Travel Guide Hamburg
/About Hamburg
Hamburg is one of those water dominated dream cities, like most of the major metropolis in the North Sea area and for this reason, the city is the largest port in Germany.
The city is still shaded by the grandeur of Berlin or Munich, but Hamburg is known for its own efforts to reach the development of today.
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and the 7th largest in Europe; therefore it’s a great place to visit.
How to get there
Hamburg has close by the fifth largest airport in Germany and there are dozens of flights to and from Europe, but also some direct intercontinental flights. For a relaxing journey, pleasant and full of landscapes admired through the window, the train is a perfect choice. If you travel by car, you get the opportunity to drive to Autobahn, the no-speed limit highway.
Useful information
Currency: EUR
Official language: German
Time zone: GMT01.00
When it is advisable to visit Hamburg
The best time will be late spring or early autumn, for the warm temperature and beautiful landscape coloristic.
Transportation
The well-developed public transportation offers around the clock buses with small delays or almost none.
· Local transportation (one trip) 3.1 EUR
· Taxi (fare/km) 2 EUR
· Fuel (1 liter) 1.34 EUR
Prices restaurants and cafes
· Cheap restaurant table - 50 EUR
· Local beer (pint 0.5L) 3.5 EUR
· Beer import (0.33L) 3.8 EUR
· Wine (glass) 5.5 EUR
· Coca-Cola (0.33L) 2 EUR
· Water (0.5L) 1.84 EUR
· Coffee 2.72 EUR
Top Landmarks
Elbmeile Street
On Elbmeile street you can find perfect opportunities for shopping or dining. The special ambiance is dominated by historical buildings that have been renovated and protected such as Augustinum, the old union for the refrigerator making company. Fashionable bars, chic cafes and exciting clubs have settled here and made a vibrant scene from the seafront historic district. The fish market that is set here every Sunday from 5 am to 9.30 am or during the winter from 7 am makes this part of the city the culinary center of Germany, and Hamburg is called the gourmet capital of the country.
Blankenese
Blankenese is one of Hamburg’s surprises: a district in the west part of the city, characterized by the atmosphere from the 19th-century fishing village. Some Germans compare this with the French or Italian Riviera and consider it the most beautiful area in Hamburg.
The Warehouse District
The Warehouse District (Speicherstadt) is located in the port of Hamburg and has an impressive multitude of warehouses that reveal an aspect of the city’s extraordinary architectural diversity. There is a Gothic influence, though the countless pontoons and decorative borders.
The Port Of Hamburg
A visit to Hamburg is not complete without a tour of its port, one of the most modern and efficient in the world. Most of the time you will feel the breeze, so dress accordingly. Hamburg is Germany’s largest maritime port, with 33 individual docks and 500 pontoons, stretching over 78 km squared. You can visit Rickmer Rickmers, a ship built in 1896 which sailed to West Indies and it’s opened for visitors at Doc 1.
Deichstrasse District
The oldest residential area in Hamburg, where many of the original buildings have been destroyed during the great fire in 1842, which started at no 42 and left a lot of people homeless. The district is one of great historical value where buildings have been thoroughly restored, thanks to the efforts of private individuals.
Central Station
Hamburg Central Station (Hauptbahnhof Hamburg) is a railway station opened in 1906 and it’s the busiest in Germany and after Gare du Nord in Paris, the busiest in Europe. The structure made of iron and glass evokes the grandiose of imperial Germany.
The City Hall
The Hamburg City Hall is one of the most impressive buildings in the city an eclectic building, where you can find both the Senate and the Parliament of Hamburg. There are daily tours of the building, and you can get to see several architectural epochs, which makes the beautiful rooms look huge.
Rote Flora Building
Rote Flora is a former theater where are regularly organized flea markets, parties, and cultural events, being still a meeting point. It’s mainly funded by donations and alternative music concerts, showing its importance as an alternative cultural center.
Lake Alster
Alster Lake is an attraction for both locals and tourists. The lake is surrounded by trees, parks and impressive buildings that give the landscape a special charisma. To maintain the extraordinary landscape, all buildings around the lake are white with roofs covered with copper. There is even an improvised beach, and moreover, on the lake, you can rent a boat, a motorbike and a few other options to enjoy the water view.
Jungfernstieg Boulevard
This large promenade, overlooking the Alster lakes, is the main commercial boulevard of the city. Hiding behind the sober facade of the Jungfernstieg building, there is a network of nine covered passages of shops selling everything from souvenirs to the latest fashion creations.
Monckebergstrasse Street
This large and lively street, full of shops crosses both the old and the modern city. Stores on this street and its immediate neighborhood offer a wide range of goods at more affordable prices than those on Jungfernstieg.
Chile House
The Chile House (Chilehaus) is known for its appearance, which reminds of a ship’s bow, as well as its very sharp-angled facade. The best view of the building is from the east.
Saint Jacob Church
The church is one of the five main Lutheran churches in the city and it’s located in the center, with a 125-meter high tower and a famous organ. The organ is a real treasure, built in a baroque style and inside the church you can find three Gothic altars from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Elbphilharmonie
The Elbphilharmonie with its impressive glass facade and wave-like rooftop rises up from the former Kaispeicher building on the western tip of the HafenCity. Accommodated inside are two concert halls, a hotel, and residential apartments. Between the old warehouse and the glass structure is the Plaza - a public viewing area that extends around the whole building.
