Elbjazz 2024: A festival weekend in Hamburg

The Elbjazz Festival is a highlight in Hamburg every year, and 2024 was no exception. Despite the inconsistent weather, which ranged from constant rain to sunny moments, the atmosphere on the festival grounds was truly special.

Spectacular locations on the Elbe

The location of the Elbjazz Festival is unusual in general. Or rather, the two locations – because the two main venues are located on either side of the Elbe. On the one hand, the majority of Elbjazz takes place on the huge site of Hamburg’s traditional Blohm+Voss shipyard, while on the other, there are also concerts in the no less spectacular Elbphilharmonie at the same time on both festival days.

Getting to the festival site is also well organized. Shuttle buses and – even more exciting – shuttle ferries take festival visitors from the Elbphilharmonie to the shipyard and back.

Blohm+Voss festival grounds

For me, the first day of the festival began at the shipyard – and unfortunately the weather didn’t play along at first. However, I also had to learn again how to ignore the North German weather like a true Hamburg girl until it no longer bothers me or simply gets better on its own. Luckily, the latter was the case and oh boy, it got better and better.

My favorites were The Streets and L’Imperatrice, Jungle, contrary to my expectations, didn’t quite catch me. But that’s actually the beauty of festivals – the range paired with the atmosphere live simply surprises again and again.

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Elbjazz: More than jazz

And in case you’re wondering it doesn’t sound like jazz – many others have asked themselves the same thing. In the run-up to the event, there was a controversial discussion about the fact that the event was also open to other musical genres. However, I found the mix very interesting; you can never please everyone, I guess.

Concerts in the Elbphilharmonie

I used the second day of the festival to see the Elbphilharmonie from the inside. And yes, the large hall has it all. The acoustics here are out of this world – and the concert by Shalosh, a jazz trio from Israel, proved it.

Already very moved by the frontman’s previous comments calling for more peace and humanity, my goosebumps reached a whole new level when the entire audience hummed along to one of Shalosh’s melodies. The incomparable acoustics did the rest.

Tips for a great festival weekend in Hamburg

Hamburg not only offers great music events such as the Elbjazz, but is also worth a trip in other respects. So what could be better than combining a festival weekend with a bit of sightseeing and exciting spots in Hamburg? Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your festival weekend!

Chill out at the beach club in the middle of St. Pauli

The trendy St. Pauli district also has a fairly large beach club on the Elbe. Not far from the Landungsbrücken jetties, you can lounge comfortably in deckchairs at StrandPauli, dig your feet into the sand and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the festival. Incidentally, from here you have a panoramic view of the port of Hamburg.

If you have a little more time, I also recommend a harbor tour. You really should have done it once in Hamburg! However, there are so many options, so I’ve put together a selection of the best tours for you here: The best harbor cruises in Hamburg

Through the Old Elbe Tunnel to the festival

The Landungsbrücken is also the entrance to one of the most fascinating sights in Hamburg: the Old Elbe Tunnel was built at the beginning of the 19th century and connects the city center or St. Pauli with the shipyards on the other side of the Elbe.

Until 2019, even cars could drive through the Old Elbe Tunnel, which seems really strange due to the narrow tube. There is no access road to get into the tunnel, cars used to get down via the historic freight elevators – today they are used by cyclists and pedestrians in addition to the stairs and escalators.

With the pedal boat through the Hamburg canals

Need a bit of exercise? At Supperclub Hamburg, you can rent pedal boats, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards and explore the truly beautiful canals in Eppendorf.

Idyllically located on the Isebek Canal, you can also relax in the Supperclub after your exploration tour, take a short lunch break and enjoy the atmosphere.

Aperitivo in the Schanzenviertel

Do you want to go to the festival later or go out in the evening? Then Enchanté in the Schanzenviertel is a good place to start the evening.

In addition to really good, unusual cocktail creations such as wineballs, there are also great little things to snack on with friends, such as extensive charcuterie boards with the best cheese or sardines au gratin.

You can also find more great food tips for Hamburg in my big Hamburg Food Guide.

On the road in Hamburg

Regardless of the festival, I was once again glad to have my Hamburg Card*, which guarantees discounts at most sights. In between, I really wanted to climb Hamburg’s Michel, which was only a stone’s throw away from the hotel and offers a mega view over Hamburg even in cloudy weather.

With the Hamburg Card, you can also use all public transport in Hamburg for free – and that gives you an enormous range of movement in a big city. The advantage: you don’t need to search for ticket machines or study fares anywhere, but can simply hop on the next best train or bus.

Buy the Hamburg Card here in advance*

Where to stay in Hamburg

It’s not difficult to find a good place to stay in Hamburg, it’s more difficult to choose. I’ve already slept my way through several hotels in Hamburg and still keep discovering new locations. I particularly liked the Adina Hamburg Michel* because of its unusual location in the recently quite trendy Neustadt district.

Although the bustling Reeperbahn is only a ten-minute walk away, it is located in a quiet neighborhood with the odd cozy café and the things you need for everyday life, such as a supermarket or a great weekly market on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the Grossneumarkt.

The Adina Michel, like all hotels in this chain, has small apartments equipped with a kitchen and dining area – perfect if you don’t always want to eat out or want to have a small breakfast in your room.

Check rates availability at Adina Hotel Michel Hamburg*

After the festival is before the festival: Elbjazz 2025

The next Elbjazz Festival will take place on June 6 + 7, 2025.
Tickets are available here.

Disclaimer: My trip to Elbjazz 2024 was at the invitation of Hamburg Marketing. Thank you very much!