Hamburg might not actually be the birthplace of the hamburger, but it has plenty of other things to brag about such as its Hanseatic League past, its standing as a city state, Germany's second-largest city, and Europe's second-largest port city (after Rotterdam). It is also the home of the sinful Reeperbahn and the place that gave the Beatles a start.
Travellers taking Hamburg flights will discover a city criss-crossed by canals. It has an astonishing 2,300 bridges, more than Venice and Amsterdam combined. The lake at the centre of the city, the Alster, is made up of two lakes, the Binnenalster (inner Alster) and the Aussenalster (outer Alster) and is a popular spot.
The Altona Fischmarkt, on the banks of the Elbe river, is a must-go spot. It's open early on Sunday mornings - 4am in summertime, 7am in winter - and over by midday. It's not just the place to go for a bit of cod, there's a flea market that sells almost everything.
Aside from the water and greenery, Hamburg has plenty for culture vultures with theatres, music halls, cabarets and museums. The largest art gallery is the Kunsthalle, which has a fine collection of 19th and 20th-century masters.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Hamburg
Back to top
Wet and windy, Hamburg is in the region known for its year-round Reizklima — healthy, bracing climate. The city has warm summers with temperatures reaching the 20s (Celsius) in July and August. July is also the wettest month with more than 7cm (3 inches) of rain.Winters are cold with snow and ice and temperatures dropping to about minus 6 in January. Sometimes it stays cold long enough for the Elbe and city lakes to freeze for ice skating. The snowfall in the city tends to be light.
Back to top
Peak Season:
Hamburg is busiest with tourists from May to September, after the students have left the city. This is also the time for folk festivals throughout Germany. Book flights to Hamburg early and reserve hotel rooms ahead of time if you're planning to visit the city for a festival.
Off Season:
March to May and October to early November have pleasant weather and fewer tourists. Cheap flights to Hamburg are found during November to March, when fewer visitors are here, lines are shorter, and you can focus on cultural events.
Back to top
The Airport Express runs frequent buses to the Central Station (Hauptbahnhof). The TRAVELPorter Airport transfer service provides a door-to-door service within the local area. Hamburg Bus Lines service the city centre and other suburban areas. Taxis are readily available outside all terminals, they take around 30 minutes to the city centre.
Back to top
Hamburg’s public transport system is very good and provides subways, surface trains, buses, and harbour ferries. The U-Bahn (subway) services the city centre and connects with the S-Bahn (surface trains) that services the suburbs. The U/S Bahns are the fastest way of getting around town. The buses are also very good and provide views of the city as you ride. Tickets are sold at Automats and railway ticket counters. The Hamburg Card allows unlimited travel for a day and discounted admission to several attractions.
Driving in Hamburg is easier than in most German cities, except during rush hour when traffic snarls and gridlock can occur. Parking though is expensive. (If you park in a German garage, pay when you return to retrieve your car, not when driving out.)
Taxis are always available and a bit cheaper than in other German cities.
Back to top
- Hamburg’s port is the largest sea port in the country and the second largest in Europe. Industrial, but also attractive, you can easily spend an afternoon wandering round. Don’t miss Rickmer Rickmers, an old sailing ship permanently moored in the port and now a museum. Built in 1896, it has been used as a cargo ship to Hong Kong, and a carrier of war materials and owned by the Germans, Portuguese and British. Today, the ship houses a museum and on-board restaurant. Entrance is just €3.
- If you find you miss the port when you get home (or you want to take a look at it before you get there), there is a webcam available at the official Hamburg Port Website.
- Hamburg is, of course, said to be where the Hamburger originated. The origin of the dish is reputed to come from the city’s trade connections. Arab merchants introduced a raw version of the dish, called kibbeh, which was a mixture of ground lamb and spices. Locals made a few changes, including the crucial cooking of the meat, and the hamburger we know and love was born…
- With more bridges than Venice, Hamburg is a city on the water. Take a canal boat trip to see it from the river and enjoy the commentary of the ship's captains. You can also hire kayaks or row boats to take to the water during the summer months.
- There are lots of museums and activities catering to children. One of the best is the Puppenmuseum, or Doll’s Museum, a short drive from the city centre. The collection was built up over three decades and contains more than 300 dolls and around 60 doll houses.
- Germany’s nightlife is centred around the Reeperbahn area. The red-light district is also the place where the Beatles first began their career, when they spent three months here in 1960. For a tour of Beatles nightclubs, visit the Top Ten Club on the Reeperbahn, then the Kaiserkeller on Grosse Freiheit and the Starclub at number 39.
Back to top
