Miniatur Wunderland

About the museum

Miniatur Wunderland goes back to an idea by the twin brothers Frederik and Gerrit Braun, who founded the operating company in 2000. As early as August 2001, the first sections – central Germany, the fictional town of Knuffingen and Austria – opened in a historic warehouse building on Kehrwieder.

Since then, the layout has kept growing. The USA was added at the end of 2003, followed later by Scandinavia with real water, Switzerland spanning two floors, Hamburg and Knuffingen Airport, among others. With Italy, Venice and Rio de Janeiro, the Wunderland expanded across a bridge into a neighboring building; in April 2024, the Monaco & Provence section opened.

Today, twelve themed worlds cover around 1,500 square meters of model area. More than 1,200 computer-controlled trains run on more than 16 kilometers of track, along with cars, ships and planes, plus a simulated day-and-night cycle. The layout is considered the world's largest model railway and ranks among Germany's most popular attractions; in March 2025 it welcomed its 25 millionth visitor.

Expansion continues: the Amazon region as well as the Andes and the Atacama Desert are announced for the end of 2026, Central America and the Caribbean for the end of 2027, followed by a first Asia section.

Highlights

• Knuffingen Airport with planes taking off and landing
• Around 16.5 km of track and more than 1,200 trains at 1:87 scale
• Day-and-night simulation with hundreds of thousands of LEDs
• Italy themed world with Venice and Rome
• Monaco & Provence with a Formula 1 race
• Backstage tours behind the scenes

Permanent exhibitions

• Modellbahnanlage mit zwölf Themenwelten – From Knuffingen and Hamburg via Scandinavia, Switzerland and the USA to Italy and Rio de Janeiro: the worlds show landscapes, cities and traffic at 1:87 scale.
• Monaco & die Provence – The newest section, with the Principality of Monaco, a Formula 1 race on the street circuit and Provençal landscapes.
• Amazonien, Anden & Atacama-Wüste – New South America section under construction, with opening planned for the end of 2026 according to the Wunderland; Central America & the Caribbean are to follow at the end of 2027.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg GmbH

Director

Frederik Braun und Gerrit Braun (Gründer und Geschäftsführer)

Admission & discounts

Personal annual pass for ages 16 and up €99, for children from 1 m tall up to age 15 €59. Evening events priced separately: “Nachts im Wunderland” €32 (under 16: €18.90), “Große Pötte & kleine Züge” with a harbor cruise €34.90 (under 16: €25.90), “Kulinarische Weltreise” €89.90 (under 16: €49.90). Backstage tours can be booked separately.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair lift at the four entrance steps (max. 300 kg, platform 100 × 77 cm); oversized wheelchairs by prior arrangement via the rear entrance at Am Sandtorkai 33. Elevators connect the entrance, shop, bistro and all exhibition levels, including in the second building across the bridge. Accessible restrooms. Two accessible parking spaces at the Auf dem Sande bridge. Tours in German Sign Language (DGS) led by a deaf staff member, special backstage tours for blind people by arrangement, content in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache). Regular wheelchair evenings with few crowds. Lockers are not wheelchair-accessible, but there is a cloakroom.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties: not available

A small layout children can operate themselves, a children's cinema and play corners in the bistro areas. Baby changing room with free diapers and wet wipes, plus a quiet space for nursing. Children's birthday parties can be held at the Wunderland, but there is no special program for them. Backstage tours are available only from age 6.

Getting there & parking

StadtRAD bike-share station right outside the door. About a 15-minute walk from the city center.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Large bistro with around 300 seats in themed areas (breakfast, hot dishes from about 11:00), the “Wunderland-Diner” serving burgers on the third floor of the neighboring building, and a children's restaurant. Coat check (€0.50 per item) and lockers, charging stations, fully air-conditioned.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Exclusive rental of the entire exhibition after closing for corporate and private events (at least 3 hours, only a few dates per year); the YULLBE VR experience can also be rented exclusively. Inquiries via the contact form with the subject “Exklusive Anmietung”. Capacities not stated.

Plan your visit