Walking Tour

The Jewish Cemetery of Altona Königstrasse

Chiseled in Stone: 150 years of Jewish life in Hamburg/Altona

Obscured from the street by lofty trees with dense foliage and a metal and brick fence, the Jewish Cemetery of Altona is one of Hamburg’s hidden gems. Founded in 1611 and covering just under two hectares, the cemetery is considered one of the most important Jewish burial grounds worldwide, not only because of its size and age, but also because of the cultural and historical significance of the numerous gravestones. The cemetery is actually two: the Sephardic cemetery, founded by Jewish immigrants from Portugal, and the Ashkenazi cemetery, founded by German Jews and immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia. Both cemeteries were closed in 1869, as it became possible for Jews to be buried in Ohlsdorf or other locations. Although the National Socialists and the Allied bombings left their destructive marks on the cemetery, over 8100 gravestones (some only as fragments) still remain. The Jewish Cemetery Altona Königstrasse is a registered historical monument since 1960 and is currently under review to become a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The 90-min. tour will be given in English by a docent of the Hamburg Museum Service. The tour will explain the evolving history of the Jews in Hamburg and Altona from the 17th to the 20th century. The distinct cultural, artistic, and historical backgrounds of Portuguese (Sephardic) and German (Ashkenazi) Jews, which are reflected in the ornamental décor and inscription on the gravestones, will be explained. It is possible to take photos of the gravestone reliefs and surroundings.

Registration is limited to 10 persons and thus restricted to AWCH members only. Please register by pressing the YES button below. Registration closes on Monday, Nov. 2.

Waiting list: If registration is full, and you are interested in joining this (or a second booking of the tour), please send an email to Carol H. at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be put on the waiting list.

Cost: 11 Euro per person, which covers the tour guide and tip. Money should be transferred at the time of registration to the AWCH bank account (IBAN: DE75 2069 0500 0000 9117 71) with the reference: Cemetery Tour.

As per the AWCH cancellation policy, you have until Tuesday, Nov. 3 to cancel your attendance without charge. After this date or in the event of a no show, you will still be required to pay 10€ into the club account, unless a substitute is found.

More information:

The entrance to the Jewish Cemetery Altona (Königstrasse 10a) is a 3-min or 4-min walk from S-Bahn stations Reeperbahn or Königstrasse, respectively. Please be at the entrance by 10:45 a.m.

We have reserved a table for 1:00 p.m. at Schmidtchen im Museum, a café in the Altonaer Museum (Museumstr. 23) and a 15 min walk from cemetery for those who would like to join us for lunch (pay for what you order). Please RSVP below if you plan to join us.