Hamburg will begin charging visitors to access the Elbphilharmonie's public observation deck on Oct. 5, ending years of free entry to one of Germany's most popular tourist vantage points.
The plaza will cost five euros to visit, or three euros at a reduced rate, the venue's operating company said. Officials anticipate a 25 to 30 percent decline in visitors, equivalent to roughly 550,000 to 660,000 fewer spontaneous visitors annually. About 1.5 million people are still expected to visit the 37-meter-high platform each year, down from more than 2.2 million last year.
The city senate projects gross ticket revenue of about 6.4 million euros annually. After deducting the 3.6 million euros previously paid to subsidize free access, the move is expected to yield a net gain of 2.8 million euros for the city, with funds directed toward municipal cultural institutions. Concertgoers will retain free plaza access via their ticket barcodes.