Some mistakes had disastrous consequences
Spotlight radiates from the base of the Bismarck monument, dedicated to Otto von Bismarck and inaugurated in 1906.
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Providing a welcome retreat from Hamburg's urban sprawl, this peaceful green space encloses a botanical garden, children's playgrounds, and a public theater. During the summer months, the park plays host to amazing water-light concerts.
Need a blast of fresh air? Why not head out of town and explore the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park? A UNESCO biosphere reserve, the park encloses three islands, including Neuwerk (pictured), the location of the early 14th-century Great Tower Neuwerk Lighthouse.
The neo-renaissance Hamburg City Hall is one of the few completely preserved buildings in the city. Join the 40-minute tour of the building and discover its opulent interior.
Germany's largest port and the third busiest port in Europe after Rotterdam and Antwerp, this is a destination in itself, where various museum ships, musical theaters, bars, restaurants, and hotels are clustered.
If you're in the city around the first weekend of May, join the fun at the annual Port Anniversary festival and funfair.
Hamburg's art museum is one of the largest in Germany. This is where to browse seven centuries' worth of European art.
St. Nikolai church was all but destroyed during WWII. Now called Mahnmal St. Nikolai, it stands as a solemn memorial to wartime destruction. Take the lift to the viewing platform for incredible city-wide views.
Hamburg's Speicherstadt (warehouse district) is a collection of warehouse buildings built from 1883 to 1927 that overlook a network of canals.
A tributary of the Elbe River, the Alster nourishes two lakes set right in the heart of the city. Besides providing year-round recreational opportunities, the lakes are famous for their resident white swans.
Located on the Elbe River island of Grasbrook, HafenCity is the result of an urban regeneration project that has transformed a once dilapidated area of the port into a scenic residential retreat that encloses the historical Speicherstadt district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Try and catch a concert at the Elbe Philharmonic Hall. Opened in 2017, this is one of the largest and most acoustically-advanced concert halls in the world. Nicknamed the "Elphi," it sits on an old warehouse in the HafenCity quarter.
Speicherstadt is well worth exploring at leisure, not least for its appealing waterfront restaurant scene. Pictured is the Wasserschloss, a fine dining hot spot.
Hamburg loves to party and everybody is invited to the Hamburger DOM, a huge fair that takes place three times a year in spring, summer, and winter.
Traveling with kids? Well, little ones are sure to love the largest model train installation in the world. Tiny locomotives puff through the replicated landscapes of Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, and the United States. The attention to detail is staggering, with winter (pictured) and summer scenes created using thousands of highly accurate miniature models.
A street and entertainment district, the Reperbahn is Hamburg's vibrant pub-club hub.
For a more basic belly-filler, be sure to sample frikadellar (pan-fried meatballs). A popular standby in Germany and Denmark, they've been enjoying this tasty snack since the late 17th century.
Hamburg has always been a hit with visitors. The Beatles thought so, and today this major port in northern Germany is a favorite European city-break destination, loved for its canals, cuisine, cutting-edge design and, of course, a vibrant world-class music scene.
Click through this gallery and take a tour of this hip and happening city.
Hamburg's enviable cultural scene extends to an astonishing array of restaurants. In fact, a multifaceted culinary revolution is taking place here.
Looking instead for some local color and a bargain to boot? Browse this animated Saturday flea market for antiques, vintage bric-a-brac, and all sorts of trinkets and collectibles.
The Kaiserkeller, together with the Indra, Top Ten, and the Star-Club (the other Fab Four concert residencies) were all situated in Große Freiheit.
Fans of architecture should check out the Kontorhaus district, an area featuring six very large office complexes built from the 1920s to the 1940s to house port-related businesses.
A standout of the Kontorhaus district (and granted World Heritage status) is the Chile House, an exceptional example of the 1920s Brick Expressionism style of architecture.
Running under the Elbe River, this 2,000-ft (610-m) tunnel connects the city center with the harbor and serves as a novel and convenient way of accessing St. Pauli Piers, a popular tourist destination.
Fashioned out of a former bank premises, this funky Michelin-recommended bar and brasserie serves up international cuisine and classic German dishes. Go on, treat yourself!
Named for a street off the Reeperbahn, the music club Große Freiheit 36 was once known as the Kaiserkeller, famous as one of the Hamburg clubs the Beatles played in the early 1960s.
Bars abound in Hamburg and while you can always quench your thirst with a chilled weissbier, be daring and order a cocktail at Christiansen’s. Owner Uwi Christiansen is one of the world’s best-known mixologists!
Here's to Hamburg, Germany's "Gateway to the World"
Discover the coolest city in northern Germany
TRAVEL Hamburg
Hamburg has always been a hit with visitors. The Beatles thought so, and today this major port in northern Germany is a favorite European city-break destination, loved for its canals, cuisine, cutting-edge design and, of course, a vibrant world-class music scene.
Click through this gallery and take a tour of this hip and happening city.