Visit Hamburg

Shopping spree at the Europa Passage

2007-06-27T13:15:00.000+01:00

The Europa Passage is the newest shopping opportunity Hamburg has to offer. There has been a huge buzz about the mall long before it was actually being built. But now, finally, it is here for all of you to enjoy.

The Europa Passage hosts 110 shops of various size and prize range. You can find pretty much everything from books to make up over fashion and souvenirs here. Do try it out and plan in a pit stop at Lavasani on the ground floor for some tapas and a nice view on the passing crowds.

Opening times:

Shops:
10am - 8pm on Monday to Wednesday and Saturday
10am - 9pm Thursday and Friday

The Cafes and restaurants are open daily until 11pm.

How to get there: Check out this page.

And the best thing is: Even if it rains in good old Hamburg, you can still shop at the Europa Passage staying dry and happy! Check out the Europa Passage website in English!

Visit Hamburg changed it's outfit

2007-06-27T01:39:00.000+01:00

Hello visitors,

Firstly my apologies for not updating this blog as regularly as I should have. To make up for this, I have remodeled the blog and given it a new look and feel. I hope you like it!

Happy Hamburg-ing!
The Visit Hamburg Crew (aka Sarah)

Some facts about Hamburg

2007-05-24T15:16:00.000+01:00

With 1.7 million inhabitants, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and one of the 16 federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Hamburg is both a city and a state.

Economically and culturally Hamburg is also the centre of all Northern Germany. 3.5 million people live in the metropolitan region of Hamburg - for them, Hamburg is a shopping and cultural metropolis.

With 755 square kilometers, the city area is seven times bigger than Paris and two and a half times bigger than London. As a result, Hamburg's living and housing standards are particularly high.

With 30 square meters of living space per person, Hamburg has the biggest average living space of all major cities in the world. As much as 14% of the city area is made up of green spaces and recreational areas.

Hamburg has 2,302 bridges - more than Venice and Amsterdam combined. With over 90 consulates, Hamburg is second only to New York City in the world.

As a trade centre, Hamburg has always been outward-looking, and this has shaped the mentality of the inhabitants of Hamburg.

Hamburg, meine Perle

2006-10-16T20:12:00.000+01:00

Café Wien

2006-07-14T18:38:00.000+01:00

One of my favorite cafes/bars is the Café Wien on the Inner Alster Lake directly in the City Center. This nice little Cafe is actually a little boat on the lake with a winter garden that is bright and sunny. In the cafe you can sit comfortably on sun chairs or couches and enjoy the view over the lake, watch swans paddle by and enjoy a nice range of drinks and food. Well worth a visit in between a long day of shopping and/or sightseeing or late at night for a cocktail!

So far I cannot present any pictures, but do stay tuned, they will follow soon. In the meantime check out www.cafebarwien.de - the official Café Wien website.

Café Wien
Binnenalster
City, Ballindamm,
Phone 040 - 33 63 42

www.cafebarwien.de

The Harbour

2006-04-26T10:03:00.000+01:00

The Hamburg Harbour, the "Gateway to the World", is the largest sea-harbour in Germany and according to the number of containers handled in 2004 (7 million) the second-largest in port in Europe and the 9th worldwide. The harbour area is 73.99 km². Historically, the harbour has been the core asset of Hamburg and the justification for its location and importance.

The Outer Alster Lake

2006-03-23T17:46:00.000Z

This beautiful lake in the middle of Hamburgs city centre is actually a river. The park around the lake is Hamburgs best spot to go walking or running or watching people.

On the lake itself is amazing and beautiful, you can rent sailing boats or go rowing or take different cruises with the "Alster-Dampfer".

Here some impressions of the Outer Alter, the bigger part of the lake. By the way: These pictures were taken in October, so see how beautiful the weather can be in Hamburg even in fall!

Reeperbahn

2006-02-22T13:16:00.000Z

Kiez

Kiez is the name for Hamburgs famous red-light district around the Reeperbahn. Although for tourists this quarter is mainly famous for strip clubs and sex shops you can find loads of live music clubs, bars, theatres and restaurants as well. People from Hamburg go here as well, so you can find an interesting mixture of different people during the nights.

Herbertstrasse

If you are a guy, you have to check this out! The Herbertstrasse joins the Davidstraße half way down on its western side. The street is closed off at both ends by metal screens through which only adult men are allowed to access. Behind the gates you can find nice women offering their services sitting in the windows of the shops. This is one of the last surviving of such streets in Germany. A true picture of St. Pauli.

Große Freiheit

This street joins the western end of the Reeperbahn from the north shortly before Nobistor. The road was made famous through the Hans Albers film "Große Freiheit No. 7" in the 1940s. Its name (Große Freiheit=great freedom) refers to the granting of freedom of religion and trade in the historic independent city of Altona to which it belonged until 1937.
This street is full of sex show establishments. Especially good is the "Doll House", where they have very beautiful girls and handsome guys to "order" for a talbe dance.
At No. 39 the legendary "Star Club" in which the Beatles, amongst others, began their world careers, existed between 1962-1969. Today it is a hotel.

Hotels - The Royal Meridien

2006-02-16T16:27:00.000Z

Le Royal Meridien

An amazing 5 star hotel in the city centre with a stunning view from the rooms on the Alster lake. On the top floor there is also a bar and a restaurant with an even better panoramic view.

The rooms on every floor are equipped in different colors - as are the floors themselves. The rooms are really stylish and absolutely gorgeous. Even though it is quite expensive I think for at least a night or two you should think about it and spoil yourself...

Le Royal Meridien
An der Alster 52-56
+49 (0)40 2100 0
hamburg.lemeridien.com

The town hall

2006-01-29T15:59:00.000Z

Hamburg’s new town hall has been erected between the years 1886 und 1897 after Hamburg’s old town hall was 1842 deliberately destroyed to stop the great city fire.

The town hall was to be build next to Hamburgs stock exchange so that trading and government business could be done next to each other. That’s why two wings link the two buildings.

In the middle of the atrium stands the Hygieia-fountain, where open-air concerts take place on mild summer evenings.

Today the town’s people (county parliament) are seated in the left wing of the building. The senates (county government) as well as the mayor are located in the right wing. You can visit the town hall when the senate is not in conference! Guided tours can be attended for 1 Euro per person.

The Inner Alster

2006-01-17T09:49:00.000Z

The basin of the Inner Alster is square shaped. It has an area of about 18 hectares. It was separated from the Outer Alster in the 17th century when the fortifying ring around the city was built. It is enclosed on three sides by the streets Jungfernstieg, Neuer Jungfernstieg and Ballindamm, where shops, restaurant and bars can be found. On the fourth side - towards the Outer Alster - it ends with the Lombardsbrücke, which is pretty much also the start for a walk in the Outer Alster park. A cicuit of the Inner Alster lake takes roughly 30-40 minutes.

During the summer season between 6am and 10pm the Alster Fountain, situated in the centre of the Inner Alster lake, rises to a height of 35m.

The view from the old Jungfernstieg (now being rebuilt) towards the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (with the copper roof).

On the lake you can take tours with small boats - we call it "Alsterschippern". You can chose from different tours during the day or evening in different length and to different destinations. The tours start daily on the Jungfernstieg.

Merry christmas and a happy new year!

2005-12-23T15:53:00.000Z

Come and visit Hamburg in the winter season...

....its just lovely!

old warehouse complex

2005-11-26T19:05:00.000Z

The century-old Speicherstadt is located in the Free Port between the Deichtorhallen and Baumwall and is the world's oldest warehouse complex. It was built at the turn of the century in red brick, typical of northern Germany, with gabled roofs and small towers, which are beautifully reflected in the canals they border. You should plan to go on a harbour tour to see all the details (Tours for example with "Captain Prüsse": Great harbour tour for 6 Euro leaving at St. Pauli Landungsbrücke 3A)

Lately a very special and magical feature was added to the sight: All over the old Speicherstadt an artist placed spotlights on buildings, bridges and canals. Go and walk through it at night!Fascinating!! Captain Prüsse offers a special night boat tour for 12 Euro (Reservations at 040 313130)

St. Michaelis Church

2005-11-19T17:55:00.000Z

The State Opera

2005-10-12T12:57:00.000+01:00

The Opera house in Hamburg brings to stage a great mixture of the great operas of all times like Mozarts "The Magic Flute" or "La Traviata" by Verdi as well as contemporary works in this world-famous opera house which has just been awarded as the Opera house of the Year 2005. John Neumeier's brilliant ballet company is without doubt among the best in dance ever. So whatever you see at the State Opera of Hamburg, you will really enjoy it, it is a brilliant house!

First opened in 1678, the State Opera has a glorious history up to this day. Stars like Placido Domingo and Milva visit, artistic director Ingo Metzmacher produces works such as "Don Giovanni, "Der Rosenkavalier", "Alcina" or the modern "La Vera Storia" - you should not miss your chance to visit one of the most important opera houses in the world. Seriously!

Hamburgische Staatsoper
Dammtorstraße 28 (near Gänsemarkt)
20354 Hamburg

Tickets at
www.hamburgische-staatsoper.de
or directly at the ticket booth in
Große Theaterstraße 25 (behind the Opera house)
open monday - saturday 10 am - 6:30 pm

Hamburg Dungeon

2005-09-19T18:24:00.000+01:00

For a couple of years now we have our own Dungeon here in Hamburg. This cool "museum" with real actors leads you trough the dark, tragic and scary past of Hamburg:

The big flood, the great fire, the execution of Stoertebeker, the plague and other cool things...

You definitely don't want to miss this! Open every day 11am - 6pm, Admission 14.50 Euro

The Hamburg Dungeon
Kehrwieder 2
(Speicherstadt)
www.thedungeons.com

German Customs museum

2005-09-19T13:02:00.000+01:00

Sound boring, but is very, very exciting indeed! In this museum you get information about the history of the German customs and - in my eyes brilliant - the past and present of how people actually try to smuggle goods. Many exhibits and examples (cocaine in golf balls, cigarettes in surf boards....)

The very best: The museum is FREE of charge! so just pop in when you are in the old warehouse complex anyway. It's worth it.

Deutsches Zollmuseum

Alter Wandrahm 15a - 16

(Speicherstadt)

OpenTuesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm

Miniatur Wunderland

2005-09-19T12:41:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite sights in Hamburg is the Miniatur Wunderland, the biggest model railraod systems in the world!

The model consists of different areas: Hamburg, the Alps, America... In total there are more than 450 trains on the model running a realistic schedule managed by computer programs. The model also has about 50,000 trees, 65,000 people, 3,000 cars and an amazing, very detailed scenery.

In total the model measures about 1.000 square meters!!! It is absolutely brilliant, even if you are not into railroad models normally!

Costs are 9 Euro per person, 4 Euro for children. Open every day at Kehrwieder 2-4 Block D in the old warehouse complex. Visit http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/ for further details and pictures.

Musicals

2005-09-18T15:43:00.000+01:00

The Lion King
Sunrise on the savanna. Rafiki, the wise old baboon, calls the animals to Pride Rock, singing about the circle of life. She greets Mufasa, the lion king, and his queen, Sarabi. Climbing the great rock, Rafiki lifts their newborn son for all to see... The story of THE LION KING will impress and touch you!

"Theater am Hafen", TopTicketLine 0 18 05 / 44 44

Mamma Mia!
Charming and humourous the story combines ABBA songs with a funny plot about the courage to realize ones dreams, about love, friendship and family-affairs.

"Operettenhaus auf der Reeperbahn"
TopTicketLine 0 18 05 / 44 44

Dirty Dancing (starting march 2006)

After the Academy Award winning film "Dirty Dancing" with Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey now the European premiere in Hamburg in March 2006 - The Classical Story on Stage!

"Neue Flora"
TopTicketLine 0 18 05 / 44 44

Early history

2005-09-18T15:31:00.000+01:00

The origins of Hamburg are to be found not at the Alster. On its banks arose the first settlement in the eighth century, not far from where the small river flows into the Elbe. The fortress of Hammaburg was erected here around 830.

In the 12th century, the Elbe acquired greater importance. Trade in the North European area developed fast. In 1189, Hamburg received from the Emperor Barbarossa the privilege of levying tolls on the Elbe and then became a Free City of the Empire.

A medieval league of cities in Northern Europe emerged: the Hanseatic League. Hamburg became the most important North Sea port of the Hanseatic League and served as a transhipment site for grains, cloth, furs, herrings, spices, timber and metals. Hamburg itself became famous due to its most important export: beer.

After the discovery of America and the sea route to Asia, as from 1550, Hamburg became one of the most important ports of entry in Europe. With the increase in shipping and world trade in the second half of the 19th century, Hamburg had to further expand its port and storage capacities. The construction of the Speicherstadt, or storage city district, (1881-1888) was the first step in this direction. In the decades that followed the port was expanded to the opposite side of the Elbe.

The creation of the free port (1888) made Hamburg one the world's biggest warehouse locations for coffee, cocoa, spices and carpets. The construction of the Kiel Canal (1895) further increased the port's attractiveness, as a direct and fast link to the Baltic Sea area was now guaranteed.