Travel to Hamburg

Travel to Hamburg

Bursting with traditional charm, Hamburg boasts modern facilities as well as attracting many visitors who come to sample its lifestyle. Offering impressive architecture, beautiful churches and interesting museums, Hamburgs setting among a maze of rivers and lakes is quite unique, and its busy harbour is well-known among sailors and tourists.

Transportation to Hamburg

Hamburg International Airport offers connections to and from around 130 destinations. Affordable airport buses connect to the city centre every 30 minutes. A taxi ride only takes 35 minutes. Autobahns A1 and A7 cross in the citys south side. There are two main railway stations, Hamburg Hauptbahnhof in the centre and Hamburg Altona in the western part. Fifteen trains arrive daily from Berlin (2 hours, 30 minutes); 37 trains come in from Bremen (1 hour); and 33 from Hannover (1 hour, 30 minutes).

What to see

Most sights are located in the city centre and are easily reachable by public transport. The Altstadt (Old City) is separated from the Neustadt (New City) by the Alsterfleet Canal. Despite the Altstadt having suffered a lot of damage in the Great Fire of 1842, many impressive old buildings and churches survived or have been restored. Among the most interesting are the neo-Romantic St Petri and the neo-Renaissance Rathaus. Many prime examples of Baroque architecture can be found in the Neustadt. This is also where Hamburgs famous landmark, the Michaeliskirche, is located. This is northern Germanys largest Baroque church and well worth a visit. Also interesting is the Johannes Brahms Museum.

Daytrips

There are plenty of excellent destinations in the region that make for great daytrips. Only 60kms away is Stade, boasting a picturesque harbour. Also worth a visit is St Wilhadi Kirche, a Gothic church dating back to the 14th century. Schwedenspeicher is an interesting museum for those who like history. Alternative bars can be found in Altona, a short drive from Hamburg. The Altona Museum is home to a fascinating collection of nautical exhibits. Also close by, Lbeck is a spectacular medieval town with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Activities and leisure

Shopping aficionados will feel at home in the eastern side of Neustadt. Here, a plethora of fancy boutiques, elegant restaurants and vibrant nightclubs can be found.
Providing a leisurely walk, the cream of Hamburgs galleries and museums are located along the Kunstmeile (Art Mile); Hamburg Kunsthalle, Galerie der Gegenwart and Deichtorhallen are all worth a visit.

Safety issues

Tourists are much more prone to dangers when on holiday and are well advised to stay alert all the time. Always be on your guard for pickpockets while in Hamburg, especially at night. We strongly recommend you take out sufficient travel insurance for yourself and your family when travelling to Hamburg.