Hamburg
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Hamburg, which boasts the second largest port in Europe, is the commercial and cultural center of northern Germany. Click for a closer look at the country's second largest city.
At the Heart of Town
The Town Hall is the seat of Hamburg's Senate and Parliament. It was opened in 1897, built in the neo-Renaissance style. The Town Hall Square is a frequent venue for public festivities and events. Pictured here is an image of the building from Google Earth.
Old Elbe River Tunnel
The 450-meter (1,500-foot) tunnel between St. Pauli and the island of Steinwerder was built in 1907. Constructed 23 meters (75 feet) below sea level, the tunnel's main purpose was to get traffic to Steinwerder more easily. Today, tourists can pass through the tunnel to enjoy a view of Hamburg from the island.
Hamburg Central
The largest train station in Germany can be found in Hamburg. It was built in a Neo-Renaissance style in 1906 and boasts more than 14 tracks. The station's soaring 206-meter (676-foot) hall has about 75 shops.
Hamburg's "Kunsthalle" Exhibition Space
Hamburg's "Kunsthalle" is Germany's largest art exhibition space. It was built in 1869 and partially financed by private donations from the citizens of Hamburg. The museum houses medieval altars by Master Bertram and Master Francke, Dutch paintings by Rembrandt and examples of German Romanticist, Impressionist, and contemporary art.
The Storehouse District
One of Hamburg's main attractions, the "Speicherstadt," is a collection of century-old warehouses built on the harbor. Some buildings are still used to hold coffee, tea and spices from around the world. But these days, the "Speicherstadt" also houses museums and event venues.
St. Pauli's Reeperbahn
Hamburg's red-light district St. Pauli is one of Hamburg's most famous areas. It offers a variety of activities, theaters, restaurants, bars and clubs. Brothels, striptease clubs and peep shows dominated the district in the 70's and 80's, but today there's something pretty much for everyone on St. Pauli's main drag, the Reeperbahn.
St. Michaeli's
St. Michaeli Church, also called "Michel," is one of the most recognizable churches in northern Germany. The Baroque church was completed in 1661 and is located above Hamburg's port. It can hold up to 3,000 people.
The Alster Lakes
Together with the river Alster, the Alster lakes used to be heavily trafficked freight waterways. Today, the lakes are used for recreation and feature numerous waterfront restaurants. A lively promenade around the outer Alster lake is a good place for a long stroll.
Steinway Grand Piano
For 150 years, the Steinway & Sons company has been building some of the finest pianos in the world. The Hamburg Steinway is seen as representing the apogee of the firm's craftsmanship. The instrument is handcrafted entirely from hard maple, poplar, walnut and birch with a hand-rubbed lacquer finish.
Christmas Market
The Christmas Market in Hamburg is hosted by the famous Roncalli Circus, and takes place near the city hall. Every Sunday during Advent, Christmas parades create a festive mood.
The Hamburg Marathon
Thousand of runners fill the streets at the annual marathon in Hamburg, which is usually held on the last Sunday of April. The route, which is mostly flat, follows the Reeperbahn down the Elbe River, along the Palmaille boulevard and the Altona district and back to downtown Hamburg before looping around the Alster lakes.
Erotic Art Museum
Around 1,800 original works of sexually provocative art and objects are showcased at Hamburg's Erotic Art Museum. The exhibition present a more intellectual look at sex, featuring an international collection of erotic artwork and artifacts from 1520 to the present.