Ready for four weeks of action-packed carnival rides, astounding firework displays, German beer and live music? DOM consists of a whole month of fun for visitors from far and wide.
You don't have to be living in Hamburg very long to be familiar with DOM, the largest public festival in northern Germany. Comparable to the biggest funfair on the Rhine in Düsseldorf, DOM takes place three times a year (spring, summer and winter) in Hamburg.
The biggest funfair in northern Germany: DOM
Every edition of DOM introduces new and exciting funfair rides, stalls and special events for the whole family to enjoy. The funfair boasts more than 260 colourful attractions, including speeding roller coasters like the Wilde Maus XXL, the traditional Ferris wheel, the virtual reality-enhanced tour Dr. Archibald - Master of Time, and a vintage horse carousel, DOM has something for everyone.
And if you get hungry after going on all the rides there's no need to look too far because DOM is as much about funfair attractions as it is about food! More than 60 stalls serve a broad range of traditional German dishes as well as regional specialities, including old favourites like Bratwurst and Currywurst and traditional Hamburg herring sandwiches. There are also plenty of stands that offer sweet treats and drinks to keep you full of energy all day.
A funfair with a long history
Happening at Heiligengeistfeld, next to the St. Pauli stadium, the origins of this funfair date back to the 11th century. Back then, the old Mariendom cathedral was used as a winter shelter by merchants and entertainers who came to the city to sell their goods. This was a tradition that kept going until the cathedral was destroyed in 1804.
The merchants were displaced until 1893, when they were finally assigned a new location to settle and trade in - the Heiligengeistfeld. So, the name DOM is a remnant of the cathedral, which is "Dom" in German.
In the 1930s, the winter market was expanded to include a spring market and, following World War II, a summer market, evolving into the DOM funfair known and loved today.
Plan your visit to Hamburg DOM
Ready to go on as many rides as possible at DOM? It's free to enter the funfair - you pay for each ride separately. It's the perfect day out for families and kids: you'll find offers for discounted tickets for roller coasters and other rides on "Family Wednesdays", as well as fireworks on Fridays!