The Free City of Hamburg was already a thriving and independent settlement at the end of the 12th century. Princes and kings have never ruled here, so centuries of freedom have left a deep imprint on these lands. Hamburg has become a multicultural and cosmopolitan city since the Middle Ages. In our time, a stormy life continues to boil in its squares and port streets.
Hamburg is very different. On the one hand, there is the historical center with a picturesque town hall and Renaissance buildings, on the other, the dynamic industrial quarters of the Granary City, and on the third, the magnificent Alster Lake and large park areas within the city limits. The cultural traditions of the past centuries are carefully preserved in Hamburg museums and galleries.
The best hotels and hotels at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles / day
What to see and where to go in Hamburg?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Hamburg Town Hall
A majestic historic city council building, adorned with statues of Germanic emperors. Today in the Town Hall is the residence of the burgomaster. The town hall square hosts holidays, festivals and fairs all year round. In the courtyard of the building, there is an elegant fountain with a statue of the goddess of health Hygea, built at the end of the 19th century to commemorate the end of the cholera epidemic.
Port of Hamburg
A cargo harbor on the Elbe River, the largest port in Germany and the “German gateway to the world”. Vessels and tankers from many countries dock here, and the port occupies the 9th place in the world in terms of occupancy. The length of the pier is 46 km. The harbor began to function in the 12th century under the ruler Frederick I. Thanks to its favorable location and convenient port, Hamburg quickly became rich and by the 17th century had become a major European transport hub.
Alster lake
A lake in the center of Hamburg, around which the prestigious districts of the city are concentrated. On the banks of the Alster there are luxurious villas of wealthy citizens. The nearly 6 km long coastal area has been converted into a public park. Water sports competitions are regularly held on the lake. Those who wish can take a boat trip on a regularly running ferry and admire the surrounding landscapes.
Jungfernstieg street
Alley in the historical part of Hamburg on the southern shore of the Alster lake. The Jungfernstieg became the first paved street in Germany. In past centuries, noble and wealthy families arranged a promenade here, at the same time showing the public their unmarried daughters. Today the street is an important transport hub for Hamburg, a business center and a prime shopping destination.
Reeperbahn
Hamburg's bohemian center in the harbor district of St. Pauli. The street got its "frivolous" fame from the past, when city blocks in the port area were considered a place of rampant vices and fornication. These days, the Reeperbahn's appointment hasn't changed much - it is the focus of nightclubs, entertainment venues, erotic cabaret shows and legal brothels. The place received the unofficial name "The Sinful Mile".
Hamburg Kunsthalle
City Art Museum, created on the initiative of the members of the Union of Literature Lovers. In the middle of the 19th century, the authorities allocated a plot for construction, and work began under the leadership of architects G. Schirrmacher and G. von der Hude. In 1995, another building was added to the museum, which housed the Gallery of Modernity. The Hamburg Kunsthalle contains works from various eras, starting from the Middle Ages.
Hamburg History Museum
A museum built at the beginning of the 20th century, where you can learn a lot about the history of Hamburg. The exhibits will tell the visitor how the city turned from a small fortress into a wealthy and prosperous European center of trade. The exposition was opened thanks to the activities of members of the historical society. It houses parts of old buildings, panoramas, samples of ships, costumes and the largest model of a railway in Europe.
Museum of Arts and Crafts
Museum of Applied Arts with a collection of 500 thousand exhibits. This is one of the most complete collections in Europe. It houses collections of textiles, furniture, interior items made at the best factories in Italy, Belgium and France. The museum also has antique musical instruments, rare costumes of French fashion designers, collections of porcelain and faience.
Wax Museum Panopticon
The exposition of the museum is based on a private collection of wax figures by Hermann Weber, who at the same time was the creator of all his exhibits. The first figures were copies of criminals and thieving burgomasters of Hamburg. After the fire of 1943, only 19 copies remained from the museum collection. They formed the basis of the renewed exposition. Now the museum exhibits about 120 figures of famous people.
Rikmer Rikmers Museum Ship
Former cargo barque, which made long voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to Chile, as well as to the Far East. At the beginning of the 20th century, the ship was seized by British troops, and after the First World War it was handed over to Portugal. In 1983, Germany bought out the bark, which worked properly all this time. The ship was restored and converted into a museum dedicated to the history of the ship and the Rickmers shipping company.
Hamburg dungeon
A popular horror museum, where colors and faces tell about the "dark" periods of the city's history: public executions, epidemics, large fires and other gloomy events. Theatrical performances, interactive shows and completely eerie surroundings await visitors, from which even the most indifferent becomes uncomfortable. The museum is housed in gloomy stylized catacombs.
Miniature wonderland
A fabulous city, representing the surrounding world in miniature. It contains models of German railways (with real stations), airports, Scandinavian harbors, the Alps, the American continent and much more. The territory of the "wonderland" is divided into thematic sections that depict entire states in miniature. This unique space will be interesting for both children and adults.
Hamburg Opera House
The oldest musical theater in Germany, founded in 1678. The stage was originally intended for the general public, and not just for a narrow circle of noble families. Until the middle of the 18th century, the opera was housed in a wooden building, in 1827 the troupe moved to a new building, but it was destroyed during the Second World War. The opera has been restored for almost ten years.
Monument to Otto von Bismarck
A gigantic monument in honor of the outstanding Chancellor of the united Germany (and later the German Empire) Otto von Bismarck. This politician stood at the foundations of the transformation of the scattered German states and small principalities into a single and strong country. He was an honorary citizen of Hamburg, so the authorities decided to erect a worthy monument in his honor. The monument was inaugurated in 1906.
St. Michael's Church
Temple of the XVIII century, built in the Baroque style. It is considered one of the most picturesque in Hamburg. The church is crowned with a 132-meter bell tower with an impressive clock on the façade. At the top there is an observation deck with views of the Elbe, Alster Lake and Hamburg. During the Second World War, the building was severely damaged, so they had to seriously work on its restoration.
Church of St. Nicholas
Lutheran church, from which only the 147-meter bell tower remains.It was once a beautiful neo-gothic church. The first building appeared in the XIII century, in the middle of the XIX century a new structure was erected in its place, damaged by the bombing of 1943. After the war, the temple was not completely restored, only the tower was left. The ruins of the Church of St. Nicholas serve as a memorial to the victims of bloody battles.
Planetarium
Impressive space theater displaying projections of the starry sky. The planetarium was launched in 1930 and is the oldest in Germany. The monumental historical building is equipped with modern technology, with the help of which you can see the whole stellar worlds. The powerful planetarium projector is capable of displaying several thousand stars simultaneously on the dome.
Fish market
Trade area where you can buy fish, seafood, smoked meats, fruits, souvenirs, as well as delicious food. The market has existed since the beginning of the 18th century. Trade is conducted here from five to ten in the morning. Tourists are brought in whole buses, skilled sellers arrange exciting show presentations in front of potential buyers. The market is worth a visit for the ambiance, atmosphere and mood, even if there are no purchases in the plans.
Chilihouse
Eleven-storey building of the early XX century in the style of expressionism. The unofficial name of the structure is "the bow of the ship" because of its characteristic shape, reminiscent of a ship's promontory. Chilihaus was built by order of the large merchant G. Sloman, who made a fortune in the Chilean nitrate trade. The house was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an example of the port architecture of Hamburg.
Granary city
A complex of warehouse and administrative buildings in the port area of Hamburg. The buildings are mostly made of red brick. Numerous metal bridges are laid between them. Thanks to this industrial architecture, the port area has acquired a unique flavor. The granary city emerged at the end of the 19th century, when it was decided to create a free trade zone outside Hamburg.
Bergedorf Castle
The only castle preserved in Hamburg. It is located in the old part of the city. It is believed that the castle was built in the 13th century, as there are written documents in which it is referred to as a "strong house". Today, the building houses a branch of the Hamburg History Museum. It hosts exhibitions introducing visitors to the cultural heritage of the region.
Old tunnel under the Elbe
Underground passage under the Elbe River, 426.5 meters long, connecting the port area of St. Pauli with the center of Hamburg. It was designed and built at the beginning of the 20th century. Engineering solutions implemented during construction were considered breakthrough and progressive for that time. The idea of burying the tunnel arose after the strike of 1896, when disgruntled port workers demanded that the problem of unloading the port be solved.
Olsdorferfriedhof cemetery park
The old cemetery of the late 19th century, where more than 1.5 million burials are located on an area of almost 400 hectares. You can get around the cemetery by car and public transport, since the length of the alleys is more than 17 km. Numerous mausoleums, chapels and memorials have been built here. There are benches and walking areas for visitors. The cemetery has long turned into a tourist attraction; more than 2 million people visit it a year.
Hagenbeck Zoo
Private zoo of the Hagenbeck family, opened in 1907. The zoo became the first in the world where natural habitats were created for animals. The territory is home to over 200 species of animals. One of the interesting places in the zoo is the tropical aquarium, which is home to a wide variety of species - from small fish and tropical insects to gigantic crocodiles.
Park Plantin un Blomen
The Botanical Garden and the "green heart" of Hamburg, a favorite place for walks and picnics in fine weather. The park hosts exhibitions of gardeners and landscape designers, flower fairs, musical performances and art exhibitions. Plantin un Blomen is located west of Lake Alster. It includes several garden areas, united by a common concept.
