Hamburg is Germany’s second largest city, located by the Elbe and its two tributaries. The city’s centre is situated next to two artificial lakes formed by the Alster. Its official name is Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, which testifies to its turbulent history. Read the travel tips for Hamburg below to find out which attractions you definitely shouldn’t miss.
Hamburg is a city of canals, streams and rivers, crossed by more than 2,500 bridges, which is more than in any other city in the world. Experience the port’s flashing lights as night falls. That’s when you can take a boat tour and see Hamburg’s attractions and numerous container ships in the port from another perspective. The boat sails through narrow waterways of the world’s largest warehouse district, known as Speicherstadt. During the ride, you’ll be captivated by impressive architecture of buildings that stand on timber-pile foundations. It all starts on the famous Überseebrücke where you’ll board the traditional Hamburg boat, known as Barkasse.
With the guided tour of Speicherstadt and HafenCity, you’ll be able to explore the Speicherstadt warehouses, which are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Speicherstadt became world-famous as a centre of commerce in the 19th century, and spices, coffee and oriental rugs were some of the most important products. Afterwards, it’s time to visit the modern HafenCity district and explore its architecture.
A very special experience awaits you on a stand-up paddle board. An experienced instructor will first teach you the basics and then you’ll be able to explore the Alster and enjoy the view of its banks. Paddling will take you all the way to the Stadtpark. There’s a former water tower in the park, now housing on of Europe’s largest planetariums.
One of Hamburg’s best museums is the Rickmer Rickmers museum ship. It sailed the world’s oceans for almost ninety years and now offers a unique peek into its lower deck. While you’re at it, you can also visit the Port of Hamburg, the second busiest port in Europe with a volume of more than nine million containers per year. Walk through different parts of the port and through the Elbtunnel, the world’s longest river tunnel. You can also buy tickets for the Hamburger Kunsthalle art museum at Tiqets. The crown jewel of the collections are medieval altar paintings, the works of German Romanticism, and collections of impressionism and classic modernism.
The guided tour of the Elbphilharmonie, the most famous modern architectural wonder of Hamburg, is quite interesting. The hall is one of the largest and acoustically most advanced concert halls in the world. It stands out from afar, as it was built on top of an old warehouse and has a shape of a sail.
An excellent experience of Hamburg’s main attractions is possible with the hop-on hop-off bus. You can hop off the bus at any of the twenty stops, where you can then hop on and hop off to your heart’s content. One of these stops is located near the city hall, a richly ornamented building. It has a wonderful 112 metres long façade that depicts the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
An interesting activity for travellers is walking through the St. Pauli neighbourhood. Each wall and door in the neighbourhood are covered in colourful art. The streets are full of art shops and cafés. The neighbourhood has lots of old houses and it this is also where you can find the Red Light District.
There are two hostels in Hamburg where HI members can get 10% off bookings. The first one, the HI Hamburg Auf dem Stintfang, is located opposite to the port. Numerous galleries can be found in the street next to the hostel. The second one, the Hostel Horner Rennbahn, is located in a quiet green neighbourhood, just a 10 minute’s ride with the metro from the city centre. There’s also a racetrack nearby. You can store your bike at the hostel, play football in the park in the summer, or read a book in the hostel’s library.
For more information about the culture and attractions in Hamburg, buy the pocket Lonely Planet guide. With the guide, you can find out more about the best nightlife and the beautiful lakes in the vicinity.
Enjoy while exploring Hamburg and don’t forget to send postcards with MyPostcard. New users can send their first postcard for free with the HIGlobetrotter promo code through the Globetrotter profile. You can read more about it here.
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