Hamburg

This article refers to the city of Hamburg. For the island of Neuwerk that is part of the state of Hamburg but not the city see there The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg) is Germany's second-largest city and, at the same time, one of Germany's 16 federal states or Bundesländer. Prior to the formation of the modern German state, Hamburg for centuries enjoyed a status as de facto independent city state and regional power and trade hub in the North Sea. Although situated over 100 km (62 mi) upriver from the North Sea on the Elbe, Hamburg has been one of Europe's most important ports for centuries, as reflected in its full name referencing the Hanseatic League. The city was built on the confluence of the Elbe with a smaller tributary (the Alster), and much of the southern bank of the Elbe is today occupied by an enormous seaport. With a tumultuous history preserved in more than just the ancient name, Hamburg grew to become one of Germany's most affluent cities, today hosting almost 1.9 million inhabitants and forming a metropolitan centre for many smaller cities and towns in neighbouring federal states. Its riverine location allows it to compete with Amsterdam or Venice with the number of canals, most of which (called "Fleet" or "Brook") are actually former small rivers and streams regulated to allow the sprawling city to expand over their banks. And on top of that, Hamburg has more bridges (over 2,300) than Amsterdam, Venice and London combined. There is plenty to enjoy in Hamburg, both in terms of views, culture and the general high standard of living Hamburg has come to be known for. == Districts == == Understand == One of the most important harbours in Europe and the world, Hamburg takes great pride in its mercantile background, which built the city's wealth in the past centuries. From 1241 on, it was a member of the Hanseatic League, a medieval trade alliance across Northern Europe. In the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, millions left Europe on their way to the new world through the Hamburg harbour. Today, the harbour ranks second in Europe and eleventh world-wide. Consequently, one of Hamburg's tag lines is "the Gateway to the World" (derived from the city’s coat of arms, showing a white city wall with a gate and crowned by three towers on a red background). Hamburg is known to be one of the richest metropolitan areas in the European Union, in the company of Brussels and London. The harbour is the heart of the city; however, Hamburg is also one of the most important media hubs in Germany. Half of the nation's newspapers and magazines have their roots in Hamburg. And, unknown even to some locals, is the fact that, with one of the Airbus aircraft assembly plants, Hamburg is a major location of the world's aerospace industry, after Seattle (USA) and Toulouse (France). The city's mercantile background is reflected in its architecture. The only palace in Hamburg is the town hall, which houses the citizens' parliament and the senate. Apart from that, the city still has large quarters with expensive houses and villas. These residences were home to merchants and captains, surrounded by lots of greenery. Large parts of the city were destroyed during the devastating air raids of World War II, particularly the port and some residential areas, killing tens of thousands and leaving more than a million homeless, yet much of historic value has been preserved. Hamburg still keeps its tradition of being an open, yet discreet city. Citizens of Hamburg, just like most Northern Germans, may appear to be quite reserved at first. Once they get to know you, they'll be as warm and friendly as you'd like. === History === Hamburg was apparently built as a defensive castle on the orders of Emperor Charlemagne back in 808 AD. Being on the frontline was a very auspicious position, and Hamburg has been raided and destroyed multiple times by the Vikings, Danes and Poles during its history. Despite this, it was rebuilt every time and was even afforded the title of "Imperial Free City" (Freie Reichstadt), which it proudly bears to this day, in 1189 (just in time for the Danes to invade it again). Once Hamburg became an Imperial Free City, it established itself as one of the prime ports of Northern Europe, thanks to its favourable location up the navigable river Elbe, which prevented major storms from reaching it, and being almost equidistant from the North Sea and the Baltic. To gain access to the latter, Hamburg formed an alliance with Lübeck, which became the cornerstone of the Hanseatic League of ports of call and major trading centres around both seas, lasting up until the 17th century. Hamburg found itself constantly changing, rebuilding and expanding, both due to being constantly ravaged by either foreign invaders or more mundane fires and diseases, and due to the rapid growth in its wealth and might. This provided for both the expansion of the harbour and allowed for ambitious building projects to be completed (including the almost complete regulation of Elbe's tributaries, or Fleeten), and required the constant improvement of the city's defences. The most important thereof occurred when a new line of fortifications were created at the wake of the Thirty Years' War in the 17th century, effectively defining today's city centre (Altstadt - the former old town - and Neustadt, one formed by expanding the range of the walls), not only in shape but also in the street structure preserved to this day. Meanwhile Hamburg saw itself become a "free" city more than in just the name, first adopting Lutheranism during the Reformation and accepting Protestant refugees persecuted in their home cities, and later allowing pretty much full religious freedom, becoming home to all kinds of religious minorities, including Sephardic Jews and even Catholics. The citizens (particularly the wealthy merchant elite) pressed against attempts to impose laws on them, and negotiated "recesses" from their rulers, which meant that Hamburg was governed by a bicameral parliament with a relatively high degree of democracy and personal freedoms. The last ruler to occupy Hamburg before the Second World War was Napoleon, driven away by the Russians in 1814. Continuing as a sovereign state in its membership of the various forms of German union, Hamburg evolved to become a modern republic. Exploding thanks to its prosperity, the city suffered a major drawback when a fire destroyed a quarter of it (yet killed only about 50 people) in 1842. Seizing the opportunities, the elders consulted architects, town planners and engineers to completely modernise the city. Among them was the British engineer William Lindley, who created a modern waterworks and sewage system for Hamburg, before going on to provide it to other cities like Budapest, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Prague, St Petersburg and Warsaw. Altona used to be an independent city and emerged as a fishing village west of Hamburg in the 16th century. For much of its existence, Altona was under the rule of the Danish king, competing with Hamburg in trade and militarily. Because of a comparatively liberal regime Jews, Calvinists, Mennonites and Catholics settled there, as they were put under less restrictions in Altona than in Hamburg. Altona was the second biggest city in the Kingdom of Denmark after Copenhagen and an important port for Danish trade. During its widest reach the Danish crown ruled a vast area from Altona to the North Cape to Iceland. The border between Danish rule and Hamburg partly ran through the built up area between the streets Große Freiheit (Altona) and Thalstraße (St. Pauli) near what is now Reeperbahn S-bahn station. After the 1864 "Schleswig War", which was mostly fought over Schleswig-Holstein, Altona was annexed to the Prussian state and took part in the founding of the German Empire in 1871. While it remained distinct from Hamburg (which was and is a "Free City" within German federalism), it was absorbed into greater Hamburg in 1937. Between Altona and Hamburg stood Hamburgischer Berg, a buffer zone that became Hamburg's borough of St. Pauli (named after the parish) in the 19th century. St. Pauli absorbed a part of the former fortifications of Hamburg, which were replaced by a ring of parks along the border of Neustadt. Thanks to the improved living conditions, peaceful environment and economic prosperity, Hamburg boomed to 800,000 inhabitants in the second half of the 19th century, while also becoming a transatlantic port, home to Albert Ballin's Hamburg-America Line, the largest transatlantic line at the beginning of the 20th century. Hamburg became the gate to the New World for many emigrants and at the same time served as a gateway for produce from all over the world to enter Germany and Europe. Not only free and Hanseatic, the city became cosmopolitan in the strictest sense with the influx of traders and workers from all continents. Hamburg had been a republic since the 13th century. In 1937 the Greater Hamburg Act transferred areas surrounding Hamburg proper from Prussia to the Hamburg. Altona, Harburg-Wilhelmsburg and Wandsbek were then incorporated into Hamburg. The area under Hamburg's rule increased by 80 percent and the population by 40 percent. The cosmopolitan Hamburg suffered the loss of its independence under the Nazi regime (although not as much as Lübeck, whom Hitler disliked so much he had its "Free and Hanseatic" status revoked), but in turn its territory was expanded to include among others Altona and Wandsbek. During the Second World War, Hamburg was hit by devastating Allied air bombing, and the British became the last to occupy Hamburg after the War. Hamburg's independent status was restored by the British during allied occupation. In 1949 Hamburg was included in the Federal Republic of Germany created after the war. After the war Hamburg was hit by the last major North Sea flood in Germany in the 1960s. Helmut Schmidt, then a local politician, distinguished himself by organising the rescue efforts and - constitutionally questionably at the time - using the military to help. This jumpstarted the career of the later chancellor of the Federal Republic. As Hamburg is more than 100 km inland nowadays flood warnings are broadcast as "German coast, Hamburg and Bremen" and not only "German coast" as before the flood. Within post-war West Germany, Hamburg retained its status as a separate state on par with the likes of Bavaria or neighbouring Lower Saxony. Larger in area only than fellow Free and Hanseatic Bremen, when it comes to population count and especially economic might (measured in GDP) it easily outshines many other states, including neighbouring Schleswig-Holstein and nearby Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and rivalling the potent Saxony up the Elbe. Being relatively urban with a long tradition of organised labour, Hamburg is often considered reliably "red" politically and has both produced several high profile Social Democratic Party politicians (including Helmut Schmidt) and been governed by Social Democrats for most of its postwar history. ==== Ich bin ein Hamburger ==== A Hamburger (with a capital "H") is indeed a citizen of Hamburg, and all of them would proudly refer to themselves as such. If you find it funny, you won't find many people to share the joke with in the city. The modern beef patty sandwich you might have in mind is an American invention, even if there are many theories somehow linking its name to that of Hamburg, and has only come to Germany (and Hamburg) with the spread of American culture and fast-food chains (but there is also research showing that the food Hamburger was invented in the German city Hamburg: the people who work in harbour use meats to make meat pies). Meanwhile, Hamburgers have been referring to themselves this way for centuries. The "burger" meanwhile is always pronounced in the American way, while the "Hamburger" referring to a person is always pronounced the German way with the food item sometimes pronounced the English way. === Climate === === Tourist information === Hamburg tourism website == Get in == === By plane === ==== Airport Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel ==== 1 Hamburg Airport (HAM IATA). It is the fifth largest international airport in Germany, so arrival by plane is an obvious choice for those visiting from far away. There are plenty of connections within Europe, although only a few intercontinental direct services are offered. The airport has been thoroughly modernised with new terminals, airport hotel, streamlined infrastructure, and facilities that are by and large adequate, so you won't get lost. Depending on the gate your flight arrives at or leaves from, walking longer distances might be necessary as with any other airport. The airport is composed of two terminals (1 and 2), but which are connected. Hamburg Airport is connected to the city by the S1 S-Bahn (commuter train) train line, which connects to the central station (Hauptbahnhof) and the city centre in about 25 minutes. There are trains every 10–20 minutes, and a single fare costs €4.10 (Mar 2026). If you're travelling to the airport, the S1 trains split at the Ohlsdorf station, and only the front three cars travel to the airport (the rest going to the suburb of Poppenbüttel). The stop at Ohlsdorf does last about two minutes as they uncouple the cars, giving passengers one more opportunity to make sure they're in the right train. Additionally, there are plenty of announcements in the train informing the passengers which part of the train they're in, plus markers on some station platforms. There are no trains between midnight and 04:00, but bus 606 runs along the same route. As there aren't any flights between 23:00 and 06:00 this may not affect your journey at all. Check the timetable for S1 for details. The airport, which is hugely popular with plane-spotters, is surrounded by Schrebergärten (meticulously maintained allotments), park lands, and open green spaces, criss-crossed by bicycle and walking trails. The popularity of this area is not only due to the many viewpoints, but also because Lufthansa Technik (Lufthansa's maintenance service) operates some large hangars on the airport, which means that the site is visited by a variety of rare and interesting aircraft (including VVIP). ==== Alternative airports ==== You may also want to consider flying to other airports, and then travelling to Hamburg via train or intercity bus. The nearest include: Bremen (2 hr by train) Hanover (2 hr by train) Berlin (3 hr 30 min by train) Frankfurt (4 hr by train) Düsseldorf (4 hr by train) Hamburg has a second airport: Finkenwerder (XFW), on the south bank of the river Elbe. However, it's almost exclusively used by the Airbus airplane factory, and normally, no commercial flights land or take off from there. === By train === Hamburg has five major stations: 2 Hauptbahnhof (central station). , 3 Dammtor. (Messe/CCH), 4 Altona. , 5 Harburg. and 6 Bergedorf. . The city being a terminus for many ICE and Intercity lines, trains tend to stop twice or even three times in Hamburg. Various types of train service are available. ICE (Inter City Express) high speed train service to or from most major German cities, including Berlin, Cologne (Köln), Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich (München) also to Basel and Zürich Switzerland. There are usually hourly services to most destinations during the daytime. Flixtrain serves the city. Direct service to or from Copenhagen and Aarhus (Denmark), Budapest (Hungary), Prague (Czech Republic), Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia) (via Dresden) and Stockholm (Sweden). An overnight train runs from Stockholm taking 12 hours. Use the German railway's online trip planner to find connections to/from Hamburg and buy tickets. The central station (Hauptbahnhof) is Germany's busiest and Europe's second busiest train station. Hence, it tends to be very crowded during rush hours. You might consider getting on or getting off the train at other stations such as Dammtor or Altona, if possible, especially if you don't have a seat reservation - while the trains fill up at central station, non-reserved seats are still free in Altona and Dammtor. === By car === via the Autobahn: A1 to/from Lübeck (north-east) — To get to the city, change to the A24 at Autobahnkreuz Ost. A1 to/from Bremen, Cologne (Köln) (south/south-west) — To get to the city, change to the A255. A7 to/from Kiel, Flensburg (north) — To get to the city, exit at Bahrenfeld, and turn left. A7 to/from Hanover, Kassel (south) — To get to the city, exit right after the tunnel under the Elbe (the Elbtunnel) at Othmarschen or Bahrenfeld. A23 to/from Husum. A24 to/from Berlin. Parking a car in Hamburg can be a challenge. In the city centre there are a fair number of underground parking garages, but they're not cheap (approximately €3 per hour, or €25 per day in 2026). Additionally, in many residential areas, parking is reserved for the people living there (Bewohnerparken). If you're travelling to Hamburg by car, check whether your accommodation provides parking, or park in one of the many park-and-ride lots near the outer S-Bahn stations, and then take public transport into the city. Park-and-ride lots cost €2 for 24 hours, or €4 per day if you'll be leaving your car for longer (up to 15 days). === By bus === 7 Intercity bus station. Hamburg is one of just a handful of German cities that had a dedicated intercity bus terminal prior to the opening of the market in 2012/13. As such, the station amenities of ZOB Hamburg as it is known locally are likely a breath of fresh air compared to the city you arrived from. Flixbus has all but cornered the domestic market, but there are several operators for international destinations both near and far. === By bike === The Elbe Radweg, one of the most popular cycle routes in Germany, passes through Hamburg. As it follows the valley of the not very steep river Elbe for most of its course it is a good choice for inexperienced cyclists as well as aspiring Tour de France participants. The North Sea Cycle Route (Nordseeküsten-Radweg) is the longest cycle route in the world that is continuously equipped with signposts. Circling the entire North Sea, it connects Hamburg with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland, England, and the Netherlands. === By boat === A lot of cruise ships visit Hamburg, so you may put your foot on Hamburg ground at one of the Cruise Centers. The most likely places are the Hamburg Cruise Center Altona (near to the fish market) and the Hamburg Cruise Center HafenCity (next to the Unilever-Haus), check out the Hamburg Cruise Center home page 1 Hamburg Cruise Center HafenCity, Chicagokai. Its terminal building is constructed out of 40 sea containers (updated Apr 2026) 2 Hamburg Cruise Center Altona (Dockland), Van-der-Smissen-Straße 5. This cruise terminal was inaugurated in 2011. With its glass facade, the single-storey terminal building blends perfectly into the architectural “string of pearls” along the Elbe. (updated Apr 2026) There is a regular yet expensive ferry between Hamburg, Cuxhaven and Helgoland. Lübeck's port suburb Travemünde, about an hour away by train, is a major Baltic ferry port. === Hitchhike === You can leave Hamburg to the south (A7-Hannover/Frankfurt/Munich) and southwest (A1-Bremen/Cologne/Netherlands) from the filling station known as "HH-Stillhorn" you can get there with the number 351 bus to Freiluftschule-Moorwerder from suburban station S-Wilhelmsburg and exit at Schützenhof. To the east (A24-Berlin) and northeast (A1-Lübeck/Rostock/Puttgarden-ferry to Denmark), you can start at the "Horner-Kreisel" and take the number 261 bus from U-Burgstraße to U-S Barmbek (exit BAB-Auffahrt Horn or walk from U3-Rauhes Haus). == Get around == Hamburg's city centre is not particularly large, and getting around on foot is perfectly doable when visiting attractions in the centre. However, Hamburg as a whole is quite extensive (over 700 km²), and some attractions are in the outlying districts. Fortunately, it has an excellent public transport system, which makes it easy to reach nearly every part of the city, as well as many surrounding areas. Cycling is also a good option for exploring Hamburg, as it's very flat, with decent (although not amazing) bicycle infrastructure. While driving in the city is possible, constant roadworks and expensive parking makes it fairly unattractive and difficult. It's recommended to leave your car at your accommodation or a park-and-ride lot, unless you're driving to somewhere well outside of the urban core. === By public transport === Hamburg has an integrated public transportation system, operated by the HVV, which consists of six S-Bahn (commuter rail) lines, four U-Bahn (subway) lines, seven R-lines (regional trains), three A-lines (AKN), a dense network of bus lines and ferries across the Elbe. Even though these are operated by different companies, they all use the same integrated fare system. Hamburg is the biggest German city without a Straßenbahn (light rail/streetcar/tram) since it shut down its legacy system in the 1970s. ==== Tickets ==== Hamburg's public transit operates on a proof-of-payment system. There are no turnstiles or gates at stations, but you always need to have a valid ticket with you when travelling, as ticket inspectors conduct random checks, and the fines for being caught without a valid ticket are steep (€60). Single tickets for most trips cost between €2.10 and €12.60 per adult, as of Mar 2026, depending on the distance travelled. To determine the correct fare, enter your departure and destination into the ticket machine or the app, and it will tell you how much the ticket will cost. The ticket is only valid on a specific day (keep that in mind if buying the ticket in advanced), but unlike in some other German cities, the ticket doesn't need to be stamped at a station. Day tickets are valid until 06:00 on the following day, and for trips within the city centre they cost €8.20 (like above, for some extremely long trips, they can cost up to €25.20). There are also group tickets (day tickets for up to five people), which cost €16.40 per day within the city centre (up to €35 for the outskirts of Hamburg) and are a great deal for families or people travelling together. For travelling with children: Children under 5 always go free Children between ages 6-14 need a children's ticket (which usually cost €1.50-4.50 for a single, or €3.00-9.00 for a day ticket, as of Apr 2026), but the normal day ticket is valid for one adult and up to three children (6-14), so unless you have a lot of children, you rarely need to buy tickets for them if you're travelling together. Children 15 or above need a normal (adult) ticket There is also a ticket called the Hamburg-Card, which is aimed at tourists. It's a variant of day and group tickets, but only valid for the A and B rings (but these include essentially the entire city of Hamburg), and also gives discounts for many popular tourist attractions. You can buy them for one or multiple consecutive days, and cost around €12.90 per day for a single, or €24.90 per day for a group up to five people, as of Mar 2026. Hamburg used to have a "9-o'clock-ticket", which was a day ticket only valid after 09:00 on weekdays, and was cheaper than than normal day ticket. This was discontinued at the end of 2024, but you may still find references to it online. Tickets can be bought at: Ticket machines at any S- or U-Bahn stations. You can pay by cash or card, but these tickets are a bit more expensive than those bought online or via the smartphone apps The HVV website, payable by credit card or direct debit from a German bank account. HVV smartphone apps. Confusingly, there are two HVV apps, the "main" HVV app and the "HVV switch" app, but you can buy tickets on either of them. Tickets can be paid for with a credit card, PayPay, or direct debit from a German bank account. You can't buy tickets on buses, so to take the bus, you need to have bought a ticket before you board. ==== Trains ==== The S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains run from the outskirts into and around the city centre, both underground and above ground. The AKN and R-trains serve the further suburbs and surrounding towns. All train platforms have signs showing the next train, where it is headed, and how many minutes until it arrives. Trains are described by a number (e.g. S1, U2) and the terminus. Note that the terminus may vary - for example, every second westbound S1 train heads all the way to Wedel, while the others only go only as far as Blankenese - so make sure to catch the correct train. The signage and announcements on the trains are in German and English. The train doors don't open automatically; you have to press a button or pull a handle on the door. When it's cold, consider closing the doors manually after getting on the train if it looks like a longer stop. To do so, either push the handle or press the closing buttons on the inside until the door is closed. As usual, wait for the passengers to get off first before you enter. ===== S-Bahn ===== S-Bahn stations are marked with a green "S" and are often co-located with major long-distance railway stations and U-Bahn stations, allowing for convenient transfers. While the S-Bahn logo is green, the trains are white-and-red like most German trains, and operated by Deutsche Bahn and feature a DB logo rather than the "S". It is easy to get confused by the variety of similar DB trains, so it is good to make sure you are boarding the S-Bahn you want and not a regional train. Nearly all S-Bahn lines of them go from suburbs on one side of the city, through the city centre (east-west), and out to suburbs on another side of the city. When crossing the city centre, they take one of two routes: The northern tunnel (the Verbindungsbahn) via the Holstenstraße and Dammtor stations The southern tunnel (the City-Tunnel) via the Reeperbahn, Landungsbrücken, and Jungfernstieg stations All lines go through the central train station (the Hauptbahnhof), which is also a major interchange with the U-Bahn lines. There are five S-Bahn lines in Hamburg: The S1 goes from the western suburbs, through the southern tunnel, and out to the northeast, including the airport The S2 goes from Diebsteich in the northwest, through the northern tunnel, and out to suburbs in the southeast The S3 goes from suburbs in the northwest, through the southern tunnel, across the river as far as Neugraben The S5 goes from Elbgaustraße in the northwest, through the northern tunnel, across the river, and then all the way to Stade in the southwest. The S7 goes from the southeastern suburbs, and then loops through both the northern and southern tunnels During the week, the S-Bahn runs from approximately 05:00 until 01:00 in the central city; on weekends, it runs all night. ===== U-Bahn ===== There are four U-Bahn (subway/underground) lines in Hamburg. They all run through the city centre and meet at Hauptbahnhof (although they stop at two separate stations - U1 and U3 at Hauptbahnhof-Süd, while U2 and U4 at Hauptbahnhof-Nord - both at opposite ends of the large Hauptbahnhof complex): U1 (blue) forms a huge V with the bottom south in the Altstadt and top northern ends (both actually splitting in two) into residential suburbs. This line may be useful if you want to visit the western bank of Außenalster, as it has stations relatively close to it. U2 (red) runs from the east to northwest. One particularly useful feature is that it stops at Messehallen (fairgrounds), allowing one to quickly move there from Jungfernstieg. U3 (yellow) is by far the most useful to a tourist, as it forms a loop around the Altstadt and Außenalster. It can take you to the Rathaus, the old harbour (next to HafenCity), Landungsbrücken, St. Pauli and even to the Stadtpark. It also stops at Sternschanze, the other entrance to the Messe (fairgrounds). While the loop is around the Außenalster in the broad sense, none of the U3 stations are close to it, so you need to change to a bus line to get to the lake. The U3 also has a lovely above-ground section between Landungsbrücken and Rödingsmarkt, with great views of the harbour. U4 (aqua) shares the eastern branch with the U2, but rather than northwest it loops south to HafenCity. All U-Bahn lines except U3 meet at Jungfernstieg, though U3 stops at the nearby Rathaus station and is accessible through an underground passage. None of the lines goes to Altona - you need to take the S-Bahn or a bus to get there. The U-Bahn runs from approximately 05:00 until 01:00 in the central city, but there is often no service past 23:00 in outlying districts. On weekends (meaning Friday and Saturday, but not the night from Sunday to Monday), it runss all night. ==== Buses ==== Buses go around the clock. At night, a special "Nachtbus" (night bus) service connects the outlying districts and the city centre. These buses depart and arrive at "Rathausmarkt", near the town hall and operate all through the night. Night buses are recognizable by their numbers which reach from 600 to 688. Apart from regular and nighttime bus lines, there are also Metrobus lines, designed to carry heavy loads on the most popular routes, in a way replacing a tram system that Hamburg does not have (similar to the situation in most of West Berlin). Metrobuses are designed to serve commuters mostly, and as such are not that useful to the tourists - in fact most lines do not even reach the core city centre. Public transport lovers will be delighted, however, to know that those lines are served by the longest bi-articulated low-floor buses in the world (the Van Hool AGG 300, also used by public transport operators in Utrecht). Riding on a bus is easy. You have to enter a bus at the front door and show your ticket to the driver or buy one. You leave through one of the back doors. On the lines 4, 5 and 6 this rule does not apply, you can enter through all doors. All busses feature information systems providing you with information about the next stop. Some even feature large information screens and free Wifi. ==== Ferries ==== The river Elbe is a major obstacle in Hamburg, as it's very wide (and full of extremely large ships), so there are only two major fixed crossings: the Elbbrücken bridges (road and rail) in the east of Hamburg, and the A7 highway tunnel in the west - plus the old Elbe tunnel in St Pauli (foot and bicycles). Therefore, the HVV operates a fleet of ferries to connect the two banks of the Elbe. These ferries operate in the harbour and along the River Elbe, and are a part of the regular public transport system (your regular public transport ticket is valid) - think of them as buses which happen to float. Some of the more interesting ferry routes for tourists include: Ferry 62, which goes from Landungsbrücken all the way down the Elbe to Finkenwerder, offering fantastic views of the harbour and city skyline, all for the price of a normal public transport ticket. At Finkenwerder, you can take a bus into the scenic Altes Land area, take ferry 65 to Blankenese (only in summer), or stay on the ferry for the return trip. This ferry route is very popular with tourists, and is often very crowded on weekends in good weather. Ferry 72 goes from Landungsbrücken to the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, and offers spectacular waterside views of one of Hamburg's most famous buildings. ===== Jungfernstieg ferries ===== On the two Alster lakes, a ferry boat travels once every hour from Jungfernstieg in the city centre to Winterhuder Fährhaus. These boats are not included in a normal HVV ticket, and are thus more expensive, however, they offer a splendid view of some of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Hamburg. === By bike === You will see a lot of bicycles on the roads during the warmer months, many of the city's residents will use bicycles as their normal form of transportation. Drive ways for bicycles are not available on all roads. In fact you will have to shift from on the road to a mixed foot and bike strip to a separated bike strip frequently. Drive safely! Several hotels within Hamburg provide residents with access to hotel bicycles. The city itself also offers bike rental services. This service is called StadtRAD, and there are kiosks located all around the city. To use this service, customers must register on the StadtRAD website or smartphone app and create an account with a credit card. Once the account has been created, you can go to any one of these terminals and use one of their bikes as long as you want. Renting a bike costs 14 cent/minute and the maximum charge is €12 per day (Apr 2026). The bikes are sturdy with an integrated lock, lights and bag rack. Cargo pedelecs are available as well for a maximum price of €24 per day. Alternatively, Hamburg City Cycles (working with the bicycle store next door) rents bicycles for €36 for 2 days and €12 for each additional day (Apr 2026). Hourly rates are also available. The bicycles are large "cruiser" style bikes and the rental includes a lock, air pump, and toolkit if desired. You can take your bike with you on the harbour ferries (e.g. line 62) free of charge. === By taxi === There is a good supply of taxis in Hamburg 24 hours a day, both at taxi stands and in the streets. You can hail a taxi either at a taxi rank (a green box on a post, somewhat like an oversized parking meter) or by using an app. Almost all vehicles are still in the traditional ivory white colour, but even if not, a yellow and black sign on the roof reading "Taxi" indicates a licensed cab. As usual, the sign is switched on to indicate vacancies. Taxis cost €4.50 plus €2.70/km, calculated by the onboard taxi meter, so a trip in the city area will around €20-40. Nearly all taxis accept payment by card. Popular taxi-hailing apps include Hansa-Taxi 211 211 and FreeNow. ==== Group taxis ==== MOIA offers group taxis/ridepooling in Hamburg using minibuses. Using their app, you request a trip to your destination, and they will pick you up at your location (or, at most, a short walk away), and bring you to your destination - but sometimes taking a detour to pick up or drop off additional passengers. They are cheaper than a taxi but more expensive than public transport, but can be useful for some trips which are awkward by public transport. (updated Mar 2026) == See == Individual listings can be found in Hamburg's district articles The entirety of the city centre is worth walking throughout, as it is jam-packed with varied and truly interesting sights. Those range from the iconic Speicherstadt and Hamburg's five main historic churches, through the upscale area around the Binnenalster artificial lake and the town hall (Rathaus) to the ultra-modern Hafen-City. The centre is where the majority of Hamburg's canals and bridges are, as well as the old quays providing great views across the Elbe. There is also an unusual array of museums to visit. On the Elbphilharmonie Plaza, you can look out over the port of Hamburg. At a height of 37 meters, the circular walkway on the outer edge of the building offers a unique panoramic view of the city and the port and one of the most beautiful sunsets in Hamburg. Escalators take you to the viewing platform in a matter of minutes. A visit to the plaza is free of charge. St. Pauli is the bustling district for party, non-mainstream shopping and Hamburg's largest funfair. The city's trade fairground (Messe Hamburg) and CCH (Conference Centre Hamburg) are also there. Altona has a long quay, with both the historic Landungsbrücken and parts still in active use, such as the Cruise Terminal and fishing harbour. St. Georg immediately east of the Hauptbahnhof is a warm and welcoming area full of cafes and renowned for its gay culture, and it has the most upscale part of Außenalster's lakeside. The North is the greenest part of Hamburg, with the rest of Außenalster and numerous other parks, like Hagenbecks Tierpark the famous zoo established 1907 by Carl Hagenbeck, who was the pioneer behind "Zoos without bars". The South is a mostly industrial area, with some unexpectedly interesting views of the decoratively lit up Borhardt quays and the planespotter's favourite Finkenwerder airport. Further south is the historic Harburg, formerly an independent city Hamburg publishes a thick, detailed booklet of local museums called "Museumswelt Hamburg". You can find the Museumswelt Hamburg at the information desk at any of the museums. Hamburg is part of the worldwide Global Greeter Network (free sightseeing tours given by local volunteers). == Do == Individual listings can be found in Hamburg's district articles === Ferries across Elbe === You can make a trip on the river Elbe with line 72 from Landungsbrücken to Elbphilharmonie, or line 62 via Museumshafen Oevelgönne to Finkenwerder, and line 64 to Teufelsbrück. Bicycles free of charge. Adults one trip €2.10, day card €8.20 (Apr 2026). The public ferries are part of the public transport system, meaning day tickets for buses, subway and interurban trains are valid for the ferries as well. These public ferries (which prominently feature their line numbers) must not be confused with sightseeing ships and the private ferries that operate between Landungsbrücken and the musical theatres on the other side of the Elbe. === Boat trips === The best way to explore Hamburg's extensive waterways (Hamburg has more bridges than Amsterdam, Venice and London combined) is on a ferry or pleasure boat. A variety of boat tours lasting from 50 minutes to 3 hours depart regularly from the Jungfernstieg on the Inner Alster lake. The exact offer varies depending on the season, so do check in advance or at the landing stage to see what's available. The simplest and shortest tour is the Alsterrundfahrt or Alster tour that lasts 50 minutes and takes in the Inner and Outer Alster lakes (adults €25, Apr 2026). The small cruise boats are often hired for weddings. One is an old steamer. Contact Alster Touristik on 040 – 35 74 240 or check out the website at www.alstertouristik.de. === Theatre, opera and musicals === Hamburg has an opera house, venues where classical music is performed and many theaters. The city offers a number of different musicals, as well as other music events. Most of these venues are located either in the central or the eastern parts of the city. If you prefer less formal venues, head to St. Pauli. ==== Musicals ==== As of Apr 2026: Theater im Hafen: Disney’s The Lion King Neue Flora: Disney’s Tarzan Theater an der Elbe: MJ – The Michael Jackson Musical Operettenhaus: Back to the Future – The Musical. All musicals are in German language, regardless of their origin. If you're still interested, make sure to buy tickets a few months in advance to secure a low price, as many shows are sold out quickly. Alternatively, if you're feeling lucky, there is a good chance midweek to find last-minute tickets at a highly discounted price of €40, regardless of price category, age, or occupation. === Sports === Football: Hamburger SV and FC St Pauli soccer teams are both based in the St Pauli district. Hamburg Towers play in the Basketball Bundesliga. HSV Hamburg is the local handball team, playing in the Sporthalle Hamburg in Hamburg-Winterhude (2. Bundesliga) Hamburg Blue Devils: Four times German American Football Champion American Football team Hamburg Huskies play in the German Football League 2 Hamburg Stealers play in the first German baseball league Hamburg European Open in Men's Tennis are held at the Rothenbaum in Hamburg. The tournament is one of nine ATP Masters Series tournaments. Haspa Marathon Hamburg in April Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon: The only German Triathlon World Cup (July) Vattenfall Cyclassics: World Cup and public bike race (August) Go hiking around the city - there are plenty of options to choose from, such as Stellingen - Ohlsdorf hiking trail or the Ohlsdorf Jenfeld route. Shooting from a real gun at Hamburg Shooting Club in the city centre. Skateparks include Skatepark Holstenstraße or indoor I-Punkt Skateland. === Events === Water light concerts are elaborately arranged works of art made of music, light and water. They are staged annually from May 1 to September 30 daily, even on public holidays, on the park lake in Planten un Blomen. The concert begins at 10 pm, from September at 9 pm. Admission is free. Registration is not required. Thema changes every 2 weeks. The program can be found here. Further water games take place during the day without light and music daily at 4 and 6 pm. Night of Museums in April is big in Hamburg. Over 50 places take part and are open till 02:00. Entrance to museums is not free, ticket (plus public transportation) costs €18, discounted €12 (Apr 2026). Altonaer Fischmarkt (Fish Market) — Every Sunday morning vendors praise wares of virtually every type at Hamburg's oldest open-air market, dating back to 1703. The market takes place at the foot of the century-old Fish Auction Hall, where live-bands perform jazz, skiffle, country, or western music. Open every Sunday from 05:00-09:30, in winter from 07:00-09:30. Hafengeburtstag (Harbour Birthday). Every year in May the harbour birthday attracts millions of people. Dozens of stands and stages, a ship parade, and changing events are organised to celebrate the cities spring of wealth. The harbour dates from 1189. Since then, the Harbour Birthday has grown into the greatest harbour party in the world. It is generally in early May. (updated Apr 2026) Kirschblütenfest (Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival). On May 19, the Japanese community of Hamburg celebrates the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival by the Lake Alster. Enormous fireworks and a peaceful atmosphere are characteristics of this event. (updated Apr 2026) Hamburger Dom (U3 to St Pauli). The Dom is one of the largest fairs in Germany. The streets of the fairground, lined on both sides with rides, amusements and food and drink stalls, are some 3.3 km long. It takes place for three separate months in spring, summer, and early winter. (updated Apr 2026) ==== Street parties ==== Watch out for neighbourhood and street parties during summertime. Some of the biggest are: Altonale, in Ottensen. Bergedorfer Stadtfest, in Bergedorf. Osterstraßenfest, in Eimsbüttel. Schanzenfest in the Schanzenviertel is a self-organised street festival. During the day, it is full of peace and happiness with flea markets, street food, and music. However, be aware that it often ends in the late evening (around 22:00) with clashes between a crowd and the police. It’s highly recommended for a visit in the afternoon, but it’s best to leave before dark if you want to avoid the riots.. Stuttgarter Weindorf — Vintners from southern Germany present their products at the Rathausmarkt (town hall square). ==== Street parades ==== Schlagermove Parade, a parody on the Berlin Loveparade with schlager instead of techno music. Hamburg Pride, the Gay Pride Parade usually takes place in August and moves from the Central Station through the shopping streets to end at the Jungfernstieg with the set up party tents. === Beaches === There are a number of small beaches on the North side of the Elbe river between Övelgönne and Rissen, the one in Övelgönne being the most popular one due to its proximity to the city centre. Swimming in the Elbe is not forbidden, but the water is not of high quality, and strong currents occasionally lead to casualties. Swimming is more common at Blankenese beach and Falkensteiner beach than at Övelgönne beach. Stay close to the shore. You may have a barbecue there in the evenings, as long as you bring a grill and clean up after yourself. Watch out for surprisingly large waves created by large ships passing by and stay clear at least 50m of any structure in or reaching into the water! See Stay Safe below! In addition, there are a usually number of commercial beach clubs during the summer, usually between Fischmarkt and Övelgönne. Other than the name might indicate, these are bars open to the public. From Altona, bus 112 leads to (and terminates at) Övelgönne. Commuter railyway S1 leads to Blankenese, from there bus 48 leads to the beach. Falkensteiner beach can be reached from commuter railway stop Othmarschen with bus 286 (stop at Tinsdaler Kirchenweg, then it's a 15-minute walk). === Open Air === There are some OpenAir Festivals around Hamburg. One is the Wutzrock Festival. It is free of charge and near the city, so you might check it out if you happen to visit Hamburg in late August. It takes place at the "Eichbaumsee" next to the Trainstation "Mittlerer Landweg" (via S-Bahn 21 to Aumuehle/Bergedorf) usually the last weekend of August. Wacken Open Air. == Learn == There are 11 universities in Hamburg, the biggest of which is the University of Hamburg. Many courses and programmes are held in English. Hamburg is home to schools from countries such as Japan, Sweden, France, Britain and more, where the pupils are taught in their native language. The International School Hamburg opened in 1957 as the first of its kind in Germany. == Work == Hamburg is a major economic hub with a strong focus on logistics, renewable energies, and the aviation industry. While the harbour remains a key employer, the IT and tech sectors are among the fastest-growing, as of 2026. Due to Hamburg's high quality of life, the job market is competitive. While international companies often use English, speaking German is still a significant advantage in most sectors. Beyond the port, the city is also famous for its vibrant media landscape, aerospace engineering, and trade. Living costs in Hamburg may be significantly higher than in other big cities in Germany depending on your demands. Inner city areas have become quite popular among doctors, lawyers and architects. Especially flats in early-20th-century Victorian-style houses – rare due to heavy destruction during World War II – are highly demanded. If you want a flat in an attractive area, be prepared to compete with well-off locals. == Buy == Individual listings can be found in Hamburg's district articles The main shopping area of Hamburg is the 1 Mönckebergstraße in the centre of the city. This area features the stores you're guaranteed to find in major German cities such as Galeria Kaufhof, Karstadt, C&A and Saturn and further west fashion stores of common international brands. Take the subway to either central station, Rathaus (town hall), or Mönckebergstraße. Also check the side-street Spitalerstraße. Northwest of town hall towards Gänsemarkt are the more pricey shops like Hugo Boss. The 2 Schanzenviertel is also getting more popular nowadays for unique designer boutiques. Younger people especially enjoy being here. Subway "Sternschanze"/"Feldstraße" Shops are mostly open daily 10:00-20:00 and on Thursday and Friday until 22:00. == Eat == Individual listings can be found in Hamburg's district articles === Cuisine === Original Hamburg dishes are Birnen, Bohnen und Speck (Low Saxon Beren, Bohnen un Speck, green runner beans cooked with pears and bacon), Aalsuppe (Low Saxon Aalsupp/Oolsupp, often mistaken to be German for “eel soup“ (Aal/Ool translated ‘eel’), however the name probably comes from the Low Saxon allens [ʔaˑlns], meaning “all”, “everything and the kitchen sink”, not necessarily eel. Today eel is often included to meet the expectations of unsuspecting diners.), Bratkartoffeln (Low Saxon Braatkantüffeln/Brootkantüffeln, pan-fried potato slices), Finkenwerder Scholle (Low Saxon Finkwarder Scholl, pan-fried plaice), Pannfisch (pan-fried fish), Rote Grütze (Low Saxon Rode Grütt, related to Danish rødgrød, a type of summer pudding made mostly from berries and usually served with cream, like Danish rødgrød med fløde) and Labskaus (a mixture of corned beef, mashed potatoes and beetroot, a cousin of the Norwegian lapskaus and Liverpool's Scouse (food), all offshoots off an old-time one-pot meal that used to be the main component of the common sailor's humdrum diet on the high seas). Alsterwasser in Hamburg (a reference to the city's river Alster with two lake-like bodies in the city centre thanks to damming), a shandy of equal parts of beer and carbonated lemonade (Zitronenlimonade), the lemonade being added to the beer. Mexikaner is another local speciality, a shot drink with vodka (or similar), tomato juice, chili and Worcester sauce that resembles a bloody Mary, but is knocked back in one go. There is a lot of good-natured rivalry between bars as to who can concoct the best Mexikaner, so if the concept appeals, be sure to taste how it differs from place to place. Hamburg is also home to a curious regional dessert pastry called Franzbrötchen. Looking rather like a flattened croissant, the Franzbrötchen is somewhat similar in preparation but includes a cinnamon and sugar filling, often with raisins or brown sugar. The name may also reflect the roll's croissant-like appearance – franz appears to be a shortening of französisch, meaning "French", which would make a Franzbrötchen a “French roll.” Being a Hamburg regional food, the Franzbrötchen becomes quite scarce outside the northwest German region. Ordinary bread rolls tend to be oval-shaped and of the French bread variety. The local name is Rundstück (“round piece” rather than mainstream German Brötchen, diminutive form of Brot “bread”), a relative of Denmark's rundstykke. In fact, while by no means identical, the cuisines of Hamburg and Denmark, especially of Copenhagen have a lot in common. This also includes a predilection for open sandwiches of all sorts, especially topped with cold-smoked or pickled fish. The American hamburger seems to have developed from Hamburg's Frikadelle: a pan-fried patty (usually larger and thicker than the American counterpart) made from a mixture of ground beef, soaked Staling, egg, chopped onion, salt and pepper, usually served with potatoes and vegetables like any other piece of meat, not usually on a bun. Many Hamburgers consider their Frikadelle and the American hamburger different, virtually unrelated. The Oxford Dictionary defined a Hamburger steak in 1802: a sometimes-smoked and -salted piece of meat, that, according to some sources, came from Hamburg to America. ==== Vegetarian and vegan food ==== A very easy Turkish food to find in Hamburg is Kumpir, a stuffed baked potato, served with salads, appetizers and sauces. Mostly veg, non vegetarian options are also available. Impossible to find in the Turkish neighborhoods in Berlin, it's very popular in Hamburg. Vegan-friendly restaurants include Chay, Holy Taco, TA Vegan House and Vincent Vegan (one of many snack bars at the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station). == Drink == Individual listings can be found in Hamburg's district articles Reeperbahn in St. Pauli is the place to go for late-night, all-out partying. Matter of fact, that corner of the city has the highest concentration of all kinds of places to go out for a drink, from beach clubs along Elbe river to different music clubs, nightclubs and bars. If you want to relax and drink a coffee in some cafes go to Lange Reihe. Many bars, cafes and restaurants all along the street. Although the Lange Reihe is the heart of the gay community, most places are jointly visited by straight and gay people of any age. All places are gay-friendly, and many are gay-owned or gay-run. Here is some information on parties and other news from the gay scene. == Sleep == Individual listings can be found in Hamburg's district articles There are plenty of hotel rooms across Hamburg and, although not a cheap city in general, you may find the price range to include much more affordable choices than in other northern metropoles. There are many higher-end hotels within the small central Neustadt-Altstadt area, but you options are certainly not limited to those. Hotels around the Aussenalster in the North provide relaxed comfort, while further up north you will find hotels closer to the airport, convenient for those arriving by air. The Atlantic and the Vier Jahreszeiten share the prize of Hamburg's best hotels over the last one hundred years. Emperors and movie stars have stayed there. The luxurious hotels at the waterfronts of the Alsters is actually reminiscent of Geneva. Altona and St. Pauli contain both hotels aimed at business travellers arriving at the trade fairs and those along the coastline, offering great views at different prices. There you can find hotels at the other end of the price scale, catering to people who've come to take part of the city's nightlife. East of the centre, in turn, you will find more business hotels and budget accommodation, usually very conveniently linked with the centre, but often less expensive due to their unspectacular location. Finally, the South has a very small supply of accommodation options, but those can be worth reviewing by those arriving by car. == Connect == Contrary to what one might suspect from a city with such a cosmopolitan perspective and media presence, Hamburg does not have that many free WiFi spots. This is due to peculiar German legislation, which Hamburg's senate has had decided to challenge in late 2014 with the goal of providing free wireless Internet at least in the city centre by 2020. Free WiFi has been implemented at most U-Bahn stations and some S-Bahn stations in the city centre, including the main stations and in a few public spaces (e.g Rathausmarkt). Also, free WiFi can be obtained in some cafes and restaurants. Do note that not all gastronomic outlets provide free WiFi - do check before you sit down there to avoid disappointments. Another way is to simply buy a German prepaid SIM-card - as of 2015, 1GB can come as cheap as EUR 10, and 5GB at EUR 20. If you do not want to carry two phones or change the SIM-card in your regular phone, a solution can be to buy a standalone WiFi device to put the card into. == Stay safe == Hamburg is a very safe city, and as long as you are aware of your surroundings and use common sense, there are no areas which are dangerous to be in, even at night. Having said that, pickpockets have been known to operate in touristy areas (especially in the area around the Mönckebergstraße, Central Station, and on the Reeperbahn), in buses and trains, but also on crowded escalators and other crowded places, so don't keep your valuables in easily accessible outside pockets. Additionally, some parts of the area just to the east of the main train station (particularly the Steindamm) can be a bit run-down. === Swimming === The river Elbe looks very peaceful, but is surprisingly dangerous (on average, one or two people per month drown in the Elbe in Hamburg during the summer months). The river bottom is regularly dredged to keep it deep enough for large ships, which means that it gets very deep very quickly. These steep edges create strong currents which easily pulls even strong swimmers down. Additionally, the wake from passing ships can be surprisingly strong, which can pull you into the water if you're not careful. Therefore, when on the beaches by the Elbe, never go into the water beyond your knees, keep an eye on children, and head further up the beach if a large ship passes by. Swimming in the Außenalster is possible, though swimmers are rarely seen. The water is fairly clean, and the lake is only about 2–3 metres deep. === Emergencies === Important phone numbers for emergencies (dial without any local prefix anywhere in Germany, always free of charge): 112 = Medical emergency and fire department 110 = Police == Stay healthy == Tap water is very clean and you can drink it without any exception, even use it to provide baby food. Hamburg has a very reliable healthcare system. You can be sure that an ambulance will arrive within 10 minutes after the call. The emergency number is 112, as in most of Europe. For non-emergency situations, call 116 117 to reach the federal KVHH service, where you can get advice from a doctor, book an appointment, and if they deem the situation serious they'll connect you to 112. === Hospitals === 3 Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, ☏ +49 40 7410-0, info@uke.de. The main hospital of Hamburg. (updated Oct 2019) In addition here is a list of the emergency rooms in the city, and here of some more that are open mostly during the evenings. === Pharmacies === There's a comprehensive network of phramacies that are open late or even around the clock. Apotheken-Notdienst-pharmacies also have healthcare professionals on duty. == Cope == === Religious services === 4 St. Marien, Danziger Str. 60 (St. Georg, near to central station). Holy Mass Su 08:30, 10:00, 12:00 (Portuguese), 15:00 (Croatian), 18:15, M-Sa 18:15; Th 21:30. Catholic cathedral (updated Mar 2015) 5 St. Elisabeth, Oberstr. 65 (district Harvestehude). Holy Mass Sa 18:00, Su 10:00, 12:00 (English), 17:30 (Spanish), 19:30 (3rd Su only), Tu Th F 19:00, W 15:00. (updated Mar 2015) 6 St. Ansgar (kleiner Michel), Michaelisstr. 5 (district Neustadt). Holy Mass Su 09:30, 11:30, 15:30 (Tagalog), 19:30. M F 18:30, W 09:30, 19:00 (Tagalog). (updated Mar 2015) == Go next == Both North Sea and Baltic Sea beaches are reachable within an hour by car, railway, or bus. As Hamburg is a port city several ferries and cruises as well as freight ships can get you to (almost) everywhere in the world as well. Bremen — A hanseatic city 95 km away, famous for the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen). Buxtehude Helgoland — Germany's most off-shore North Sea island. Reachable by express ferry from St. Pauli Landungsbrücken. Itzehoe Kiel — Kiel's main tourist attraction is the "Kieler Woche" (Kiel Week) at the end of June, the largest sailing event in the world and one of Germany's largest festivals. Kiel is also notable as one of the most important historic bases of the German Navy as well as its U-Boats, and several sights related to this history can be viewed in Kiel and the suburb of Laboe. Trains to Kiel leave at least once per hour from Hamburg main station and the trip takes about an hour. A trip to Kiel on the Autobahn (A7) takes about an hour, too. Lübeck — The city is connected to the Baltic Sea by the Trave river. The old city (Altstadt) survived from medieval times and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. About 60 km northeast of Hamburg, direct trains leave from main station every hour. Lüneburg — A city in Lower Saxony, about 50 km southeast of Hamburg. Like Lübeck, Lüneburg's old town has kept a medieval look with old buildings and narrow streets. The town is situated in the beautiful Lüneburger Heide. South of Hamburg, direct trains leave from main station every hour. Travemünde – The old town at the Baltic Sea maintained its sleepy character despite the fact that at weekends there are loads of tourists. It also serves as the port of Lübeck and has done so since the Middle Ages. There are various connections throughout the Baltic, as well as cruises that leave from this port Altes Land — The region is the biggest connected fruit growing area of Central Europe and one of the furthest north in the world. The main product grown in this area is apples in astounding variety. Altes Land is an area of marshland south of the river Elbe in Hamburg and Lower Saxony around the old towns of Stade, Buxtehude, and Jork. A characteristic feature is the richly-decorated farmhouses with their elaborate gateways. Ahrensburg — Northeastern suburb of Hamburg, situated in Stormarn district. Its outstanding sight is the Renaissance castle dating from 1595. Ahrensburg is easily accessible by car and train (Hamburg public transport). Sankt Peter-Ording — Germany's most popular tourist destination by the sea. Features a broad surfer's beach and stilt houses. Easily accessible by car (Autobahn 23, about 120 km) and train.