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Voykit pocket guide · Germany
Hamm
Spend a day in Hamm to see Maximilianpark and the zoo; add a quick visit to the Hindu temple if time permits.
Hamm is a small industrial city in the Ruhr with a well‑connected train station, a city‑bus network and a few attractions that fit comfortably into a half‑day to one‑day visit.
- Country
- Germany
- Best months
- May–Sept
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Card acceptance has improved but some bakeries, bars and small restaurants are still cash only.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–45 excl. bed · Mid €45–70 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; UK and US devices need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.; Bar and café: Round up to the nearest euro.; Taxi: Round up by €1–2.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night, optional.; Free walking tour: €10–15 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'.
- Toilets
- Station toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers; the 'WC' at motorway rest stops takes coins and gives a voucher.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3 |
| Beer (0.5 l) | €3–4 |
| Meal at a casual restaurant | €8–12 |
| City bus single ride | €2.80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DTM · Dortmund Airport
- ≈30 km (19 mi) north, train to Hamm about 20 min≈19 mi (30 km) north, train to Hamm about 20 min
Typical fares
- ICE Hamm‑Dortmund
- ≈ €30–45 one‑way, 35 min (check)
- City bus single ride
- €2.80
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
City bus system (14 routes) runs daily; single ride €2.80, day passes €4.60–€8.80 (2024). ICE trains stop at Hamm station, linking to Dortmund, Münster and Berlin.
See and do
Known for
- Maximilianpark
- Zoo Hamm
- Sri‑Kamadchi‑Ampal Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maximilianpark | Walk 10 min from Hamm Hbf or bus route 5; park entrance €6 adult, €3.50 child | ≈30 min total |
| Zoo Hamm | Bus route 27 from station to Tierpark stop; €9.50 adult, €5 child | ≈45 min total |
| Sri‑Kamadchi‑Ampal Temple | Bus route 5 to "Hindu‑Tempel" stop; free entry | ≈35 min total |
Sleep
- Mercure Hotel Hamm
- Close to the main station; good for a night if you need to split travel.
- Neumann's Nautilus (Bergkamen)
- Boutique option a short bus ride away.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Entschuldigungɛntˈʃʊldɪɡʊŋ |
| Thank you | Dankeˈdaŋkə |
| How much is it? | Wie viel kostet das?viː fiːl ˈkɔstət das |
| Where is the bus stop? | Wo ist die Haltestelle?voː ɪst diː ˈhaltəʃtɛlə |
| Can I pay by card? | Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?kan ɪç mɪt ˈkaʁtə bəˈt͡saːlən |
| Toilet? | Toilette?tɔiˈlɛtə |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; 'Guten Tag' or 'Hallo'; avoid: Hugs with people you have just met
- Names: Herr / Frau plus surname until invited to use first names; avoid: Using 'du' with officials or older strangers
- Punctuality: Arrive on time for tours, dinners and appointments; avoid: Being more than 5–10 minutes late without a message
- Queues and rules: Follow signs, wait at red lights, sort rubbish; avoid: Walking in cycle lanes
- Conversation: Direct and factual; people say what they mean; avoid: Taking directness as rudeness, or joking about the Nazi era
- Home visit: Bring flowers (odd number, not red roses) or wine; shoes off if the hosts do; avoid: Arriving early
- Paying: Say the total including tip as you pay; avoid: Leaving coins on the table and walking off
Scams and watch-outs
- Night buses run only on Saturday and Sunday; plan ahead if returning late.
- Check opening hours of Maximilianpark (seasonal) and the zoo before visiting.
Hamm is generally safe; stay aware of night‑bus schedules and keep valuables on public transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hamm yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Maximilianpark
- Zoo Hamm
- Sri‑Kamadchi‑Ampal Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Official city website: www.hamm.de/
- Wikidata – Hamm: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Hamm, revision 4912648 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4912648
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hamm). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.