Geography Once a major power in the Hanseatic League and today ranked as Europe’s second largest port city after Rotterdam, Hamburg has been throughout its history a thriving port city and literally lives upon the water. At 1.7 million inhabitants and some 4.3 million metro residents, Hamburg is the second largest – and the wealthiest – city in Germany. Located on the River Elbe by which the city enjoys access to the North Sea, Hamburg is at the southern tip of the Jutland Peninsula, some 101 km from the shore, and it includes the island of Neuwerk and two others in the North Sea. The city rests on water with many kilometers of canals and bridges numbering around 2,300 (more than Amsterdam and Venice together!) Kick off your city-break with an airBaltic flight to Hamburg Airport, the oldest of the city’s airports. Languages While German is the official language of Hamburg and great efforts have been made in education to support this, the city retains some pockets of the dialect known as Low German or simply Hamborgsch. Of some interest is the small population of Sinti and Roma nomads (or “gypsies”), whose individual languages of Sinti and Romany are apparently spoken in only in a few places, one of which is Hamburg. Travel to Hamburg would do well with a German phrasebook, though English speakers will not have too much difficulty communicating and being understood. See and Do Hamburg is architecturally a young city, as most of its skyline was burnt down, blown up or bombed out from the mid 19th to mid 20th century. At the stately church of St Michaelis, tourists are welcome to climb to the top for an impressive view of the city. St Jacobi’s church features an altar from the 15th century worth a viewing and St. Nicholas’s church is noteworthy for its stature as the 19th century’s tallest building. See the Rathaus, Hamburg’s city hall with its multiple pillars and Neo-Renaissance décor, with the likenesses of the Holy Roman Emperor’s running its 111 m length. And always sure to be a delight is a visit to the Chilehaus building, exemplifying the spirit of Hamburg, as it was designed to look like an ocean liner. In the very bustling fish market, buy up some fresh fare (not just of fish) or simply enjoy the hubbub all about. Likewise, any visit to Hamburg should not omit a stop by the warehouse district of Speicherstadt to feel the lingering spirit of the shipping age.
With a healthy variety of parks across the city, Hamburg is one of the greenest cities in Europe. Should you only have time for one your city-break, make sure to go to the Stadpark, if only to visit its enormous planetarium. For theatre, buy tickets for a show at either the Thalia or Kampnagel theatres, although shows may be in German only. Visitors can discover the seafaring history of Hamburg at the Internationales Maritimes Museum or step aboard one of two museum ships near Landungsbrücken (the harbor promenade.) For a little adventurous walking, take an evening stroll through the Reeperbahn, reputed to be Europe’s largest red light district and, perhaps less risqué, the proving ground for the Beatles in their marathon appearances at several of the clubs and venues. |
