Here's to Hamburg, Germany's "Gateway to the World"

HafenCity - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Speicherstadt - Hamburg's Speicherstadt (warehouse district) is a collection of warehouse buildings built from 1883 to 1927 that overlook a network of canals. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Speicherstadt - Speicherstadt is well worth exploring at leisure, not least for its appealing waterfront restaurant scene. Pictured is the Wasserschloss, a fine dining hot spot. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Mahnmal St. Nikolai - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)

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Rathaus - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC0 1.0)

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Port of Hamburg - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Port of Hamburg - Hamburg is a major cruise destination and is known as Germany's "Gateway to the World." The port is where to embark on Elbe River sightseeing tours.

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Hafengeburtstag (Port Anniversary) - If you're in the city around the first weekend of May, join the fun at the annual Port Anniversary festival and funfair. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Hamburger Kunsthalle - Hamburg's art museum is one of the largest in Germany. This is where to browse seven centuries' worth of European art. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Hamburger Kunsthalle - The museum is divided into four different sections: the Gallery of Old Masters, the Gallery of 19th-century Art, the Gallery of Classical Modernism, and the Gallery of Contemporary Art. Highlights include Édouard Manet's Nana (1877) and Paul Klee's Revolution of the Viaduct (1937), the latter pictured here.

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Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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St. Pauli Elbtunnel - 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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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St. Pauli Piers - As well as a major public transport hub, St. Pauli Piers boasts numerous restaurants and departure points for harbor pleasure boats.

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Miniatur Wunderland - 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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Reeperbahn - A street and entertainment district, the Reperbahn is Hamburg's vibrant pub-club hub. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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The Beatles - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 30)

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The Kaiserkeller - The Kaiserkeller, together with the Indra, Top Ten, and the Star-Club (the other Fab Four concert residencies) were all situated in Große Freiheit. Pictured is a plaque in German writing detailing the Beatles' association with the Kaiserkeller. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Hamburger DOM - 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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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St. Michaelis Kirche - St. Michael's Church is the largest church in the city, and arguably its most famous. The 433-ft-high (132-m) baroque spire is totally clad with copper, and a prominent feature of Hamburg's skyline. The crypt has an engaging multimedia exhibit on the city's history.

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Kontorhaus district - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Chilehaus - 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. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Neuer Wall - If you love some high-end shopping, browse the luxury boutiques lining upmarket Neuer Wall, which is among the most exclusive shopping streets in Europe.

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Flohschanze market - 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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Planten un Blomen -

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.

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Culinary revolution - Hamburg's enviable cultural scene extends to an astonishing array of restaurants. In fact, a multifaceted culinary revolution is taking place here. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Die Bank restaurant - 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! (Photo: Flickr /CC BY 2.0

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Frikadeller - 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. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Cocktails at Christiansen’s - 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! (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Bismarck monument -

Spotlight radiates from the base of the Bismarck monument, dedicated to Otto von Bismarck and inaugurated in 1906.

Here's to Hamburg, Germany's "Gateway to the World"

Discover the coolest city in northern Germany

01/06/19 | StarsInsider

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.

(Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)