Travel Tips Travelling to Germany

Best places to exchange currency in Hamburg

Wise

13.01.17 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

With a strong economy, business investment in Germany continues to increase. Couple this with a vibrant tourist industry and Germany’s major cities - like Hamburg - have seen an unprecedented growth in visitors from home and abroad.

If you’re one of the lucky 6.3 million annual visitors to Hamburg, you’re in for a treat. Try a harbour tour to take in the city’s maritime and industrial heritage, or - if trains are more your thing - pop over to Miniatur Wunderland to see the world’s largest model railway.

Whatever your reason for visiting Hamburg, don’t go without some Euros to spend. Use this guide to avoid the rip-offs and find the best places to exchange your cash in Hamburg.

Things to know before exchanging currency

If you're travelling from outside the Eurozone, then you’ll need to know the mid-market exchange rate for your currency. It’s the real rate that banks use to trade money between themselves, and the one you’ll find on Google. Due to market fluctuations, you’ll find that it constantly fluctuates.

Here are a few tips to making sure you get the best deal:

Research the real exchange rate. To find the best deal out there, use an online currency converter to keep track of the real rate online and use it to compare with the rates you’re being offered.
Avoid changing your cash around airports and hotels. The rates are usually poorer and the fees higher. For convenient access to Euro cash, an ATM can be a good option.
Ask your local bank if they have any partners in Germany. If they do, there may be certain ATMs you can withdraw cash from for a reduced or waived fee. Also let your bank know you’ll be traveling to avoid having your card suspended for suspicious activity.
When using ATMs, avoid being charged in your home currency. As a general rule, don’t let the foreign ATM do any conversion for you. When a foreign ATM offers to charge in your home currency, it normally means you’ll be charged more for the conversion. Get charged in the local currency instead, to ensure a fairer rate. ATMs also ask whether you’d like to have the ATM’s exchange rate applied or the rate of your home bank. In this case, choose your home bank’s exchange rate - they’ll be fairer to you.

If you find yourself with Euros in your pocket at the end of the trip, spend them or keep them for your next venture into the Eurozone. Changing unwanted cash back means you're charged twice for access to your own money. Instead, spend it all before you get back on the plane.

Where to exchange money

If you do still have cash that you need exchanged, all of the services listed below will still charge a fee - even if they advertise ‘zero commission’. The company’s cut will simply be wrapped up in the rate they offer. Make sure you check out the deals against the live mid-market rate at the time to get the fairest one available.

International Currency Exchange (ICE)

Locations	Phone Number
Kirchenallee 57, 20099 Hamburg	+49 40 2803631
Hamburg Airport, Terminal 1 Flughafenstrasse 1-3, Abflugebene, 22335 Hamburg	+49 405 480 2465

Opening Hours

Kirchenalle - Mon-Sat 8:00-20:00
Hamburg Airport - Mon-Sun 5:00-21:00

Ria Financial

Location	Opening Hours
Lilienstrasse 32, Hamburg HH	M-F 9:00-20:00, Sat 10:00-18:00
Luneburger Str. 28, Hamburg HH	M-Sat 9:30-18:00

AGw

Locations	Phone Number
Steindamm 1, 20099 Hamburg	040-2 80 23 31
Wilhelm-Strauß-Weg 2, 21109 Hamburg	040-30 23 69 10
Reeperbahn 59, 20359 Hamburg	040-31 44 45
Möllner Landstraße 3, 22111 Hamburg	040-73 11 56 88

Opening Hours

Steindamm - Mon-Fri 8:00–20:00, Sat 9:00–18:00
Wilhelm-Strauß-Weg - Mon-Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–16:00
Reeperbahn - Mon-Thurs 10:00-20:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-22:00
Möllner Landstraße - Mon-Fri 8:00-20:00, Sat 8:30-20:00

Alternatively - use Transferwise. If you have a German bank account, or know someone who does, you can transfer money between accounts using the real mid-market exchange rate. With low and transparent fees, you get an even better deal. Wunderbar!

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