Cities & Culture
It's on: 48 hours in Hamburg
Stately homes, the cry of seagulls and a trendy entertainment district. This much is certain: you'll never forget Hamburg. So join us on a super exciting tour.
Hamburg has it all: unique architecture, countless canals and bridges, Germany's most famous party mile, outstanding museums. And then also the great harbour. But just so that Hamburg doesn't take itself too seriously, God likes to let it rain there now and then. So umbrellas up, and let loose on Day 1.
Party central in Hamburg: St. Pauli
It is well known that people like to party in Hamburg. That's what St. Pauli is for, and also what the legendary Reeperbahn is for - the main street in the entertainment and red light district of Central Hamburg. So in the morning we can take a walk around the area, past trendy shops, the famous Hamburg fish market and, of course, the Landungsbrücken. Here you can also buy the tickets for your harbour tour. This is a must, because from the water the view of the city and the atmosphere is magnificent.
You are sure to have a good feel for Hamburg by the end of it. As a snack, you can grab a fish roll to take away, which is a favourite in Hamburg. So you should try it too. Then it's off to the unique Speicherstadt warehouse district. It is within walking distance.
Hamburg, your warehouse district.
Virtually at its forefront is the Hanseatic city's newest landmark: Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie concert hall. The 110-metre-high, striking concert hall was designed by the architects Herzog & de Meuron. A quick look at it and then on into the Speicherstadt warehouse district. No other district reflects the past so impressively with its neo-Gothic brick buildings. You will see: it's insanely beautiful. Strolling through the many small alleyways, crossing the countless bridges and all that while admiring the world's largest historic warehouse complex is a real experience. The Speicherstadt has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 for this reason. You will likely be tired afterwards! That means having dinner somewhere cosy and then turning in for the night.
Shopping in Hamburg
On the second day in Hamburg, the Miniatur Wunderlandawaits you at the Speicherstadt: this impressive model landscape features over 1 000 trains, 263 000 miniature figures and 9 250 cars. Afterwards, you can take a leisurely stroll to Jungfernstieg. This popular historic promenade is located directly on the Binnenalster lake. Here you will find numerous cafés, restaurants and shopping options. Time for lunch.
We will leave it up to you to decide how you would like to spend the afternoon: If you are fond of churches, you can visit the main chapel of St. Michaelis, another landmark of this Hanseatic city. Art lovers should visit the Deichtorhallen between the city centre and Hamburg's newest district, the HafenCity. They are among the largest European galleries for contemporary art and photography. The historic buildings with open steel and glass architecture are in themselves architecturally fascinating. Also worth seeing are the exhibits at the Hamburger Kunsthalle: these important collections span from the Middle Ages through to contemporary art. The Jungfernstieg promenade is also in the immediate vicinity. Just in case you particularly enjoyed this particular neighbourhood.
Still up for an early evening stroll?
Then it's off to Blankenese. The district is one of the most expensive and most beautiful in the city on the Elbe. From the 75-metre-high Süllberg you have a particularly beautiful view of the Elbe, the hustle and bustle on the river and the Airbus site at Finkenwerder. This winding quarter with its many staircases is also perfect for long walks. Afterwards you can have dinner at the Portuguese Quarter, near the Landungsbrücken. And then it's off to St. Pauli again. Just be careful not to miss your train or plane!