Hamburg sights

Hamburg may not be Germany’s capital, but it beats Berlin in terms of population. Moreover, it surpasses many European cities in this respect. Hamburg’s highlights are the many canals and parks. This is complemented by some amazing architecture, a great number of sights and a number of smaller features.

Hamburg City Hall

The Hamburg City Hall is a good place to begin. It is located in the central part of the ‘Heart of Northern Germany’, as the city is called. The town hall is the main historical landmark.

During the Christmas season, there is a market going on at its foot, where you can enjoy the delicious food and be in a fairytale mood. The town hall itself is elegant and atmospheric, with a splendid colour scheme. At the head of the vaults is the clock tower.

Port

Hamburg is a port city. Thanks to its waterway, it was able to grow so quickly and outmanoeuvre many other German cities. What’s more, it was the port of Hamburg that played a decisive role in the formation of modern Germany.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of ships come into port. Unloading and loading takes place quickly thanks to modern production facilities. In addition to commerce, passenger shipping is also well developed.

International Maritime Museum

As far as the port is concerned, the International Maritime Museum is located not far from the port. It has been open since 2008. The building itself once served as a port warehouse, but its style has been cleverly adapted for museum purposes.

Its size is impressive. The museum complex is divided into decks. On each one you can learn about a particular stage in the development of world shipbuilding. You can also study the process of change in terms of navigation and other features of such an exciting field.

The Elbe Philharmonic

Like Barcelona, Hamburg also has some impressive buildings. One such is the Elb Philharmonic, which is also a concert hall. The original building is situated on an island.

A beauty of the building is that the top is in the shape of a wave, while the bottom gives a feeling of solidity. The glazed part plays with a lot of marvellous colours when it gets exposed to the sunlight.

Lake Alster

For a sense of Hamburg’s atmospheres, make sure to visit the old part of the city. It is in the middle of the city. Walk through the picturesque alleys and you’ll come to Lake Alster.

Here you can go for a walk, do some sports or take a ride on a small boat. The lake together with the adjacent park covers about 160 hectares. Despite its convenient location, there is no development in the area in favour of the natural surroundings.

Barn Town

The largest building complex in the world, known as Barn City, is situated between the historic centre and the port. Its buildings have become hallmarks of luxury Hamburg and are connected by numerous bridges.

The buildings themselves are used to store various products as well as goods delivered to the city. It is made of red bricks in the Gothic style. The buildings are decorated with turrets, bay windows, gables and much more.