Wedel

Wedel is a city west of Hamburg. It sits on the banks of the river Elbe. Its main claim to fame is the "ship welcoming machine" that greets every ship heading up the river to Hamburg with its flag and national anthem.

Understand

Welcome point for incoming ships in suburb Schulau.

Wedel is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, approximately 17 km (11 mi), west of Hamburg. Wedel has a population of roughly 35,000 (2022).

Get in

By train

• 1 Wedel station. Served by Hamburg S-Bahn  S1   

By plane

Wedel does not have its own airport, but the airport of Hamburg that offers a number of international and intercontinental connections is close by on the S1 line.

Get around

Public transport in Wedel relies on buses alone.

See

• 1 Willkommhöft Schiffsbegrüßungsanlage (Ship welcoming station) (in "Wedel Schulau" at the river "Elbe"). The main tourist attraction. Greets every ship that passes on its way to Hamburg with a flag dipping and the playing of its home countries national anthem over load speakers.  
• 2 Wedeler Roland. A statue. (updated Jul 2018)
• 3 Ernst-Barlach-Museum Wedel. Art museum. (updated Jul 2018)
• 4 Stadtmuseum Wedel. A museum mostly dedicated to local history. (updated Jul 2018)

Do

• 1 Theaterschiff Batavia. Theater-boat hosting numerous cultural events. (updated Jul 2018)

Buy

A lot of shops are located at the Bahnhofstraße.

Eat

• 1 Schulauer Fährhaus, Parnaßstraße 29, ☏ +49 4103 - 92 000. M-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 09:30-23:00. Located on the edge of the Elbe River, the Schulauer Fährhaus is part of the Willkommhöft. Enjoy some North Sea fish or Schnitzel as you watch the ships coming to or from Hamburg, with an announcer playing fanfare and giving interesting facts about the vessels. The best tables are on the waterfront, giving a clear and open view of the Elbe. Entrées range from €17.90 to 23.50. (updated Jun 2016)

Sleep

• Hotel Freihof am Roland, Am Marktpl. 6, ☏ +49 4103 1280. (updated Feb 2016)
• Hotel Diamant, Schulstraße 2, ☏ +49 4103 702600. (updated Feb 2016)

Go next

• Hamburg/Altona Sankt Pauli