Top-class runners, troubled souls at Reeperbahn and Rebellions. Hamburg is everything between heaven and earth. But the harbor is the heart that bumps for everyone!
To be honest I have never thought about visiting the city before I got the invitation. Did you know that Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany with 1,8 million people? It’s located by the Elbe River in the northern part of the country. It’s the country’s largest port and commercial centre. It’s also the most populous city in Germany after Berlin and has one of the largest and busiest ports in Europe.
Alsterarkaden!
This is a place close to the Rathausmarket square. Here you will find some cute cafés and great boutiques! As you understand it was a must for me to visit on my first day!
Rathaus!
The impressive Rathaus or City Hall is Hamburg’s seat of government: It is where Hamburg Parliament and the Senate assemble. The eclectic, neo-renaissance building from 1897 is open to the public, visitors may join a guided tour or visit an exhibition.
Speicherstadt!
This district is a very new newcomer to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The buildings, a symbol of the ”red” Hamburg – which stands for the working culture – must be preserved for the future. Strict metal arms and bridges that extend across the ducts, joining the joints of massive red walls with water on just the brick.
Inside here, commodities from all over the world have been poured in and out, during all the years the area has been warehouse and duty free zone to one of the world’s most important shipyards. A glance through an open door shows that there is still some stock activity left, where piles of Oriental carpets await buyers.
Hamburg Kunsthalle!
When I did my research of Hamburg, this was my priority! Just look at this hallway!
The name ’Kunsthalle’ indicates the museum’s history as an ’art hall’ when founded in 1850. Today, the Kunsthalle houses one of the few art collections in Germany that covers seven centuries of European art, from the Middle Ages to the present day. The Kunsthalle’s permanent collections focus on North German painting of the 14th century, and paintings by Dutch, Flemish and Italian artists of the 16th and 17th centuries, French and German drawings and paintings of the 19th century, and international modern and contemporary art.
The Kunsthalle consists of three connected buildings, located in the Altstadt district, between the Hauptbahnhof (central station) and the two Alster lakes.
Opening hours:
Tuesdays to Sundays: 10-6 pm
Thursdays: 10-9 pm
Closed Mondays
St Nicolas church!
Can you spot me? I’m so tiny compared to this old awesome church! Fun fact: it was the tallest one in the world from 1874 to 1876! (147 m).
The Gothic Revival Church of St. Nicholas was formerly one of the five Lutheran Hauptkirchen in the city of Hamburg. Bombing of Hamburg in World War II destroyed the bulk of the church and its rubble was removed leaving its crypt, its site and tall spired tower, largely hollow, save for a large set of bells, together serving as a memorial and an important architectural landmark.
Elbphilharmonie!
This is the famous building Elbphilharmonie everyone talks about! It’s a concert hall and also a hotel! It’s situated in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg, on the Grasbrook peninsula of the Elbe River. It is one of the largest and most acoustically advanced concert halls in the world. It is popularly nicknamed Elphi.
Nikolaifleet!
No I’m not in Amsterdam, this is still Hamburg. But i reminds me on Amsterdam. Nikolaifleet is a canal in the Altstadt of Hamburg, which was the original branch of the Alster estuary. It separates the Cremon island from the mainland. First mentioned in 1188, the Nikolaifleet is considered one of the oldest parts of the Port of Hamburg. As nearby Deichstraße.
HafenCity!
A couple of blocks near the river Elbe, everything is already completely different. Just here, the harbor lay until the 1960s, when it began to move over to the other side of the water and then got to grow in the direction away from the town. Instead, here is Europe’s largest construction project: HafenCity, the ”harbor town”.
Impression!
Hamburg reminds me a little of my own hometown Gothenburg Sweden, the port is huge with a lot of boats! It’s easy to take the boat instead of a bus to explore. Of course I needed to try it! I took a ride….
Treppenviertel, Blankenese!
and ended up at my favorite neighborhood during my visit to Hamburg! It’s called the Captain Houses a very posh and cosy district! Who could have thought that Hamburg could look like this? Not me!
The so-called Treppenviertel in Blankenese, with its winding alleys and small mansions by the river is a picture-perfect postcard image. White houses spread a Mediterranean feel. This tranquil little beauty spot in Hamburg’s westernmost part stands in glaring contrast to the to the rest of the city. And as for the name, yes captains used to live in the houses but today is another history. I promise you that everyone living here seems to have a dog. Beeing a dog lover this felt like heaven to me! The boatride takes about 20 min.
Beaches!
And yes there is also a beach with some beachrestaurants! I wasn’t that lucky with the weather as you can see but I would love to come back during summertime!
Elbtunnel!
Old Elbe Tunnel or St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel opened in 1911. It is a pedestrian and ovehicle tunnel. The 426 m long tunnel was a technical sensation; 24 m beneath the surface, it connect central Hamburg with the docks and shipyards on the south side of the river Elbe. Four huge lifts on either side of the tunnel carried pedestrians, carriages and motor vehicles to the bottom. The two tunnels are both still in operation, though due to their limited capacity by today’s standards, other bridges and tunnels have been built and taken over most of the traffic.
The tunnel is opened 24 hours for pedestrians and bicycles. For motorized vehicles opening times are currently Monday to Friday from 5.20 AM to 8.00 PM, on Saturdays from 5.20 AM to 4.00 PM.
Reeperbahn!
The Reeperbahn is a street and entertainment district in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district, one of the two centres of Hamburg’s nightlife and also the city’s major red-light district.
The district it’s known as Hamburg’s main amusement park and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year looking for new experiences. Here you find a very wide range of common taverns, nightclubs, restaurants and shops. The street is very different from day to night. In the daytime it’s like an ordinary shopping street, but when it begins to darken and the evening takes off, it turns into an amusement street with many nightclubs, pubs and strip clubs, ops! On the Reeperbahn you will also find the theaters St. Pauli Theater, Imperial Theater and Schmidt Tivoli, as well as several cabarets.
Kottwitzstrasse!
The place reminds me of Notting Hill! This street is filled with colorful houses, it’s a posh area where you also will find some gorgeous houses and a couple of small cosy cafes. I took the train to get here, it did take about 20-25 min.
Higher Regional Court House!
This beautiful building is called the Higher Regional Court House! You will find it close to the park Planten und Blumen close to the city centre.
During winter you can go ice skating in the park on the outdoor arena called, The Eis Arena. You are able to rent skates and a helmet, and if you want to take a break, the place offers a very nice restaurant and a great cafe. It can get a little bit crowded. Check this link for more info http://www.eisarena-hamburg.de/
Hotel suggestions!
I tried two great hotels during my visit. This is the lobby at my first hotel called, The Reichshof Hotel Hamburg!
It’s an art deco and design hotel, you know I love a great design hotel with a lot of atmosphere and this one has it! Thanks for hosting me! For more details check this link https://www.reichshof-hotel-hamburg.de/
The second hotel is called The Baseler Hof Hotel. It’s more of a familiarly place with many returning guests and great location. Thank you for hosting me! Fore more details check this link http://www.baselerhof.de/
If you have any questions about Hamburg don’t hesitate to ask me!
Katarina xoxo