Places to visit in Hamburg

As the largest airport in Northern Germany, Hamburg Airport handles some 13 million passengers every year.

In December 2008 Hamburg Airport was connected to the S-Bahn, a metro railway network,. The S1 line runs between the airport and Hamburg’s central station (Hauptbahnhof). In under 25 minutes passengers can reach the main train station, connecting the city of Hamburg to all major cities in Germany and most regional stations in Northern Germany. The S1 line runs every 10 minutes throughout the day.

Hiring a car at the airport opens up a multitude of options with regard to sightseeing, although Hamburg’s public transport system is excellent. A 45 minute journey by rental car via the A7 Autobahn (motorway exit Schnelsen-Nord) or a one hour journey by train from Hamburg Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) allows visitors to enjoy the medieval splendour of the city of Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage site and founding place of the mighty Hanseatic League, the most successful trade organisation in medieval times.

Hamburg tourist attractions include the wonderful Botanical Gardens called Planten un Blomen (Plants and Flowers), as well as the largest Japanese gardens in Europe. During the summer months free water-light concerts, music festivals and theatre performances are staged here. The Miniatur Wunderland is a wonderful place for families with children.

Situated in Hamburg’s historic Speicherstadt (the old port’s restored warehouses) right in the centre of the city, dads won’t want to leave the largest miniature train set in the world! Miniatur Wunderland is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions with literally hundreds of built to-scale buildings, colourful landscapes complete with trees, sheep and fields, locomotive trains and wagons that have been lovingly constructed to demonstrate the history of train travel.

Hamburg’s famous Speicherstadt is the oldest and largest warehouse complex in the world. Having once stored goods from around the globe, the former maritime warehouses were extensively restored and renovated, housing now fine dining restaurants, trendy wine bars, coffeehouses and designer fashion outlets.

It will take at least one full day at the Hamburger Kunsthalle to see all their major art works. In three architecturally stunning buildings art lovers will find one of Europe’s most beautiful art collections. The highlights include paintings by Edvard Munch, Caspar David Friedrich and Rembrandt, but the Kunsthalle is also famous for exhibiting more than 700 years of art history, from ancient carved altar panels to contemporary paintings and art installations.

Hamburg is one of the country’s wealthiest cities thanks to its port and international trade. A drive to wealthy, leafy Blankenese, Winterhude or Harvestehude will show visitors how the rich and famous of Hamburg’s high society live. Here imposing mansion line the streets, some of them with extensive grounds to the rear, facing the Elbe River. Nowhere else in Northern Germany will pedestrians pass by such a large number of luxury cars parked in the street!

One of Hamburg’s most revered landmarks, the Michel, is really a baroque church. St. Michaelis is affectionately known as Michel, because it sounds more like the name of a sailor – and sailing or rather maritime trade connections are after all what made the city rich and free. Michel is the emblem of Hamburg. Built in the years 1648 to 1661 this white and golden topped church is large enough to allow 3,000 pious people to pray for the souls of seafaring folk. There is a spiralled top observation tower with amazing views over the city and port.

Many day visitors regard the Alter Arkaden as one of those Hamburg tourist attractions they will never tire off. These elegant historic arcades, designed to resemble Venetian architecture, are for “serious” shoppers with plenty of cash to spare. Hamburg’s high society goes shopping here, but at night, when the arcades are lit up by wrought iron lamps, the less rich come here for a romantic walk along the canals and to take a look at Hamburg’s beautiful city Hall.

Hamburg tourist attractions are perhaps most influenced by the fact that Hamburg, like Venice and Amsterdam, is a city dominated by waterways. Three rivers traverse through Hamburg: the Elbe, the Bille and the Alster. In addition there are numerous canals criss-crossing the city. It is possible to travel by boat instead of metro train to many locations. The gorgeous Inner and Outer Alster lakes right in the heart of the city are a great place to visit during summer, when boats are out, ice-cream vendors beckon and one can sit and watch the fashionable world float by.