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DJH hostel (Auf dem Stintfang; Map; 313 488; www.jugendherberge.de; Alfred-Wegener-Weg 5; dm without/with bathroom from €19.90/22.70, d with bathroom €59; ) When you’re not gazing out over the Elbe and harbour in the lounge of this squeaky-clean 357-bed hostel, you can shoot pool or play a life-size game of chess using knee-high pieces. It attracts lots of rambunctious school groups, but access is 24 hours. To get here, it’s a 100-stair climb from Landungsbrücken U-/S-Bahn station. There’s another DJH hostel in town (Horner Rennbahn; Rennbahnstrasse 100) but it’s nowhere near as convenient.

Kogge (Map; 312 872; www.kogge-hamburg.de; Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 59; s €29.50-33, d €48.40-55; ) At this rock-and-roll pub deep in noisy, grungy Reeperbahn territory, sleepyhead young party-goers can check out as late as 2pm from ‘Bollywood’, ‘Punk Royal’, ‘Disco Dream’ or other artist-designed rooms. None of the 12 rooms have bathrooms, but all have sinks. The bar is the hang-out of Hamburg’s movers and shakers in the music industry.

Etap Hotel (Map; 3176 5620; www.etaphotel.com; Simon-von-Utrecht-Strasse 64; s €49-59, d €59-69, breakfast €6; ) Two minutes’ walk from the Reeperbahn, this six-storey hotel, accessed by a glass lift is unusually central for the budget Etap chain. Industrially carpeted rooms have the typical single-bunk over a double bed set-up and ship-cabin-like bathrooms, but they’re bright and clean, and wi-fi’s free.

UNIVERSITÄTSVIERTEL

Hadley’s ( 417 871; www.hadleys.de; Beim Schlump 85; s/d without bathroom from €65/75, breakfast €5; ; Schlump) With mattresses set on tall mezzanine platforms (accessed by ladders), there’s enough space for you to have your own living room in this simple but stylish B&B. One of its four rooms has a private bathroom (yet surprisingly costs the same); shared bathrooms are lined with grey slate. While you can have breakfast in your room, Hadley’s fantastic cafe Click here is on your doorstep.

ALTONA

Schanzenstern Altona (Map; 3991 9191; www.schanzenstern.de; Kleine Rainstrasse 24-26; dm/s/tw/d/tr €19/44/59/69/74, apt €79-95, breakfast €6.50; ) A mix of families and slightly more grown-up backpackers inhabit these sparkling rooms with private bathrooms, and self-catering apartments. National Geographic prints decorate the common room’s yellow walls, while wooden chairs are also painted in parrot colours. Staff are wired into what’s happening around Hamburg. Two small caveats: there are no lockers, and wi-fi doesn’t extend to the rooms.

Seemannsheim Altona (Seaman’s Home Altona; Map; 306 220; altona@seemannsmission.de; Grosse Elbstrasse 132; s/d without bathroom €30/55, s/d with bathroom €45/70; ) Christian sailors lodge between trips at this friendly, freshly refurbished seamen’s home overlooking the river, and you can, too. Visitors (especially women) shouldn’t confuse this with the Seemannsheim near St Michaeliskirche, which can feel intimidating.

OUT OF TOWN

Campingplatz Buchholz ( 540 4532; www.camping-buchholz.de; Kieler Strasse 374, Stellingen; per person/car €6.50/5, tent €11-15, s/d €62.50/77.50; Hagenbecks Tierpark) This small, family-run camping ground has decent washing facilities, lots of shade and some cosy rooms in the reception building. It’s well connected to the city by public transport. If driving, take the A45/E45 then exit 26 to Hamburg-Stellingen.

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Midrange

ST GEORG

Galerie-Hotel Petersen (Map; 249 826, 0173 200 0746; www.ghsp.de; Lange Reihe 50; s/d without bathroom €49/69, s with bathroom €88-155, d with bathroom €98-165, breakfast €9.50; ) This delightful Pension inside a historic 1790 town house is an extension of its welcoming artist-owner’s personality, whose paintings decorate the walls of his ‘gallery of dreams’. Furnishings include a mix of contemporary, antique and art-deco styles. Our pick of its five rooms is the top-floor terrace studio, with a romantic rooftop terrace, kitchenette and separate living area.