Thanks to centuries of sea trade, the vibrant city of Hamburg offers an unparalleled wealth and variety of culture. Stay a weekend, stay a week – you're sure to fall for its irresistible charm. Whatever you do, don't miss out on these 10 highlights!
St. Pauli
Don't let St. Pauli's skull and crossbones flag deter you. This traditionally working class neighborhood is now one of Hamburg's most culturally diverse and vibrant areas.
Reeperbahn
Also known as the "most sinful mile," the Reeperbahn is Hamburg's infamous red-light district. Nowadays it's a bustling and highly popular locale, home to the city's best nightlife.
Hamburg Dungeon
Discover the dark side of Hamburg's history on a fun and interactive tour – but be warned, the Hamburg Dungeon is not for the faint of heart!
Alster Lakes
These two beautiful lakes surrounded by parks are ideal for a break. Have a picnic, jog along the water, or take a boat out. At Alster Lakes you'll forget that you're in the middle of a city.
Hamburg Harbor
The Port of Hamburg has an important economic role in the city and is still today one of the busiest ports worldwide. Take a stroll along Germany's "Gateway to the World" gorgeous historic harbor and top it off with a snack from the famous fish market.
Speicherstadtmuseum
The Speicherstadt, Hamburg's warehouse district, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Well worth a visit, the Speicherstadtmuseum offers fascinating insight into the city's rich trade history.
Hamburg Zoo (Tierpark Hagenbeck)
Whatever your age, you're sure to love this charming zoo, where every care has been taken to make the animals feel at home. The aquarium next door is equally impressive.
Finkenwerder
If you're looking to enjoy a delicious seafood meal, head to this quaint riverside neighborhood. The restaurant Landungsbrucken Finkenwerder has long been a local favorite.
Herbertstraße
A gated street entirely dedicated to legal prostitution and lined with classic "windows." If the Reeperbahn didn't satisfy your curiosity, the nearby Herbertstraße certainly will.
Harbor Piers (Landungsbruecken)
Stroll along the Landungsbruecken to watch the ships come and go, then hop on a ferry and enjoy an inexpensive and picturesque ride across the waters en route to your next destination.
If you plan on discovering the many sides of Hamburg, it's really worth getting bundle transport tickets. Different deals are available depending on the length of your stay and you're sure to save a lot of money rather than buying singles each time. Also, these tickets give you access to the ferries, which are the cheapest way of admiring the city from the water.
Hamburg is infamous for its grey, cold winters. If you can, it's best to plan your visit between April and September. Once the weather improves, the city truly transforms – moods soar, streetside cafés fill up, and the parks and lakes once again become bustling hang-out spots.
Known for its gigantic portions and very reasonable prices, the restaurant Erika's Eck near the Schlachthof has been a favorite for locals and tourists alike for over 30 years now. This is the perfect spot to feast on some original German grub and if you're out on the town, come here after midnight for its famous €1 sandwiches – available until 9am!
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Good general introduction to the Hamburg Harbour. Boat was OK but the there was only one bartender and it took a long time to have something to drink. Despite of this the experience was positive.
When in Hamburg i highly recommended to take a tour around the harbour or the entire city. There are many different boats and tours so chances are big you will find one for you.
Great tour, passes all important parts of the Hamburg harbor. The boat was well kept, a good design for such a purpose, and the service on board was great, with a good selection of drinks and even some food. The only slight downside was the rather unmotivated tour guide, who was not very keen on answering questions. However, all in all a very recommendable tour.
A very entertaining three hour walking tour, where we learned lots of interesting and quirky details about the various areas and the history of Hamburg. Eddy obviously knew his stuff and despite walking for three hours we were more invigorated than tired at the end of it! Can really recommend this tour! Will definitely look for these free tours in other cities!
Lots of fun & knowledge in a safe environment from someone who was there! I expected there to be a big group but I was the only one so fantastic that tour still goes ahead. The early time of 5pm ensures area is pretty calm & I bravely had a drink in one of the bars before the tour. Peter was very knowledgeable, but so am I so I wasn't at all disappointed in his presentation, though his accent was a little hard to understand at times. We were able to go to all the key spots undisturbed and he pointed some out some that I didn't know about & was able to get good pics. He had some postcards of some interesting shots which he wanted to flog to me for 20e, but I didn't need them, I have my own, but could be nice for some other fans. The tour was just an hour instead of 1 1/2 but I saw everything I wanted & more. The 'Beatlesplatz' I had seen on my own, but he pointed out things I hadn't noticed myself. Well worth the money!! Thanks all, lots of people in Ireland will be very jealous!