Quick answer. Hamburg Airport is about 9 kilometres north of the centre, and the S1 S-Bahn from the station between the terminals reaches the Hauptbahnhof in around 25 minutes for about €3.50, with cards accepted at the machines. For euros, use a bank machine, and the best-represented bank in the city is Haspa, the Hamburger Sparkasse. Walk past blue Euronet units. Take out enough for the Sunday Fischmarkt, bakeries and the older bars of St. Pauli. Deutsche Bank is Bank of America's Global ATM Alliance partner in Germany, which removes BoA's flat non-network fee; BoA's 3 percent international transaction fee still applies.
Where to get euro at HAM
At HAM, a bank machine and a card with no foreign transaction fee are the whole answer. Figures below are for the euro equivalent of $100, at roughly €1 = $1.15.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haspa or other bank ATM on a no-FX-fee card | Terminals and across Hamburg | Network rate; any fee shown on screen | ~$115-117 |
| BoA debit card at a Deutsche Bank ATM | City branches | BoA 3%; flat non-network fee waived | ~$118-119 |
| Blue Euronet ATM | Terminals and tourist areas | High operator fee plus a DCC pitch | ~$122-128 |
| Airport exchange counter | Arrivals | Wide spread plus commission | ~$123-130 |
Bank machines at Hamburg (HAM), and the S1 into the city
Hamburg Airport, one of Germany's oldest, has two terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, joined by the Airport Plaza with shops and security, and the S-Bahn station sits between them. Bank machines are in the public areas, and Haspa, Hamburg's savings bank, has the densest network across the city itself. Deutsche Bank is Bank of America's Global ATM Alliance partner in Germany, so a BoA debit card avoids BoA's flat non-network withdrawal fee at its machines. BoA's 3 percent international transaction fee still applies and is never waived. Hamburg is more card-friendly than Munich, but notes still matter at the Sunday-morning fish market, in bakeries and in the older Kiez bars, as our Hamburg money guide explains.
Terminal 1
Eurowings, Condor, easyJet and other carriers
Bank machines are in the public areas. Use one with a bank's logo; exchange counters and independent machines add a margin. The S-Bahn station is a short walk towards the Plaza.
Terminal 2
Lufthansa and Star Alliance carriers, and others
Bank machines are in the public areas on the arrivals level. Decline any offer to charge you in dollars.
S-Bahn station (between the terminals)
S1 to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, Jungfernstieg and Altona
HVV ticket machines take cards, and the hvv switch app sells tickets on your phone. The Deutschlandticket is valid if you have one.
Do you actually need cash at Hamburg (HAM)?
No. The S-Bahn machines, taxis and ride-hail all take cards:
S1 S-Bahn to the Hauptbahnhof (around €3.50): About 25 minutes, every 10 minutes; card at the machine or the hvv app.
Taxi to the city centre (roughly €30-40): Around 25 minutes; most taxis take cards.
Ride-hail and MOIA shuttles (varies): Billed to your card through the app.
Bus to Kiel and northern Germany (varies): Direct coaches from the airport to Kiel and other northern cities.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Hamburg (HAM) to Hamburg?
No. The S1 ticket machines take cards, and so do most taxis. In the city, keep 30 to 60 euros for the fish market, bakeries, small bars in St. Pauli and tips.
Can I order euro before flying?
Rarely needed for Hamburg. CEI Currency Exchange ships euros to a US address in 2-5 days if you want notes before landing, but bank machines at the airport and across the city give the network rate.
How much is the train from Hamburg Airport to the city?
Around 3.50 euros for a single on the S1 S-Bahn to the Hauptbahnhof, which takes about 25 minutes and runs every 10 minutes. Tickets are sold by card at the HVV machines and in the hvv switch app, and the Deutschlandticket is valid.
Which bank ATMs are best in Hamburg?
Haspa, the Hamburger Sparkasse, has the most machines across the city. Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and others are common too. Bank machines show any fee before you confirm. Avoid the blue Euronet machines, which charge more and push a conversion into dollars.
Is the Hamburg Fischmarkt cash only?
Largely. The Sunday-morning Altona fish market, from dawn until mid-morning, has stalls selling fish rolls, fruit and plants, and many still prefer cash. The market hall's bars increasingly take cards. Bring small notes.