Hamburg is not the first city that comes to mind when one thinks of Germany. Most tourists with a Germany visit visa flock to the more popular cities like Berlin and Frankfurt while visiting Germany. However, Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany, is a powerhouse of attractions that are worth seeing. Considered to be the one of the modern cities in Germany, Hamburg is rich in history and architecture. The city has more than 2500 bridges, making it the city that has the greatest number of bridges in Europe. One of the highlights of Hamburg is Speicherstadt, the warehouse district, where you will find many hidden gems. The Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg is its star attraction. Let us learn more about it.
What is Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg?
Miniatur Wunderland is the largest model railway system in the world. In fact, it holds the title of the world’s largest miniature in the world. Opened in 2001, Hamburg Miniatur Wunderland has 9 sections, which include miniature worlds representing Central Germany, Austria, Knuffingen Airport, Italy, Monaco, USA, and Switzerland. Made of wood, plaster, and steel, you will get to see vehicles (cars, trains, buses, boats, ships, and planes) running with the help of intelligent simulation along the different landscapes. The models, simulation technology, and attention to detail here will not fail to blow your mind.
Important Things to Know while Visiting Miniatur Wunderland
While visiting the Miniatur Wunderland may seem like one of the things to do with kids in Germany, it is far from the truth. The place is so fascinating that people of all ages can spend hours exploring and discovering. Before you go, there are some things that you need to know.
Book Your Tickets in Advance
While it is possible to walk-in directly to book your tickets, they may cause you to waste a lot of time. Booking directly at the venue is likely to require you to wait in the queue and also to gain entry. Hence, it is advisable to book your tickets in advance. You can book tickets online. This will save you time, as you do not have to wait in a queue to enter Miniatur Wunderland. You can book the tickets as per your convenience. Usually, the tickets have a 60-minute slot during which you can enter the place. Once you enter the place, you can spend as much time as you want inside, until closing time.
Plan Your Visit
With around 9 zones, there is much to see in Miniatur Wunderland. Hence, planning your visit will ensure that you make the most of it. Hence, before you leave for the place, visit the official website. Apart from booking the tickets, you also get to see all the information about each of the zones and other facilities at the place. You can plan what to see first and where to spend more time, as per the things that interest you. You can also check the Waiting Time Predication, which will tell you when the crowd will be more and when it would be relatively empty.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Miniatur Wunderland is during the weekdays, especially during the day time when the school is in session. You will see less crowd during this time of the day. While weekends are usually packed, there is less crowd on Sunday evenings, i.e., on school night, especially a few hours before closing time. When the weather is good in Hamburg, you will see less crowd inside Miniatur Wunderland, although it is not the same during summer season.
When to Avoid Visiting
Saturdays are usually crowded, and the same goes for Sunday mornings. If the weather is bad outside, i.e., if it is raining or snowing, expect huge crowd and long queues at Miniatur Wunderland. This is because Miniatur Wunderland is considered one of the best indoor attractions to visit in Hamburg.
Lookout for Special Tours
Apart from the regular visits, Miniatur Wunderland has special tours and projects throughout the year. Almost every month, the place organizes Wheelchair Mondays from 6 PM to 8 PM, during which only people on wheelchair can visit the place. Some other special tours to checkout are Wunderland at Night, Culinary Trip Around the World, and Big Tubs & Small Trains. You will need to check the website regularly to know about the dates and timings of these special tours.
Go for a Guided Backstage Tour
If you are interested to know what goes beyond the exhibits and the genius engineering behind them, you must go for a guided backstage tour. Multiple backstage tours happen throughout the day, and each tour cannot have more than 6 people. Lasting 1 hour, this tour will give you the chance to see the automated stations, machinery that is used for operating take-offs and landing of airplanes, and other interesting things. If you want the tour in English, you need to request the same at the time of booking.
Conclusion
Apart from the exhibits, you will also find a bistro inside Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. Unlike other theme parks and attractions, here you will find a variety of food and drinks at reasonable prices. Also, there is a retail store where you can buy souvenirs. If you miss out buying anything at the store, you can buy it through the online store as well.
