Marco-Polo-Terrassen, Hamburg, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Marco-Polo-Terrassen are a set of broad stepped terraces on the waterfront of HafenCity in Hamburg, facing the Grasbrook harbour basin. They are named after the Venetian traveller Marco Polo and make one of the best places in the new harbour district to sit by the water and watch boats go by. They also show how Hamburg lives with the tide.

The story behind it

HafenCity was built on the old harbour islands of the Elbe, and its streets and squares carry the names of great explorers. The Marco-Polo-Terrassen belong to that theme. The terraces are laid out as steps down to the water, and the whole district is designed around the river rather than against it.

Hamburg sits far up the Elbe, roughly 100 km from the North Sea, yet storm surges still push up the river and raise the water level in the city. That is why the waterfront here is built to be flooded now and then. The lower promenade can go under in a severe storm, and the buildings are raised or fitted with flood protection. Look for the metal floodgates beside the cafés and restaurants, which are closed when a surge is expected.

The ground around the old Grasbrook also has a darker story. It lay outside the city walls, and local tradition links it to the execution of pirates in the Middle Ages, whose heads were displayed as a warning to others at the port.

What to look for

• The wide steps that run down to the water, which work as seating, a viewpoint and a buffer against high tides.
• The metal floodgates set into the building fronts beside the cafés and restaurants.
• The harbour basin in front of you, where historic ships and modern boats share the water.
• The contemporary architecture of HafenCity around the terraces, including the tall residential tower beside them.

Tips for your visit

• The terraces are an open public space, so you can visit at any time of day. Check current opening hours for the cafés and restaurants nearby.
• Allow 20 to 30 minutes to sit and look around, longer if you stop for a drink.
• Late afternoon and early evening are good for soft light on the water and the glass facades.
• The Elbphilharmonie and the Speicherstadt are a short walk away, so the terraces fit easily into a longer day in HafenCity.

See it on a quest

The quest Waterfront Hamburg: History Walking Tour & Escape Game passes the terraces as one stop on a longer route along the water. You walk there on foot, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.