Attraction · Hamburg · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Church of St. Michael in Hamburg

Church of St. Michael is an attraction in Hamburg. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 29 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 580 m you'll find a public toilet, a bench and a water point.

Directions in Google Maps

Church of St. Michael in Hamburg, photo 2

Church of St. Michael in Hamburg, photo 3

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Audio tour · Church of St. Michael

2:17

You're standing at St. Michael's Church, which locals simply call the Michel. Start by looking up at the tower. It's 132 metres tall and clad in copper, and for centuries ships sailing up the Elbe used it as a landmark. Its four clock faces are eight metres across, the biggest in Germany. Above the main entrance there's a large bronze statue of the Archangel Michael defeating the devil.

Read and hear the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Wheelchair: Partly accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

1 / 10

Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 deView the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Church of St. Michael in Hamburg: a Lutheran city church

The Hauptkirche St. Michaelis in Hamburg is a Lutheran church, and locals simply call it the Michel. It is the largest church in the city. For centuries, ships on the Elbe used its tower to find their way. From the viewing platform you can look out over the city and the harbour. On weekdays, the tower keeper plays a tune on his trumpet in the morning and again in the evening. You will find the Church of St. Michael in Hamburg at Englische Planke 1A.

The History of the Michel in Hamburg

The first church on this site was built between 1647 and 1669. On 10 March 1750, lightning struck, and the fire went unnoticed for around 2 hours, so the church burned down completely. The architects Prey and Sonnin then built a new church, which was consecrated in 1762 with music by Telemann. The tower was not finished until 1786. In 1802, an astronomer dropped metal balls from the tower to prove that the earth rotates. The composer Johannes Brahms was baptised in this church. In 1906, disaster struck again. During soldering work on the tower, the timber caught fire. The tower watchman tried to warn the fire brigade with semaphore flags, but he could not save himself. Hamburg rebuilt the church in its old form, this time using steel and concrete. During the war, bombs destroyed much of the interior, but everything had been restored by 1952.

Accessibility and practical information for St. Michael's Church

You can visit the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis in a wheelchair, but only in part, so not every area is equally easy to reach. Inside the church there is a toilet that you can use with a wheelchair. If you want to know in advance which parts are accessible to you, check the official website at st-michaelis.de. The same website also tells you the opening times and whether you need a ticket. It is a good idea to check before you set off, so you can plan your visit with confidence.

Benches near Hauptkirche St. Michaelis and more

You'll find a toilet near the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis on Krayenkamp, 39 metres from the church. You pay there by card. The toilet is wheelchair accessible and has a baby changing table. There are 2 public toilets within 500 metres. Benches near the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis are also plentiful. The nearest bench is 95 metres away, also on Krayenkamp, and there are 48 benches within 500 metres. Drinking water is not readily available at the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis. There is no water tap within 500 metres. The nearest water tap is 579 metres from the church, at Bei den St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken, so bring your own water if you are visiting here.

Walking and more to see nearby

In the area around the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis, there are other sights you can reach on foot. The Speicherstadt is 724 metres from the church. The Miniatur Wunderland is 838 metres further on, and the Elbphilharmonie is 863 metres away. The Rathaus is the furthest of these places, at 921 metres. Each of these places has an audio story in the Outdoor Pitstop app, so you can hear more about them while you walk through Hamburg. There is also an audio story about the church itself. It lasts 2 minutes and you can listen to it in the Outdoor Pitstop app, on the spot. You can therefore listen while you stand in front of the church. Then start your walk to one of the other places. They are all within 921 metres of the church, so you can visit them one after another without much trouble.

Facilities near Church of St. Michael

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

50 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 29 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km.

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Miniature Wonderland · 840 m

Photo: Gulp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Elbe Philharmonic Hall · 860 m

Photo: Burkhard Mücke · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

MuseumAudio story · 2 min

Hamburger Kunsthalle · 1.8 km

Photo: Daniela Kloth · Wikimedia Commons · GFDL 1.2View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Speicherstadt · 720 m

Photo: User:Wmeinhart - Wolfgang Meinhart, Hamburg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Rathaus · 920 m

Photo: Arnoldius · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of Miniature Wonderland on the spot with the app

All 212 points of interest in Hamburg →

Also within walking distance

The 5 nearest points of interest with a story, within 2 km.

All 212 points of interest in Hamburg →

Walks within 2 km

Map ›

Cycle routes within 5 km

Map ›

Explore further

More points of interest

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of St. Michael in Hamburg?

The Church of St. Michael is at Englische Planke 1A, 20459 Hamburg. Hamburgers simply call the church the Michel.

How high is the viewing platform of the church of st. michael?

The viewing platform is about 83 metres above ground. From it you look out over the city and the harbour.

Are there benches near the Church of St. Michael in Hamburg?

Yes, the nearest bench is 95 metres away, at Krayenkamp. There are 48 benches within 500 metres.

Is there a toilet at the church of st. michael?

Yes, inside the church there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The nearest public toilet is 39 metres away, at Krayenkamp, and it takes card payment.

Is there drinking water at the church of st. michael?

No, there is no water tap within 500 metres. The nearest one is 579 metres away, at Bei den St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken.

When does the tower watchman play the trumpet at the church of st. michael?

On weekdays at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. He plays a chorale on his trumpet, directed in all four directions.