September 2017

Hamburg Sightseeing Tipps

1. HafenCity & Speicherstadt
   The HafenCity is the part of the city that is located at the harbour and around the side arms of the river Elbe. This used to be part of the harbour and has been under development for years. The old harbour buildings are still recognisable when walking around and exploring as many old warehouses have been developed and refurbished keeping their original style intact. The area is now home to flats and apartments for the locals, a number of new hotels, restaurants, office buildings, and the city’s new cultural highlight, the Elbphilharmonie. This was opened in 2016 and is a new concert hall for the city and one of the main sights of Hamburg. A great new area to explore.

2. Schanzenviertel
   The Schanzenviertel is the IN area of Hamburg with great cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. The Hamburg people call it "Schanze" and it can be compared to Kreuzberg in Berlin. Love this area for its very colourful vibe, streets full of people, local musicians, culture and great food. Check it out!

3. Strand Pauli and the harbour
   In Hamburg, it is all about the harbour which is admittedly quite impressive. It is Germany largest one and the third biggest harbour in Europe after Rotterdam and Antwerpen. A lot is happening in this port and I would recommend a sightseeing boat tour to see the massive ships from up close. Either book a tourist boat tour with lots of explanations all around the harbour activities. Alternatively, use public transport across the river which is the cheaper option and you get close to the big ships too. Another great way to look out on the Harbour is from the beach bar called “StrandPauli”. It is open all year round and has inside and outside space. Especially during the warmer time of year, it is a great way to pass a couple of hours and look out on the water and the ships.

4. Christmas in Hamburg
   If you happened to visit in December you are in luck. Christmas market time is a great time to visit any German or Central European city and Hamburg has a really nice and large Christmas market. It is located in the city centre, just between the town hall and Alster Lakes. A great selection of food and drink choices as well as arts and crafts are available to look at and be purchased. Check out the link https://www.hamburg.com/events/christmas/ for details on all Christmas markets in and around Hamburg.

5. Ice Skating in Planten un Blumen
   Planten un Blumen is a large city park in, located by the fairground of the city! And in winter, this is a great place to go ice skating. Overall this is a great year-round destination for Hamburgers and visitors to explore the flowers and plants in the park.