The Deichtorhallen in Hamburg are a highly recommended destination for art lovers visiting the city. They form one of Europe’s largest exhibition centres for contemporary art and photography. Nestled between the city centre and HafenCity, the Hamburg Deichtorhallen are a visual highlight in themselves. The two historic buildings dating from 1911-13 are real eye-catchers with their open steel-and-glass architecture, creating today's backdrop for spectacular major international shows. On arrival here, it is best to begin with the House of Photography, which is housed in the southernmost of the two buildings.

In addition, in the Deichtorhallen there are often individual exhibitions for artists and painters who bring a breath of fresh air into the galleries. There are also constantly changing international exhibitions on the topic of photography - the 19th and 20th centuries are a part of these, not to mention the present and the digital photography of the future. One highlight is also the F.C. Gundlach Collection. This primarily introduces you to many works in the fields of art and fashion photography. These collections were all assembled in Hamburg and, due to the architecture, the technical aspects of exhibition and the conservation skills of the institution, they were able to be housed in the Deichtorhallen.

The two buildings are located at the intersection of Hamburg’s Art Mile and HafenCity and since 2011 have been supplemented by a satellite in Hamburg’s Harburg district showing the Falckenberg Collection. This is a further artistic highlight in the Hanseatic City. The collection is located in the Phoenix-Hallen in the Harburg district, and since then it has attracted many visitors with its numerous exhibitions. Since opening in 2008, there have been exhibitions featuring artists such as Paul Thek, Jon Kessler and Robert Wilson, not to mention themed shows and presentations of the collection. The extensive rooms facilitate major installations and multimedia projects by artists such as John Bock, General Idea, Thomas Hirschhorn, Mike Kelley, Jon Kessler, Jonathan Meese, and Gregor Schneider. Down through the years, Deichtorhallen Hamburg have emerged as a centre for exhibiting photography and contemporary art with three institutional pillars - three institutions under the single Deichtorhallen brand. Dr Dirk Luckow has been Director of the Deichtorhallen Hamburg since 2009. A design shop, a specialist photography bookshop and the multi-award winning restaurant "Fillet of Soul" round off the Deichtorhallen offerings. Located at the intersection of the Art Mile and HafenCity, it offers an ideal starting point for cultural activities.