Hamburg

A Hamburg city break gives you everything you need for a brief taste of Germany.  Set on the river Elbe, Hamburg is the second largest port in Europe (only the Dutch city of Rotterdam is bigger) and the eleventh biggest worldwide.  It has a population of over five million, and is noted for its mix of Baroque, Renaissance and contemporary architecture, as well its convivial nightlife and fascinating museums and galleries.  It also boasts a canal system that gives Venice a run for its money, and is home to many wonderful parks and lakes.

To get to Hamburg, you can fly into Hamburg airport which has every amenity you would expect a modern airport to possess.  It is connected directly to the city via the S-Bahn S1 commuter train line, and trains run on average every fifteen minutes.  You can also start your city break in Hamburg  by driving to the city from anywhere in Europe.  Hamburg has numerous car parks on the outskirts of the city as you are encouraged to use public transport to make your way to the centre.

For a taste of the old city, you should start your Hamburg city break at the Speicherstadt harbour district.  Sightseeing opportunities here should see you visit the Rathaus marketplace and the magnificent Deichstrasse, the oldest remaining street in the city which dates back to the 14th century.  If you are in the city on a Sunday morning make sure you visit the Altona Fish Market, which, due to its attraction to tourists, also now sells sausages, sweets, pastries and gifts.  There is a spirited restaurant at the auction hall complete with live music.  Whilst in Speicherstadt you may also find time to check out an impressive model railway, a Russian submarine and even the ghostly Hamburg Dungeon.

You cannot complete a Hamburg city break without a cruise along the extensive network of canals and waterways that are a feature of the city.  Hamburg is known as the Venice of the North.  Cruises usually start at the harbour and take you along the canals and onto Lake Alster.  A night cruise in good weather is a very romantic way to spend an evening.

Hamburg’s infamous St Pauli area has the same reputation as some of the seedier areas of Amsterdam, but The Reeperbahn has plenty of reputable nightspots for you to wine and dance the night away.  There is a cosmopolitan mix of venues for cabaret, gambling and clubbing that erupt into life a few hours after the sun has departed the sky.  If you explore during your Hamburg city break you’ll find many sights that will both surprise and delight you.

For a greater degree of culture during your city break in Hamburg you can visit the Hamburger Kunsthalle, one of Germany’s finest art museums where you’ll view works by such famous names as Picasso, Munch, Rembrandt and Warhol.

Other attractions you may consider include the Spice Museum, the Museum of Hamburg History, the zoo and the planetarium.

Your city break to Hamburg will allow to experience the distinctly German way of life in a nutshell.  Book your Hamburg city break today and you’ll soon be taking a pleasant cruise along Hamburg’s picturesque network of canals and waterways.