Spectacle in Hamburg: Half Marathon & Harley Days bring traffic to a standstill!

Spectacle in Hamburg: Half Marathon & Harley Days bring traffic to a standstill!

It was an exciting Sunday, June 29, 2025, when Hamburg was captivated by two big events: the hella hamburg half marathon and the Harley Days. The city was in a state of emergency as around 18,000 participants tackled the route and at the same time Europe's largest inner-city biker meeting took place.

The first streets were closed as early as 4 a.m., especially around the Reeperbahn and the Millerntorplatz. Most traffic restrictions went into effect at 7 a.m. when the half marathon started. The route led from the Reeperbahn through Altona, past the harbor, around the Alster and finally to the exhibition halls.

From runners and bikers

The half marathon was a complete success. The first places were taken by talented runners from around the world, with Samwel Mailu from Kenya taking first place. With more than 10,000 runners and numerous skaters, the atmosphere was exuberant and the city was full of energy.

But that wasn't the end of the celebrations. At 2 p.m. the highly anticipated Harley Days parade began, led by music legend Peter Maffay. Around 2,000 motorcycles rolled through Hamburg in an impressive caravan of hundreds of vehicles. The route of the parade was via the Veddel, the Köhlbrand Bridge, through the harbor and Hafencity back to the wholesale market.

Traffic restrictions and alternatives

The police warned of significant traffic disruptions along the approximately 30-kilometer route of the Harley parade until around 5 p.m. In combination with the ongoing events, the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (hvv) bus routes were severely affected. Lines 2, 3, X3, 4, 5, 6 and many others were particularly affected during the half marathon. In the afternoon, drivers also had to expect restrictions on lines 13, 119 and others. The hvv recommended switching to the subway and S-Bahn and taking a look at the current traffic situation via their website or app before traveling.

The police advised drivers to drive widely on Ring 2 and to plan additional alternative routes. It was a day where the city could be enjoyed to the fullest despite the restrictions. For the people of Hamburg and the numerous visitors, this Sunday was a celebration of sporting and motoring passion.