Metropolis & Port
Hamburg - a city on the waterkant
HafenCity, Elbphilharmonie (more http://www.ueberseequartier.de ), Museum, Ballinstadt, Cruises, Musicals: Hamburg is getting more and more attractive for tourists.
Hamburg is one of Germany's most beautiful cities. As an international port, media centre, cultural stronghold and sporting venue, it offers a variety of entertainment and attractions that is second to none. It is also Germany's greenest city. Parks and green spaces, waterways and woods cover almost half the area within Hamburg's city boundaries. The magic is in the mix, and that is what has been attracting increasing numbers of visitors to this city on the River Elbe for many years. Hamburg registered more than seven million overnight stays in 2006, with a final spurt taking it into the top ten most popular city destinations in Europe. However, it already has a strong fan base: the Hanseatic city has a population of 1.7 million and visitors come in their droves to its musicals, ballet, opera, theatre, film festivals and street festivals as well as to major sporting events and its many other attractions.
Hamburg is a city built on and around water. The harbour, the canals and the central Alster Lake have given this metropolis a unique maritime flair. Hamburg's dockyards are also among only a few in the world with a genuine "handson" feel. Visitors can sample the atmosphere of a great port at first hand and even explore the busy dock basins by boarding one of the tour boats which ply the Elbe from the landing stages, usually stopping off at the historic warehouse area at the same time.
Hamburg is one of the most culturally diverse cities in Europe as well. Large theatres and orchestras, a vibrant collection of museums and occasional guest appearances by international stars attract culture buffs from all over the world to this city on the River Elbe.
Port of Hamburg
Within the last few years the Harbour of Hamburg has more and more developed into a tourist attraction: On a harbour boat trip the skippers inform their audience - in a fascinating and amusing way- about the over 800 year old harbour and Germany’s “street of sins”: the Reeperbahn. The Landungsbrücken, the pathway along the Elbe until Oevelgoenne with its numerous restaurants and in particular the historic Speicherstadt are examples for rapid development of the Harbour in the last few years and give a foretaste of its future. Hamburg’s HafenCity is Europe’s biggest inner-city construction project offering 155 hectare of flats, business parks, industry, restaurants and diverse leisure facilities directly at the waterfront as well as the new Cruise Ship Terminal. The silhouette of the harbour shore changes from month to month…
The harbour and the shore of the Elbe, which during the summer disperse a gaze of Caribbean flair, are not the only maritime locations which make up the unique recreational value of the City. In particular the Alster lake, arising in the North, forming a big lake in the heard of the city offers with its surrounding open green spaces, an oasis of tranquillity and relaxation - being exceptional within Germany too. At a sunny day the Alster lake is one of the most popular places for walking, jogging, cycling and water sports. The newest trend: canoeing along the calm Alster lake with a breathtaking finale in the street canyons of the city.
More information: www.hafen-hamburg.de
City of Hamburg
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is one of the most marvellous cities in Europe and belongs with its diverse culture and leisure offer to one of the most popular and successful city destinations in Germany. On average, about 120 Million tourists visit the City every year, making up 340.000 visitors a day. Thanks to its international Harbour, Hamburg is also known as the “Gateway to the World”, which for centuries attracted many people from all over the world. As a traditional trading town, this openness to the world has shaped the life of the Elbe-metropolis.
In existence since 1970, its division of responsibility constitutes one important reason why Hamburg is one of the world's most productive ports.
More information: www.hamburg-tourism.de
