken onto the Plaza?
No, animals are prohibited on the Plaza, however disability assistance dogs may enter the Plaza.
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Is there WiFi on the Plaza?
Free, public WiFi (Mobyklick) is available on the Plaza.
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May I smoke in the Elbphilharmonie?
Smoking is prohibited throughout the entire premises of the Elbphilharmonie. This includes the Outer Plaza on floor 8.
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Who should I contact if I find or lose an item?
Found items should be handed in to the security staff on the Plaza, at the main entrance or at the security office at the south-east corner of the Elbphilharmonie. Lost items can also be retrieved here. Please come by in person; it is not possible to contact the security office via phone or email.
After four weeks, all lost items will be deposited at the Lost Items Headquarters (»zentrale Fundbüro«) in the neighbourhood of Altona:
Bahrenfelder Straße 254-260
22765 Hamburg
phone: +49 40 428 113 501
email: zentrales-fundbuero@altona.hamburg.de
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 09:00-19:00 -
What protective measures are in place in the event of flooding?
The Elbphilharmonie is located in a safe high-water area, therefore no flood control measures are in place in the event of flooding. Closures that could occur in the areas surrounding the Elbphilharmonie may result in restrictions when travelling to and from the Elbphilharmonie.
- Download the Elbphilharmonie house regulations