Around the Alster
The big lake in the heart of the green Hanseatic city is a paradise for yachtsmen, oarsmen or paddlers. Being retained from the 13th century on already from the little river Alster and its even smaller feeder rivers, nowadays the lake Alster is a popular meeting point for recreation and jogging. The Hanseatic citizens like to enjoy their oasis with an "Alsterwasser". You don't know what this is? This is beer with lemonade - on a summer day as refreshing and stimulating as the Alster itself.
And don't miss one of the innumerable Alster round trips in no case - the city trips on the water. From Jungfernstieg (underground/suburban train station Jungfernstieg) Alster steamers start for a tour over the pond and through the channels several times a day, offering appealing sights on the silhouette of the city. But also a walk around the Alster is worthwhile because some of the most sought-after residential areas of Hamburg are located around it and also the well-known Hotel Atlantic.
The Port of Hamburg
Every year, about 13,000 seagoing vessels from all over the world enter the second-biggest European port. From the cruiser terminal to historic Storehouse City and the Landungsbrücken (piers) to the modern container harbour - it smells like freedom and faraway countries here.
With a barge tour or a visit to one of the legendary museum ships visitors can experience directly why Hamburg is also called "The Gateway to World". Stuff from all over the world you can get every sunday from 05:00 a.m. to 09:30 a.m. (in the winter half year from 07:00 a.m.) at Hamburg's traditional Fish Market since 1703. Everything that is not screwed down has been dealt - from the antiquated china can to the vivid duck family.
And since the Summer of 2007 a further, very special piece of the history of the Hamburgian Port can be experienced - the emigrant world "BallinStadt". From there, about 5 million European emigrants started their trip to the "New World" between 1850 and 1939. Today, you can do researches on your own family today.
Historic Hamburg
The "Altstadt" (Old City) really is the oldest quarter of Hamburg and the main attraction for many tourists. The most well-known are probably the Chilehaus (Chile House) and the Kontorhäuser (Office Buildings) at Burchardplatz but also Sprinkenhof, Mohlenhof and Messberghof are popular destinations for tourists. At some places the "old Hamburg" can be pictured very well, e.g. in Cremon street. Here, you could formerly find store and residential houses with a loading canal and a street front so that trade goods could be transported by land as well as by sea. Deichstrasse (Dyke Street), an old traders' street with store and residential houses from the 17th to the 19th century also reminds of old times. Numerous excellent restaurants and pubs invite you to stay.
"Michel" Church - Hamburg's Landmark
St. Michaelis church, built from 1751 - 1762, is not only the most important baroque church building in northern Germany but also features the biggest German church clock. The circumferential measurements of the dial amount to more than 24 meters.
It's tower, the "Michel", is 132 metres high and has a viewing platform from which you can watch Port and City undisturbedly. Every day at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Turmblasen (tower music) takes place.
Krameramtswohnungen (Shopkeeper Office Flats)
A historic architectural monument from the 17th century and an idyllic piece of old Hamburg are the Krameramtswohnungen in close proximity to Michel church. One of the historic traders' flats is still in original condition and was equipped with complete furnishing from the time around 1850/60 by the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte (Museum for Hamburgian History). It is open to visitors.
Trostbrücke (Consolation Bridge) at upper Nikolaifleet
Since 1266 Trostbrücke in the old city of Hamburg has been connecting the Episcopal City around the area Domstrasse, Petrikirche and the Comital City which was founded by Gustav Adolf III., Count of Schauenburg, Stormarn and Holstein. The two statues on the bridge shall remind of these founders.
Stock exchange
The premises of the Hamburg Stock Exchange, the oldest of its kind in Germany, is located back to back with the Rathaus (Town Hall) and can be visited.
The Old Elbtunnel
When the Elbtunnel was opened in 1911 it was a technical sensation – today it’s a nostalgic and lovingly maintained piece of Hamburg’s history. The distinctive rectangular dome structure at St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken jetties is home to machinery and four large lifts which have been transporting people and vehicles almost 24 metres down into the ground since 1911. After a trip 426.5 metres under the Elbe River and through two tiled tunnels both 6 metres in diameter you will see daylight again in Steinwerder. Why not walk through the tunnel! And then enjoy the fantastic view of the harbour area; the Michel church and the "Rickmer Rickmers" from the south bank of the Elbe.
Television tower
Hamburg’s tallest building is located in Lagerstrasse; was built between 1965 and 1968 and is named after the German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz. The tower is 279.8 metres tall and weighs a total 43 000 tonnes. The catering and viewing platform, located 128 metres up, has been closed since January 2001 – up until that point visitors could also discover these 128 metres from a totally different perspective – from the end of a bungee rope. Re-opening of the tower for visitors in the near future is currently unlikely due to the high structural alteration costs this would involve.
