Located in the heart of St. Pauli, this museum has been delighting visitors since 1879 with its lifelike wax figures that tell stories from history and pop culture.
The museum was founded by Carl Ferdinand von Lindemann who had previously worked as an artist at Madame Tussauds in London. He wanted to create a similar attraction on his own terms and opened up shop in Hamburg with his first figure being Kaiser Wilhelm I. Since then, the collection has grown to include over 200 life-sized figures ranging from historical celebrities such as Mozart and Napoleon to modern day stars like David Bowie and Michael Jackson.
Visitors can take a self-guided tour throughout the museum or join one of their guided tours which are offered every hour on weekends (in German only). The tour takes guests through different sections dedicated to various eras of history including Ancient Egypt, Medieval Times, Renaissance Europe, World War II, Hollywood Stars and more. You’ll get an up close look at some iconic figures such as Albert Einstein or Marilyn Monroe while learning about their lives through interactive displays filled with audio clips and videos.
The highlight of any visit though is undoubtedly the Chamber of Horrors – a dark room filled with eerie waxworks depicting notorious criminals like Jack the Ripper or Vlad Dracul alongside other creepy creatures like werewolves or vampires. It’s certain to give you chills down your spine, even if it isn’t Halloween season yet.
