Destination Hamburg: A Refreshing Vibe
Here’s a list of top places to see in Hamburg, Germany.
Hamburg is one of my favorite cities on Earth. It is a city full of different characters. It has the port city vibe along with the maritime history, a musical city, innovative architecture mixed with the classics, the lakes and river banks, the shopping scene, the churches, etc. You can tell me, “well, it sounds like any other city.” Not really. There are a few cities in Europe that I felt have very close similarities to one another. But Hamburg is very unique and it stands out in its own way. It just has this refreshing vibe to it.
There’s a lot to see in Hamburg. I don’t normally do the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tours, but since this was my first time visiting, and only have 48 hours to explore the city, I decided to go for it. And I am glad I did. I was able to see as much as I could within 48 hours. The ones they have in this city were reasonably priced. The good thing about these hop-on hop-off tours is that you have the freedom to plan your itinerary based on their stops.
And here are the top 10 things to do and places to visit in Hamburg:
1) The Alster
This is the favorite spot among locals and tourists. It is a man-made lake running off the Elbe, and it’s gorgeous, especially at night for a perfect romantic stroll.
2) Rathaus or the Hamburg Town Hall
This is probably one of the most beautiful city halls I have ever seen. The impressive architecture dominates the center city. The old town hall was destroyed by fire in 1842. It wasn’t until after 55 years when the new town hall got rebuilt. It has over 647 rooms and erected on more than 4m000 oak poles. It is where the Hamburg Parliament and the Senate assemble.
3) St. Michael’s Church
What’s something special about this church is that it has the biggest church clock bell in Germany (circumferential measurement of the dial over 24 meters). Its tower, Michel, is 132 meters high. This church has five different organs and can fit 2,500 people. Go up to the observation deck, which is, 106 meters high, offering you a fantastic view of Hamburg and the its harbor.
4) Landungsbrücken Piers
A must-see major public transport hub – massive container and cruise ships, and spectacular view of the historic waterfront building. Shops and restaurants can be found here as well. A great place to chill and enjoy the harbor view.
5) The Colonadden or The Colonnades
This is a shopping street in Neustadt quarter. Buildings are Renaissance Revival inspired architecture. Even though it is now largely just a pedestrian zone, it makes a picture perfect photo just right at sunset or after, especially if the street is pretty lit up for certain events.
6) The Mö or Mönckebergstrasse
This is the main shopping street in the city. Vibrant and charming area. It is close to the city hall. Aside from large department stores, and fashion boutiques, there are a lot of outdoor cafés for all those who are wanting cold beer or hot coffee.
7) Jungvernstieg
This is another shopping area, but with a wider array of elegant shops.
8) Hamburg Fish Market
No, it’s not literally a fish market. But it’s everything and almost anything – from fish, fruits, clothing, souvenirs, flower shops, and so on. It is known that this place attracts early birds and night owls alike to barter over fresh fish. And it could get pretty loud. And at night, they keep the place and spirit high by having live music inside the old building, from jazz, blues, to rock.
9) St. Pauli
St. Pauli is Hamburg’s entertainment district. In fact, this is where the Beatles started their career before they got to be famous. This is where a lot of live music takes place, from local to international performing artists.
10) HafenCity
This is an urban development that is currently still in the works – from state-of-the-art cultural centers, inner city living quarters, parks, waterfront promenades, cafes, restaurants, and shopping areas. While you’re in this area, drop by the main attractions Miniatur Wunderland, the Elbphilharmonie and the Speicherstadt.
I would also highly recommend you do one of their harbor cruises around the city for an overall tour of the seaport, passing through HafenCity, the canals of warehouses. You’ll enjoy it!
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Hi, I'm Shar! I started the outbounder as a place to share my adventures as I explore different places around the world, my love for different kinds of food, and a passion to capture a moment in time through photography.
