THE 15 BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN HAMBURG

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Hamburg It is the second most populous city in Germany, and one of those preferred by travelers visiting the country. The motives? An extraordinary architecture, pleasant parks, a lake located right in the center, a great cultural offer and lots of fun… Besides the always present and very important port of the city. If the bug has bitten you and you want to know what they are the best things to see and do in Hamburg, keep reading because we tell you next.

1. One of the essentials of Hamburg is the imposing City Hall building. The rich facade perfectly reflects the era of prosperity that was lived when it was built to replace the old town hall destroyed in a fire in 1842. Its, it is believed, more than 647 rooms, have made it the largest city hall of all country. And I say it is believed because in 1971 another new room was accidentally found while searching for a lost document, so ... who knows if this place still hides other places to discover? Definitely a must in Hamburg.

The City Hall is the starting point of the interesting free tour of Hamburg. You can learn much more about the history of the city and its most emblematic places, and in Spanish! It's free, but remember to leave a tip at the end.

2. In front of the Town Hall and on one side of the Alster River is the famous gallery Alsterarkaden, an alley porticoda in the uro Italian style, which is possibly the most emblematic place in Hamburg for coffee in one of its terraces.

3. Approximately 100 kilometers separate Hamburg from the wild coast of the North Sea. Despite this its historic river port It is one of the largest and most important in the entire continent. Explore this part of the city, without forgetting its picturesque springs of St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, in the northern part of the port, is one of the mandatory activities on a trip to Hamburg.

4. Mandatory is also to know the Speicherstadt or "city of warehouses." Occupying an area of almost 300,000 m² is the largest warehouse complex in the world. Its neo-Gothic red brick buildings contrast with the modern steel and glass constructions of nearby Hafen. Among its streets, bridges and canals, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of the city (there is a Spanish tour that runs through this neighborhood and Hafen City on foot). At dusk the lighting highlights even more its appeal, a night boat ride It can be a very special experience. This night cruise goes from Speicherstadt to the Port of Hamburg and has great reviews.

5. Precisely in the Harbor neighborhood of Hafen City is one of the largest and best acoustic concert halls in the world, the Elba Philharmonic. This amazing architectural work overcame many obstacles during its construction, including a great controversy over the money that was costing the taxpayer. The story has a happy ending and everyone breathed easy when in 2017 it opened its doors to the public and became the new city symbol and in one of the best things to do in Hamburg.

Alsterarkaden Gallery with the Hamburg City Hall in the background

6. Near the philharmonic you will have the opportunity to travel through an authentic miniature world in the Miniatur-Wunderland museum. You may be surprised to know that, according to the German Tourism Center, this place is the most popular tourist attraction in the whole country! The truth is that this unique museum does not lack details to capture the attention of children and adults alike. Do you dare to discover this small-great place? 😉 Prices, schedules and all the information about the museum here.

7. Like other big cities in the world, Hamburg also has its rogue face. If you want to be seduced by the naughty part of the city you will have to approach until St. Pauli, one of the red neighborhoods most popular on the entire planet. Don't settle for touring the famous Reeperbahn, known as the "mile of sin", and also stroll through the lively streets of this neighborhood full of bars, theaters, discos and, of course, brothels, sex shops, strip clubs and even a sex museum. You can get to know this neighborhood by the hand of a guide in Spanish.

8. Every Sunday the night owls of St. Pauli stumble (perhaps also literally after a night of partying ... 😉 with the early risers at a peculiar meeting point, the Fishmarket. With its more than 100 years of history, in the most famous market in the city there is always a festive atmosphere between fish stalls, fruit, plants ... And also live music! Open every Sunday from 5.00 - 9.30 from April to October, and from 7.00 - 9.30 from November to March.

9. An indispensable stop for art lovers is the Kunsthalle museum from Hamburg There you will find together more than 700 years of European art history. From the works of Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Pieter de Hooch or Anthony van Dyck, through the famous French artists Manet and Cézanne, to the German romantic painter David Friedrich with his masterpiece Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer (The Walker on the sea of clouds). Price: € 14. Find all the information about the museum on its website.

There's a museum pass with which you can enter unlimitedly 5 of the most important museums in Hamburg (including the Kunsthalle) for 3 days. You can view more information here

10. If you are interested in architecture, you can not miss the Chilehaus. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2015 with the Speicherstadt, this huge expressionist style building is one of the most impressive in the entire city. The architect Fritz Höger designed the Chilehaus trying to make the construction resemble a large passenger ship. To do this, he placed three stepped balconies on the upper floor similar to the decks and gave an incredible and unique pointed shape to the eastern edge to remind him of the bow of a ship. In addition to its 10 floors, the 2,800 windows and the more than 4.8 million bricks used in its construction, it is not difficult to imagine it as a transatlantic about to set sail.

Typical image of the Speicherstadt neighborhood in Hamburg

11. The Elbtunnel It is another of the peculiar tourist attractions that the city has. From 1911 pedestrians and cyclists can arrive quickly, free and 24 hours a day to the southern part of the freight port, crossing this underpass of 426 m.

Curiosity: Did you know that the ancestor of the hamburger as we know it today there could be born in this city? The rundstück warm from Hamburg or literally "hot piece of meat", which the port workers used to consume in the past, reminiscent of the famous dish associated by all the American giant. Do not miss the opportunity to try it and pay tribute to the origins of the Big Mac 😉

12. Formed by the Binnenalster and Aussenalster lakes, the Alster lake It is located in the heart of the city. Despite being artificial, it cannot be denied that it is beautiful, with an unbeatable view of the city skyline. So do not forget to go there to walk, ride a boat or have a delicious German beer, while enjoying the panoramic view.

13. But if what you really want is to breathe fresh air and relax, there is no better place in Hamburg than the Plant a Blomen on the shores of Lake Alster itself. East park and botanical garden It offers the possibility of contemplating medicinal plants, garden flowers, exotic varieties and a beautiful Japanese garden in the same space. In addition to being able to attend a summer during the summer months light show at its main source. The entrance to the park is free, you can check the schedules here (in German).

14. Exemplifying the ravages caused by the bombs in this country during World War II, the church tower of St. Nikolai It remains standing as a memorial. What once was one of the tallest buildings in the world and one of the five most important Protestant churches in the city, today is just a place that reminds us of what should not happen again. We recommend you visit the St. Nikolai memorial, an underground museum where the ravages of the IIGM are shown, and then climb by elevator to the tower's viewpoint at 75m high. The price for both visits is € 5, more info.

15. Finally, there are two unique experiences to live in Hamburg. The first is to visit the Dialog im Dunkeln, an exhibition on the discovery of the invisible, in which visitors are guided by blind people through a dark world of smells, sounds and temperatures. Find all the information you need here. And another more terrifying is the Hamburg Dungeon, in which you will transport 600 years in time to know the darkest episodes in the history of Hamburg. Here you can buy your ticket.

Tower and ruins of the St. Nikolai church in Hamburg

I imagine that by now you will have noticed, but you are facing an exciting city full of places to discover. It is possible that this list of the best things to see and do in Hamburg Do not do full justice to everything you have to offer ... So do not wait any longer and encourage yourself to meet her.