St. Michael's Church (Michel) Guide: Church, Tower, Crypt, and Pass Compatibility
30-60 min
Baroque Church & Hamburg Landmark
Current building completed 1912 (after an 1906 fire); original church 1647-1669
Englische Planke 1, 20459 Hamburg, Germany
Planning to visit St. Michael's Church (Der Michel)?
Compare ticket and city-pass options for this attraction.
Practical Visitor Info & Tips
€0.00
Nov-Mar: 10:00-18:00 daily. Apr & Oct: 09:00-19:00 daily. May-Sep: 09:00-20:00 daily.
No reservation required for any component — all are walk-up, pay-on-site.
| November-March | Daily | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| April and October | Daily | 09:00 - 19:00 |
| May-September | Daily | 09:00 - 20:00 |
"Michel included" on any pass must specify which of these four products it means — church access is already free for everyone, so a pass's real value here is in the tower/crypt/combined admission, not the church itself. Purchased tickets are valid for one-off admission within one year of purchase, per the official site.
| Option | Price | Reduced | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church / nave | Free | Free | Walk-up |
| Tower | €8.00 | €6.00 | On-site |
| Crypt | €6.00 | €5.00 | On-site |
| Combined (Tower + Crypt) | €10.00 | €8.00 | On-site |
Overview & Visitor Introduction
St. Michael's Church — universally known in Hamburg as "der Michel" — is not a single admission product. Church/nave access is free for everyone; the tower viewing platform, the crypt, and a combined tower+crypt ticket are each separately priced, paid products.
A pass or comparison that simply says "Michel included" is not meaningfully informative, since the church itself is already free — the real question is whether a pass covers the tower, the crypt, or the combined ticket.
History & Architectural Significance
The current baroque-style church, completed in 1912, is the third building on this site — the second burned down in 1906 after being struck by lightning during construction work.
Its 132-meter copper spire is one of Hamburg's most recognizable landmarks and a historic navigation aid for ships entering the harbour.
What to See: Top Highlights
The Nave
Free to enter — one of Northern Germany's largest baroque church interiors.
The Tower
A viewing platform offering panoramic views over Hamburg and the harbour — a separate paid ticket from church access.
The Crypt
A separate paid ticket covering the church's burial vault.
Which is the Best City Pass for Hamburg?
We analyze prices, ticket options, and transport deals for Hamburg.
Location & Google Maps
City Pass & Ticket Strategy
Compare Hamburg PassesTurbopass includes church and tower admission (its own attraction list doesn't itemize whether the crypt is also covered). Hamburg CARD discounts each paid component separately: 25% off the tower, and 17% off both the crypt and the combined ticket — the church nave itself is already free with or without any pass.
Hamburg CARD
Discounted. 25% off the Tower (observation deck) admission ticket. Confirmed directly on Hamburg CARD's own official St. Michaelis partner page, which lists three separate component-level benefits: Tower (observation deck) — 25% discount; Combined ticket (tower + crypt) — 17% discount; Crypt (with exhibition & film) — 17% discount. The church/nave itself remains free for everyone regardless of any pass, so a bare "Michel discounted" claim is not meaningful without naming which paid component it refers to.
Turbopass Hamburg City Pass
Included. Listed among the pass's genuinely-included items; exact component (crypt included or not) was not itemized on Turbopass's own attraction list.
Data Provenance
Frequently Asked Questions
Is entry to St. Michael's Church free?
Does my city pass include the Michel?
What's the difference between the tower ticket and the combined ticket?
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