Eimsbüttel

Eimsbüttel is one of Hamburg's seven districts. It reaches from the western shore of the Außenalster to the border with Schleswig-Holstein and includes nine neighbourhoods: Eimsbüttel, Rotherbaum, Harvestehude, Hoheluft-West, Lokstedt, Niendorf, Schnelsen, Eidelstedt and Stellingen.

On 31 December 2025, 278,426 people were registered in the district on about 50 km², which makes it the most densely populated district, with about 5,600 residents per km² (Hamburg: 2,623), according to the Statistikamt Nord's neighbourhood profiles. The neighbourhood of Eimsbüttel alone had 57,607 residents. The city portal sums the district up as "animal, green and full of life", a nod to Hagenbeck's zoo in Stellingen.

Inner Eimsbüttel and Hoheluft-West

The densest part of the district, with rows of older apartment buildings. The Osterstraße is the unofficial high street, with restaurants, cafés, bars and shops; the city portal notes that its yearly street festival draws around 300,000 visitors.

Rotherbaum and Harvestehude

Villa quarters on the Alster and the Isebek canal that attract a well-off population. The main campus of the Universität Hamburg lies between the Grindel quarter and Rothenbaumchaussee, and the Grindel quarter has restaurants, street cafés and the Abaton, one of Germany's oldest arthouse cinemas.

Lokstedt, Stellingen, Niendorf, Eidelstedt and Schnelsen

Further out, the district becomes greener and quieter, with single-family and apartment houses. The city portal describes Lokstedt and Stellingen as particularly attractive for families. Eidelstedt and Schnelsen, at the western edge, also have commercial areas. Hagenbeck's zoo (Tierpark Hagenbeck) is in Stellingen, and the NDR public broadcaster has its television studios in Lokstedt.

• U-Bahn: the U2 runs from the centre through Eimsbüttel and Lokstedt to Niendorf Nord; the U3 ring line serves the eastern edge of the district; the U1 crosses Harvestehude and Rotherbaum.
• S-Bahn: the S3 and S5 stop at Stellingen and Eidelstedt in the west of the district.
• Buses: MetroBus lines link the inner neighbourhoods with the centre and with each other.

Check exact journey times from a specific address in the hvv journey planner.

• Older apartment buildings with Gründerzeit façades in Eimsbüttel and Hoheluft-West, many with small flats; very popular and rarely vacant.
• Villas and large period flats in Harvestehude and Rotherbaum, at the top of the price range.
• Post-war blocks, terraced and single-family houses in Lokstedt, Niendorf, Schnelsen, Eidelstedt and Stellingen.

In 2025 the average flat in the district measured 76 m² (Hamburg: 76 m²). Only 3.9% of flats were subsidised social housing in January 2026 (Hamburg: 7.6%). Listed prices for owner-occupied flats in January 2026 were about €7,100 per m² in the neighbourhood of Eimsbüttel and about €12,200 per m² in Harvestehude (Hamburg average €6,278).

At the end of 2025, 16.4% of households in the district included children (Hamburg: 17.5%), and 15.5% of residents were under 18. The district had 202 day-care centres (Kitas, March 2026) and 30 primary schools (2025/26), according to the neighbourhood profiles. The neighbourhood of Eimsbüttel alone had 60 Kitas.

For green space, families use the Niendorfer Gehege (142 hectares, the district's largest green area), the Stellinger Feldmark, the Alsterpark on the Außenalster and smaller parks such as the Eimsbütteler Park and the Innocentiapark.