IntercityHotel Hamburg Altona

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest with you – when I first walked into the IntercityHotel Hamburg Altona, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes these mid-range spots surprise you, and this one actually gets a lot of things right that fancier hotels mess up.

The location is what really sold me on this place. You’re literally right next to the Altona train station, which I mean, sounds terrible for noise but honestly isn’t that bad once you’re inside. And here’s the thing everyone misses about staying in Altona instead of the city center – you’re away from all the tourist chaos but still connected to everything. The S-Bahn gets you to the Hauptbahnhof in like 15 minutes, and you can walk to the Elbe riverfront in about ten. There’s this great Sunday fish market (Fischmarkt) that’s walking distance if you’re into that early morning scene, though fair warning – it gets pretty rowdy with both locals and tourists nursing hangovers.

What I really appreciated was how straightforward everything felt. The rooms aren’t trying to be Instagram-worthy or anything, but they’re clean and surprisingly quiet considering the train station proximity. The beds are actually decent – firm enough that you won’t wake up with a backache, and the air conditioning works properly, which matters more than you’d think during Hamburg’s surprisingly sticky summers. The shower pressure is solid too, something I’ve learned not to take for granted in European hotels. Check-in was refreshingly efficient; none of that overly chatty reception desk theater, just friendly staff who clearly know what they’re doing.

I’d say the 7.8 rating makes perfect sense – it’s not going to blow your mind, but it delivers on what it promises without any nasty surprises. The breakfast buffet is pretty standard German hotel fare, though the coffee is better than expected. If you’re the type who needs a pool or fancy spa services, this isn’t your spot. But if you want a reliable base for exploring Hamburg without paying tourist-district prices, and you appreciate being able to hop on a train to anywhere in the city within minutes, then this place actually works really well. Just don’t expect much excitement from the neighborhood itself – Altona’s more residential and working-class, which depending on your travel style, might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Facilities