Hamburg is a port city located in northern Germany. Much less touristy than Berlin, this city is still quite visited for its port, canals or architecture, despite the fact that a large part of the city was destroyed during the war.
Even though there is a whole district dedicated to nightlife, Reeperbahn, this is not comparable to the nights of Berlin. Moreover, Hamburg is a business city, rich, residential and quiet. The coolest thing about this city is knowing that its inhabitants are hamburgers. However do not expect to taste the best burger of your life, culinary side it is not terrible.
If you are staying in Berlin for a while, then take a short excursion to Hamburg. Three hours by bus is enough. Plan to spend one or two nights there, that's enough.
JustFocus offers you 5 cool things to do, like a real burger.
1 – Walk in the Treppenviertel district
The Treppenviertel district, which translates to "the staircase district" in English, is indisputably the most charming corner of Hamburg. It no longer feels like a city, but almost in a resort. It is a residential area on the hillside facing the Elbe. The houses were mostly built in a Gründerzeit style, which gives them a dollhouse look. All the entrances are flowered, the streets are paved, and there are small stairs in all directions that accentuate the magical effect of the visit. We want to climb a staircase at random and let ourselves be charmed. It seems that there are more than 5000 steps in total.
The banks of the Elbe have been laid out so that you can walk there, or even relax on the sand if the weather is right.
If the weather is good, then this is the place to spend your day. To get there, take the S-Bahn to Blankanese station, then walk in the direction of the Elbe. Less than 10 minutes walk is enough to get there.
In order to enjoy the view, and to rest, there is a cute little café on the heights that I recommend without hesitation, the Kaffeegarten Schuldt.
2 – The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Here I propose to take a tour of the Hamburg Philharmonic, called Elbphilarmnie, which was designed by the Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron. Considered an architectural masterpiece, it was a real adventure before the building was inaugurated.
The first stone was laid in 2007, and the last one was scheduled for 2010. Well, they're a little late… The inauguration was done in January 2017 by exploding the initial budget times 10. But it's worth a look!
You can walk there, have a coffee on the huge terrace overlooking the city, or enjoy one of the many events that are organized there, some are even free access.
3 – Play of light at Planten un Blomen Park
The park Planten un Blomen -plant and flower- is a haven of peace of 47ha in the city center of Hamburg. There are tropical greenhouses, a rose garden, a Japanese garden, and an ice rink. This is one of the largest ice rinks in Europe. The space is set up for the practice of skating during sunny days.
Throughout the year, a lot of events, concerts, and workshops are organized, both for adults and children, and everything is free.
From May to September, every day at 10pm (and at 9pm in September), there is a "Water and Light" show that takes place right in the center of the park. The central fountain is staged in a play of music and light. The show lasts 30 minutes. It is ideal if you are with family, or if you want to sip a beer in a nice setting.
The nearest stops are Stephanplatz (U-Bahn) or Dammtor (S-Bahn).
4– The Gone Away Bar
The Gone Away Bar is not located in Reeperbahn or San Pauli, which are Hamburg's famous nighttime districts, and that's what's cool. What for? Because having a drink where all the tour guides send you is nothing exceptional. Then Reeperbahn is a kind of spring break for rich German teenagers among which get lost some tourists, so well… JustFocus chose to offer you something nicer.
The Gone Away Bar is located in the very exclusive district of Eimsbüttel. The boss is passionate about cocktails. He changes the cocktail menu every week, according to the fresh products he finds on the market, and according to the mood. He even created a special cocktail for the G20. There are classics like the Moscow Mule, but this one is made with ginger that the boss grows at home. Moreover, all the fruit juices used are fresh. It is not tetra pack unlike what other bars offer.
The Gone Away Bar also offers a wide selection of Japanese whisky for wine lovers. Don't worry, it's always possible to settle for a beer if you don't want strong alcohol. We are in Germany after all. The bar being small, the atmosphere is family and cozy. We meet the lost souls of the night, it's quite funny.
5 – Fischmarkt
We finish this top 5 with the famous fishcmarkt of Hamburg. If you spend your Saturday night in this city, then the fischmarkt must be the last stop of your evening. It can also be a good reason to get up early on Sunday if you're not the type to go out on Saturday night.
As the name suggests, this is a fish market on the port of Hamburg. It is located in the Altona district, a 10-minute walk from the Reeperbahn, every Sunday morning from 5am to 9.30am, and from 7am to 9.30am in winter.
This is a place where all the burgers have already gone at least once, often to quench tenfold. The fischmarkt is really typical and special. It is from here that most fresh products that have been transported into the country since 1703 transit. You can buy everything, even souvenirs. Tradition dictates that you can eat a sandwich of fresh fish. Inside the old hall, there are rock or jazz concerts that are organized, just to maintain the festive state of mind of the night.
If you liked this article, you can find all my travel tips on my blog Romy and Co.
