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Things to do in Hamburg

Locally called 'The Gateway to the World', there are loads of things to do in Hamburg, which is both Germany's second largest city and home to its busiest port.

Split down the centre by the River Elbe, Hamburg is a modern city full of striking architecture, glittering canals, lush green parks, and fascinating art galleries, and you’re sure to enjoy discovering all of its historical landmarks and interesting museums during your visit.

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Hamburg culture
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Eating and drinking

Things to do in Hamburg

Hamburg Culture Hamburg is renowned as one of the most musical cities in the world, attracting artists such as legendary composers Bach and Telemann, and it was also once home to The Beatles. Fans of 'The Fab Four' can make the musical pilgrimage to the Indra Musikclub where the group honed their skills, or visit the Beatles Platz monument located at the crossroads of Reeperbahn and Grosse Freiheit.

As well as playing to host to some phenomenal on stage productions, Hamburg is the home of a number of unmissable architectural wonders. From the neo-renaissance city hall to the striking Hamburger Kunsthalle, you don't have far to walk to see buildings that demonstrate the city's rich history.

Other unmissable landmarks include the Baroque masterpiece St Michael's Church, one of the most famous buildings in the city.

Shopping in Hamburg

Hamburg is one of North Germany's shopping hubs and is home to dozens of markets, malls, and boutiques stocking everything from high end labels to alternative fashion bargains. The city's main boulevard, Jungfernstieg, offers a 600m paradise for shopaholics. This historic waterside walkway contains some of Europe's most beautiful shopping arcades and department stores, like Hamburger Hof.

For a modern shopping experience with everything under one roof, the Europa Passage boasts 120 stores over five floors and is the largest shopping centre in the inner city. Other popular spots include the Pöseldorf area with its canal side cafés, or the buzzing street markets of St Pauli.

Discover Hamburg Port

The city acts as a gateway to Germany, with everything coming and going courtesy of the Elbe River and the 800-year-old Port of Hamburg. As well as being a popular stop for cruise ships, there’s an enormous variety of things to do in Hamburg port, which vary from sunset riverside dining to harbour cruises on the sparkling water.

One of the main attractions to the area is the Speicherstadt, the world's largest warehouse complex. You can enjoy a guided tour of this warehouse city and see where spices, tobacco, coffee and other goods were stored and traded.

You will also find a number of interesting museums and ships here, so there is an opportunity to learn about the port’s history too.

Speicherstadt Warehouse District in Hamburg

Eating and Drinking in Hamburg

As an international city, the cuisine in Hamburg includes everything from Asian to Italian, with plenty of regional German dishes too. For classy dining, head out to Altona, which is littered with riverside restaurants and cosy cafés. For those seeking great value meals, Schanzenviertel is one of the hip alternative areas of the city, where you can find great bars, restaurants and boutiques.

Other neighbourhoods that are perfect for dining and drinking are Hans-Albers-Platz, with its live music scene, and Hamburger Berg for its many late night clubs. One of the most popular places to enjoy eating and drinking in Hamburg is the city's 18th century open air Fishmarkt on the Landungsbruecken, where you can enjoy live music and taste the freshest seafood in the city.

Ready to discover all of the things to do in Hamburg for yourself? Book your ferry crossing and start planning your trip to Germany today!

Hamburg is the home of a number of unmissable architectural wonders

Aerial view City Hall in Hamburg, Germany

Speicherstadt warehouse district bridge in Hamburg, Germany

Speicherstadt warehouse district in Germany

Discover Hamburg: Germany’s rock’n’roll side Read more

Holding one of Europe’s most important ports, centuries-old Hamburg is an incredible melting pot of historical wealth, quintessential German traditions and raw multicultural character.

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