The 15 things to do in Hamburg

What to do in Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany and the first port of the country?

After Berlin, do you know what the second largest city in Germany is? Hamburg Of course. The port activity of this city is recognized worldwide and has helped shape the architecture of its walls and streets. The port alone is worth a visit, especially with the warehouse district called Speicherstadt. The other strong point of the city of Hamburg is the Alster basin which is composed of two water bodies on which it is now possible to sail form one of the most pleasant walks of the whole city. But can Hamburg sum up this? What is it to see? What? Let’s see this a little closer.

1. Hamburg and its city centre

For those who like to go shopping, Hambourg’s “innenstadt” lets you discover in a maximum of 3 hours: the main streets are Mönckebergstrasse and Spitalerstrasse. In these two arteries you will find everything you dream (and may need) like clothes, shoes, discs, multimedia, decoration. 10 minutes from these two streets are designer boutiques in the wonderful Alsterpassage with its luxury shops.

2. L’Alster

To stroll around and breathe a large bowl of fresh air, a walk along the Alster River is perfect and of great beauty. Come and take a stroll with family or friends, enjoy a small coffee, look at boats and enjoy the breathtaking view of the river and the fountain in its centre.

3. The port

Of course, the port of Hamburg is a must-see place in the city, it is one of the most touristic places. Known as the “port of the world” because of the importance of the incredible marine activity (boats of cruise, ships of goods, small tourist ships, cruise on the canals), it is a place that cannot leave you with marble. The best way to visit the port is to borrow the boat.

4. Saint Nicholas Church

This tower of the old church of Saint Nicholas was destroyed during the 2nd World War, but it is still possible today to climb to its summit to enjoy a unique view of the city of Hamburg. Visibility up to a minimum of 300 metres on the historic centre and the harbour area.

5. Emigration Museum (BallinStadt)

In this museum is told all the history of emigration but also the daily life of these women and men on a historical basis. For those who want to follow the traces of their own family, there is an investigative centre. The museum also keeps lists of passengers (more than 5 million people) who gathered in Hamburg to try to emigrate to the United States. Address: Veddeler Bogen 2, 20539 Hamburg , (www.ballinstadt.de). Open every day from 10am to 6pm.

6. Saint-Michel Church (Der Michel)

“Dar Michel”, as affectionately called, is one of the most recognizable monuments in Hamburg and the largest Protestant baroque church in North Germany. Up to the top of the tower (by stairs or lift) you will be rewarded with great views of the city and the canals. The crypt is also home to a multimedia exhibition retracing the history of building the church, with reduced models.

7. The botanical park (Planten un Blomen)

This huge botanical garden is a place not to be missed. It is possible to opt for several routes that will lead to the nursery of the roses but also to the Japanese garden as well as to the various jets of water. A charming, delicate place that will make you spend a very pleasant, somewhat poetic moment. Along the stream, you can access the park lake and the water and light organ installed here. During the summer period, the day is animated by water games, and evenings with concerts.

The city of Hamburg is considered to be the great lung of Germany: between its various canals, gardens and streets, there is a natural beauty that is drawn by itself. Parks in the heart of the city invite you to contemplate ecological beauty and breathe in full lungs while relaxing and forgetting your stress.

8. Channels

What would be Hamburg without its channels? In the so-called Speicherstadt district, which is the largest warehouse complex in the world, it is a kind of small open-air museum that offers you. Enjoy it to discover the city from a different angle but also at a very shifty pace with daily life. By browsing the canals, you will also have the opportunity to visit the dungeons, visit the museum of spices. The warehouses are over 100 years old.

9. Saint Georg district

The name of this neighborhood comes from the old hospital for lepers. Until the 1990s, this neighborhood was considered unhealthy and known for its drug trafficking. Today, the neighbourhood is completely rehabilitated and it is now a new multicultural centre where there are many fashion artists, painters, etc. It is also the gay district of Hamburg.

10. The district of Eppendorf

It is the chic and very good type of Hamburg; not far from the heart of the city, this area has the advantage of offering various green spaces and parks but also shops, restaurants and cafes to relax. The most popular streets are Eppendorfer Baum and Eppendorfer Landstrasse . Note the presence of the market with its regional products.

11. The district of Rotherbaum

This neighborhood is known for the beautiful villas that sway the streets. Don't hesitate to take a walk while enjoying the shores of Lake Aussenalster. A university district with embassies and consulates.

12. The Hamburg Stock Exchange

This building has existed since the half of the 16th century and is now in the new classical building on the Adolphsplatz, at the site of the former convent Maria-Magdalenenen. The building was enlarged several times over the last century and the Hotel de Ville was built on the back of the Stock Exchange. Although the Hamburg Stock Exchange is the oldest financial service in Germany, it is no longer in office today.

13. La salle de la Philharmonie de l’Elbe ("Elbphilharmonie" or "Elphie")

An ambitious project with a room of 2150 seats and another room of 550 seats. In addition, this place offers a 5-star hotel with over 200 beds. The lower part of the building is a red brick warehouse while the upper part is a glass building with expressionist forms. Its opening is planned in 2017 but you can already admire the building.

14. Reeperbahn, the "red neighborhood" of Hamburg

The eclectic mix of bars and restaurants as well as striptease clubs and erotic museums brought the Beatles here, which began their international career in Hamburg in the 1960s.

15. Other ideas for visits to Hamburg

Other places and buildings are to be discovered by your strolls like:

• The TV tower with its 280 meters high (it also houses a restaurant)
• The famous music clubs like the “Star Club” where great rock stars occurred in the 1950s and 60s
• The Fischmarkt, the fish market and seafood
• The Kunsthalle, an art museum located inside an architectural trio of buildings that retraces more than 700 years of European art history through works by Rembrandt, Caspar David Friedrich, and Edvard Munch, among others
• HafenCity, the largest urban construction project in Europe of the 21st century. This is the rehabilitation of 155 hectares of an old part of the port of Hamburg. The Elbe Philharmonic is part of the project
• Nightlife, especially in St-Paul district

Hamburg: How to get there? Where to stay?

Hamburg Airport is one of the main airports in Germany. It has the advantage of being located only 8 km from the city. Several planes depart every day from Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Nice etc. and join Hamburg in about 1h30 flight. The main companies (low-cost and classic) that operate these flights are Germanwings, easyJet, or Air Berlin. You can check the dates and prices of flights on the Compare Ulysses .

Know that it is also possible to get to Hamburg by train. Hamburg is connected to the major cities of Germany and Europe by the railway network. The trains stop at Hauptbahnhof train station, located in the city centre of Hamburg. Trains depart every day from the Gare du Nord station in Paris. Correspondence to Cologne is necessary.

Hamburg is a good destination for accommodation in hotels modern and design such as Gastwerk, which is located in a former coal storage warehouse. It is only an idea, but the choice of hotels is wide, which will satisfy both small and large budgets. From hostels to hotels 4 and 5 stars, you can find your hotel by searching our Compare hotels .

Have you visited Hamburg?

Main photo credit: Wikimedia - Heidas