About HAM to Altona & Ottensen
Altona was an independent city under Danish rule until the 19th century and only became part of Hamburg in 1937. Today it combines the busy station quarter, the leafy lanes of Ottensen and the Sunday Fish Market on the Elbe, a tradition that goes back to 1703.
Two ways across town to Altona
Altona lies roughly 13 to 16 km from the terminals. Most drivers head south on Alsterkrugchaussee, cut through Eppendorf and Hoheluft and reach Altona station via Max-Brauer-Allee. When the inner city is jammed, the western option runs through Lokstedt and Bahrenfeld and enters Altona from Stresemannstraße. Expect 30 to 40 minutes off-peak and up to 55 minutes in the late-afternoon rush.
You see the total price for the vehicle before you book, whichever line the driver takes on the day.
Ottensen: where cars are guests
Ottensen packs cafés, small shops and old factory buildings into a grid of narrow lanes, many of them one-way or traffic-calmed, and Ottenser Hauptstraße is a pedestrian zone. A driver can reach most addresses, but not always the front door. Good stopping points are:
- Bahrenfelder Straße – the main north-south street through the quarter, close to Spritzenplatz.
- Friedensallee – for the Zeise cinemas and the converted factory blocks around them.
- Barnerstraße – for the Fabrik, the cultural centre in a former machine hall.
If your flat is in a courtyard behind a pedestrian lane, say so when you book, together with the number of suitcases.
Altona station, the town hall and the Altonaer Balkon
Around Altona station the streets are wider and the driver can stop directly at the entrance on Paul-Nevermann-Platz, useful if you continue by regional train. A few minutes south, the old Altona town hall faces Platz der Republik, and the Altonaer Balkon, a green terrace above the river, gives one of the best views of the container cranes. This is also where the Elbchaussee begins its run west toward Blankenese.
Hotels in Altona, St. Pauli and the Schanze are grouped on this hotel page.
Sunday morning at the Fish Market
The Altona Fish Market on Große Elbstraße takes place every Sunday: from 5 am to 9:30 am between April and October and from 7 am to 9:30 am from November to March. Stallholders sell fish, fruit, plants and souvenirs, and the market criers have their own fan base. Inside the Fischauktionshalle, the brick hall from 1896, there is live music and breakfast.
While the market is on, the riverside road is full of stalls and people. Your driver will stop on the slope above, around Breite Straße or Palmaille, and stairs lead down to the water. Arriving on an early Sunday flight and heading straight to the market works well if you can leave luggage in the car only briefly; it is easier to drop bags at the hotel first.
Cruise passengers in Altona
The Cruise Center Altona lies on the riverbank west of the Fish Market. Ship days bring coaches and luggage trucks onto Van-der-Smissen-Straße, so plan a little more time. Access, check-in timing and drop-off are explained on HAM to Cruise Center Altona.
What helps your driver in Altona
- The full address with house entrance, not just the street, because many Ottensen streets change direction at crossings.
- A note if you are going to the Fish Market rather than a residential address.
- Your flight number, so an early landing on a Sunday does not leave you waiting.
- The number of child seats and their sizes.
For trips from Altona back to HAM, a pickup about two and a half hours before a European departure gives enough margin.
