The Top 10 'Must See' Locations in Hamburg

Whether modern or classical, pop, rock or jazz, concerts in Hamburg's new landmark with its imposing architecture and outstanding acoustics are an event for every visitor. The new concert hall convinces with a musically broad program, which offers high-quality performances for every musical taste. The architecture and the view of the Elbe guarantee the enjoyment of music as well as an impression of the city that you will not soon forget.
The fact that the Elbphilharmonie is a success for the city of Hamburg and visitors from outside proves to the suffering of many interested in the quickly sold out tickets. You can not ignore that!

The Port of Hamburg is Germany's most important port. During the boat tours departing from the Landungsbrücken, passengers experience Germany's "Gateway to the World". Smaller boats also drive through the canals of the beautiful Speicherstadt - a historic warehouse complex. Every year in May, Hamburg celebrates the largest port birthday party in the world, where you can expect a variety of events and fresh seafood in addition to ship parades.

Every early Sunday morning, the open space next to the fish auction hall in Hamburg's oldest market is transformed. The traders with their market cries and seductive offers make this ur-Hanseatic experience an exciting spectacle. Freshly caught fish, many other products and snacks as well as plants, pendants and even living animals are sold. Local bands play in the adjoining fish auction hall and tireless partygoers dance on the Reeperbahn after a long Saturday night.

Hamburg's Reeperbahn is the largest red-light district in Europe. The "most sinful mile in the world" and the surrounding streets of St. Pauli offer countless nightclubs, variety shows and theaters. In the 1960s, the Beatles made a name for themselves by playing in various clubs on the Reeperbahn, and there are many legends about their adventures in Hamburg. In the evening, the famous, neon-lit Schmidt Theater hosts concerts, live music acs, cabarets and revues.

HafenCity is an urban development project for the Elbe islands, which began in 2003. Since then, the old free port has been transformed into a future-oriented, sustainable "city within the city" and impresses with groundbreaking architectural concepts. The Elbphilharmonie, a concert hall on an old warehouse in the harbor, illustrates the mixture of old and new. The current and future location of HafenCity will be shown in the Kesselhaus, the city's information center.

Hamburg's Speicherstadt is the largest warehouse complex in the world. Built from 1883 to 1927, the Neo-Gothic red brick buildings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the former warehouses today are museums such as the International Maritime Museum, which documents 3,000 years of maritime history. Adults and children love the Miniatur Wunderland with the largest model railway in the world and an airport with miniature planes that start in real time.

St. Michael's Church, affectionately known by the locals as "Michel", is the largest and most famous church in the city. Originally built in Hanseatic Baroque style, the church was rebuilt after being partially destroyed during World War II by bombs. The church is characterized by a 132 m high tower, which is considered the landmark of the city skyline. Visitors can climb up the 452 steps of the tower to enjoy panoramic views of the city and harbor from the exhibition platform at 106 meters above the Elbe.

The Hamburg Cathedral is the largest folk festival in Germany. Held three times a year in spring, summer and late autumn, the festival offers a wide range of entertainment and rides for all ages. And on every Friday evening, an impressive fireworks light illuminates the sky above the city. The festival goes back to the Middle Ages. In the fall, the upcoming Christmas season is in the foreground, while in spring and summer, the theme may be a medieval castle or a western town.

The Alsterfleet with its cafes, restaurants and shops presents itself to the visitors as a romantic side of Hamburg. The white arches of the Alsterarkaden impress with a Mediterranean flair. Enjoy dining on one of the terraces overlooking the Neo-Renaissance town hall on the other side of the canal. The Alsterarkaden are connected by the Mellin Passage with the exclusive Neuer Wall shopping street. The beautiful Art Nouveau Mellin Passage is Hamburg's oldest shopping arcade.

The Binnenalster and Außenalster are two artificial lakes in the heart of the city and the most important recreational areas of Hamburg. From the Jungfernstieg on the Binnenalster, excursion boats such as the historic steamer St. Georg leave. Every year in late summer, the festival Alstervergnügen attracts visitors to the Binnenalster to celebrate the last warm days of the year with live music, food stalls and an impressive fireworks display over the lake.