Rickmer Rickmers

The basics

Resting on Hamburg’s waterfront, Rickmer Rickmers was permanently moored in 1983 after nearly 90 years of serving across the globe, from Germany to Chile to Portugal and beyond. It’s the oldest of the city’s many “museum ships,” and it’s the most well-known.

The oddly named ship takes its namesake from the Rickmers shipyard in Bremerhaven; for a stint, it was known as Max. Back to its original name, today, visitors can wander the wooden decks, explore the officers’ quarters and engine room, peruse artifacts and exhibits, dine on Hanseatic dishes at the restaurant, take in the view from the rigging and masts, and even send mail from this floating post office.

Things to know before you go

• The masts and riggings are open for climbing on Saturdays and holidays only.

• Museums float on either side of Rickmer Rickmers, if you’d like to make a maritime day of it.

• Entrance to the museum is free with the Hamburg City Pass.

How to get there

Most visitors will take public transit, which runs on time and often. For the S-Bahn, take the S1, S2, or S3 lines to the Landungsbrücken stop; for the U-Bahn, take the U3 to the Landungsbrücken or Baumwall stops. The ship is right in St. Pauli—your Hamburg travels will likely get you to the area at some point during your trip.

When to get there

Rickmer Rickmers is typically open every day of the week, though hours can and do vary on holidays. Crowds are most common on weekends and in the afternoons—if you’d like a quieter experience with more elbow room, come on a weekday morning. Aim to spend two or more hours navigating through the multi-level museum.

I’m flying, Jack

Visit Rickmer Rickmers on a Saturday or a holiday, and you’ll likely have an opportunity to climb up the ship’s rigging (for a fee). Safely attached via harness, you’ll head up 100 feet (35 meters) above the Hamburg harbor for a great view of St. Pauli and the roofs of Old Town.