Welcome to Hamburg – the “Venice of the North”
Hamburg formally known as “Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg” it’s the countries biggest port and is the second largest idependent German city-state by a population of 1.8 million people located in upper Northern Germany right next to the North Sea. Through Hamburg flows the Elbe a river which is one of the major rivers in Central Europe.
Sightseeing
Hamburg Rathaus, which is the city town hall, hosts the Senate and the Hamburg Parliament. From the outside it is a building characterised by a NeoRenaissance style, but inside its rooms are amixture of different construction epochs.
By reaching the top of St. Michael's Church you will enjoy and have an amazing overview of the city. You will remain fascinated by its 3 wonderful music organs located in the central vaulted nave. St. Nicholas' Church was mostly destroyed during air raids in the World War II.
Nowadays, it is a Memorial to the victims of the war. The only part which was not damaged was the tower, which is considered the highest in the city.
Night-life
This dynamic city offers a wide range of areas with crowded pubs and bars. Much is concentrated in the St Pauli district, with most action in and around the Reeperbahn, but also the University quarter is very popular amongst the youngest people. For people who like enjoying their time, there is a variety of musicals and bars where you can listen to live music while eating or drinking something typical.
Shopping
Hamburg offers the possibility to go shopping to everyone. Europapassage is a big shopping centre, but in order to have a world class shopping you will have to go on Jungfernstieg. Neuer Wall is considered the boulevard of luxury brands, whereas Schanzenviertel is the perfect place to go shopping for young people.
Time
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Climate
Due to its position on the Jutland Peninsula between Scandinavia and continental Europe, its cool climate is influenced by both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The right period to visit Hamburg is during the spring, when the weather becomes warmer and it is not that cold, but it is always better to take a sweater and an umbrella, as the weather can be showery and changeable.
Public transportation
This city provides the citizens with an extensive range of public services with metro buses, express buses, sprinter buses and town or regional buses connecting to stations and surrounding towns. It also has an efficient and rapid train system. As Hamburg is crossed by hundreds of canals, you can either move around, reach the harbour or the River Elbe by taking one of the six ferry lines operating in this city. Hamburg is also a very cyclefriendly city, with many wide avenues and bicycle lanes, as well as parks. In fact, you will find a lot of stations where you can borrow a bike and then you have to bring it back to any other station scattered all around the city.