Novotel Hamburg City Alster

Hotel Description

You know what surprised me about the Novotel Hamburg City Alster? It’s actually got this perfect balance thing going on – modern enough that everything works properly (thank god), but not so sleek that it feels cold. I mean, when you’re dealing with a 4-star chain hotel, you never quite know what you’re going to get, but this one really delivers on that solid 8.1 rating it’s earned.

The location is honestly what sold me on this place. You’re right there near the Alster – and I’m talking about the real deal, not some distant view where you squint and maybe catch a glimpse of water. From certain rooms, you can actually watch the joggers making their morning rounds along the water, which is weirdly relaxing with your coffee. The whole Alster area has this unexpectedly peaceful vibe for being so central, and you’ll find yourself just a short walk from both the shopping chaos of Mönckebergstraße and those quieter streets where locals actually hang out. What I really appreciated was how easy it was to slip into Hamburg’s rhythm from here – you can grab the U-Bahn without any hassle, but honestly, I found myself walking to most places because the city just opens up around you.

The rooms themselves are what you’d expect from Novotel, but done right. Clean lines, decent space (not cramped like some European hotels can be), and – this matters more than people realize – really good blackout curtains. The beds are firm in that German way that somehow works, and the bathrooms actually have proper water pressure. I stayed during a busy conference season, and while the lobby got pretty hectic during check-in times, the staff kept things moving without that frazzled energy you sometimes get. The breakfast setup is solid too, though it gets crowded around 8 AM when all the business travelers descend at once – pro tip: go a bit earlier or after 9:30 if you want to actually enjoy your coffee in peace. One thing that struck me was how the whole place just feels… reliable, I guess? Like, you’re not going to have any nasty surprises, but you’re also not paying for unnecessary bells and whistles. It’s Hamburg hospitality without the fuss – straightforward, comfortable, and positioned exactly where you want to be to actually experience the city rather than just pass through it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $136. Standard Twin Room with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $136. Standard Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $136. Standard Double Room with Sofa Bed with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $167. Superior Double Room with Sofa with 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• George from Belgium – 10 May 2025 (9/10)

  We had a big and comfortable room for 4 people, the facilities were all great, the room was clean. Breakfast was also good with a lot of options. The reactivity of the staff was also great when we had a minor issue, so that was also a plus.
  
  What could be improved: There is no discount for the parking if you are a hotel guest, so you pay the usual fee. We paid 81 euros for 3 days which is a normal price for an external parking. I know it is administered by another company, but every hotel has a partnership where they offer a 15-25% discount to hotel guests, even on some external parking, I am sure a deal can be made here also.

• Elizabeth from Ireland – 5 April 2025 (8/10)

  Very helpful staff and lovely room.

• Sarah from Egypt – 17 March 2025 (8/10)

  Shout out for the great, comfortable beds and pillows. I have to say the beds are super comfy compared to many other hotels. We had a couch in the room which was v nice.
  The proximity from a metro station, "Lübecker Straße" made everywhere easy to reach.
  The housekeeping is very attentive as well and made sure that our room is tidy and clean – especially we had a baby.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Panagiotis from Denmark – 8 January 2025 (8/10)

  Very nice hotel at a perfect location (close to city centre and with the metro station only 30 meters from the city entrance).
  A good variety and comfortable space for breakfast. Although there was long queue after some time in the morning (especially after 09.00) for the breakfast, the personnel was amazingly fast and efficient in emptying and cleaning the tables and arranging for the new guests to find a table pretty quickly.
  
  What could be improved: The price for the hotel parking (which I didn't care to be informed in advance) seemed a bit expensive (52 euros for a less than 48 hours).

• Donata from Lithuania – 29 December 2024 (9/10)

  It was clean, stuff was exceptionally helpful.
  
  What could be improved: Quite poor breakfast, didn’t find body cream and etc.

• Jordy from Netherlands – 19 December 2024 (8/10)

  The rooms were very clean and it had everything you would expect from a hotelroom.

• David from Germany – 18 November 2024 (9/10)

  The Breakfast was really good, lots of choice. The hotel is right beside a local train station. Using the local train the whole City of Hamburg can be easily reached.

• Laura from Luxembourg – 4 November 2024 (9/10)

  Metro Station in front of the hotel. There was a small café 5min walk from the hotel where you can have an excellent breakfast! The staff was quite nice and the room was modern and clean.
  
  What could be improved: It took a while to get to the city center.

• Lourda from Ireland – 23 September 2024 (9/10)

  Great breakfast selection. Great location.

• Iryna from Ukraine – 22 September 2024 (9/10)

  Location was good, just two steps to metro. Breakfast was good.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities