What do you think of first when you think of Hamburg? Probably the wonderful location on the banks of the Elbe and Alster, the colourful bustle in the amusement area of St. Pauli, unforgettable musical and theatre evenings, the "Michel" or the impressive harbour. Old Hamburg, which is 1,200 years old, is equally loved by in-crowd and those interested in culture. Because the latest in trends area always burgeoning amidst counting houses steeped in tradition and famous theatres. Hamburg is open to several influences. With hundreds of years of tradition as a republic state, Hamburg has always played a special role in politics and culture. As an important business location with overseas harbour, media and cultural centre, the million strong metropolis on the Elbe still falls back on old traditions, and does it with typical hanseatic self confidence. No wonder then that Germany's second largest city (1.8 million inhabitants) offers the best in terms of quality of life and international flair.

Sights worth seeing in Hamburg inner city

Alter Elbtunnel, Blankenese, Cap San Diego, Deichtorhallen, Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Ernst-Deutsch-Theatre, Fischmarkt, Fliegende Bauten, Gänsemarkt, harbour, Hamburg State Opera, Jungfernstieg, landing bridges, Michel (St. Michaelis), Mönckebergstraße, Ohnsorg Theatre, Rathaus (Town Hall), Reeperbahn, Rickmer Rickmers (museum ship), Schanzenviertel, Schmidts Tivoli Theatre, St. Pauli, St. Petri Church, Speicherstadt (Dockland District), Thalia Theatre.

Musicals

What would Hamburg be without its famous and beloved musicals?
"Sister Act"
"THE LION KING" - Breath taking! African! Extraordinary!
TARZAN

Information and tickets are available in the hotel or from Hamburg Tourismus GmbH, Telephone + 49 (0) 40 3005 1300

Speicherstadtmuseum

A museum where you can touch and feel! Metal claws, bales of rubber, sacks of coffee and sampling tools: In the authentic spaces provided by an old warehouse that is more than 100 years old, the "Speicherstadt" Museum is home to the goods and working implements that are used typically in the storage companies and trade houses of the "Speicherstadt" or dockland warehouse district, rich in tradition. Historic photographs and plans illustrate the history of this architectural monument that is one of its kind in the world. Other topics are coffee and tea trade as well as the "Ewerführerei" or lighter-boating, that is, the transportation of goods to the warehouses using barges.

Opening hours:
April to October Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm
November to March Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm
Public tours through the dockland district and the museum: Saturdays at 3 pm (First April to 31st October), Sundays at 11 am (throughout the year)

Admission: Adults 3 €, reduced 1.90 €, HamburgCard holders and groups 2.50 €, reduced 1.30 €

Hamburg Dungeon

Fun for the entire family: exciting, historically correct, but not a dusty museum. The Dungeon is an entertaining, funny, gruesome, interactive show that is not quite to be accepted in total earnest, brought to the young and old by actors.

Opening hours:
January to May and September to December daily from 11 am to 6 pm
June, July and August daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Admission: Adults 16.50 €, reduced 12 €, family ticket 54 €

Hagenbeck Zoological Park

A unique mix of animals, park and culture awaits you here. 2,500 exotic animals from Ant to Zebra and numerous attractions for the young and old will turn your day out into an exciting and entertaining experience in the well maintained and safe park complex.

Opening hours:
Summer season (March to October) daily from 9 am to 6 pm
Winter season (November to February) daily from 9 am to 4.30 pm
Admission: Adults 15 €, children from 4 to 16 years 10 €, family (2 adults and 2 children) 45 €, family (2 adults and 3 children) 51 €

Planten un Blomen

There is no doubt that a visit to this park complex spread over approximately 47 ha in the heart of Hamburg is well worth the while. Magnificent flower beds can be seen here, juxtaposed against well maintained lawns, idyllic streams and small lakes, serve as places for relaxing and observation, while discovering the several wonders amidst the flora and fauna. Within the park complex, garden locations invite you to linger on. But it is not just peace and tranquillity that the park has to offer. Several entertainment options coax you to join in and participate, look on and listen. Whether it is playgrounds, pony rides, minigolf courses and trampolines, water sport equipment, pottery chamber or the skating track, which is turned into an artificial ice skating rink in winter. In summer, the park presents daily theatre performances for children, besides which clowns, magicians and circus artists are also present. The summer concerts in the music pavilion and the water light concerts every evening occupy a very special place.

Fleetfahrt (ride through the waterways and canal trips)

"Fleetfahr"t: You will travel from the Inner Alster (lake) past the Town hall and the sluice and bridge gates to the "Hafenelbe". The Fleete or waterways on the river Elbe are restricted by the old trade houses and the dockland. The dockland district of "Speicherstadt" is a huge warehouse for carpets, spices, coffee, tobacco and much more. This is the area of the "HafenCity" (harbour city) in the making. In the former boiler room, there is an exhibition depicting everything worth knowing about the most important urban development project of Hamburg.
Canal Rides: The ride over the Alster canals will reveal to you a completely different side of Hamburg: Well maintained villas with park complexes, modern residential buildings, small shared gardens ("Schrebergarten") and primitive riverbank parties pass by at arm's length as you sail down. Close to the inner city you can experience the green idyllic terrain of the residential areas close to the Alster (lake), up to the "Stadtparksee" (Town Park Lake) with its unique view of the planetarium.

Miniature Wonderland

Thanks to TV-reports, more than 1.5 million visitors have already seen the world's largest digital model railway. 26 computers control the unit with its 500 trains, the 120,000 lights and the cars that move as if guided by ghosts. 60,000 figurines create an unforgettable experience for the entire family.

Opening hours:
Daily from 9.30 am to 6 pm, Tuesdays from 9.30 am to 9 pm, Saturdays from 8 am to 9 pm, Sundays and holidays from 8.30 am to 8 pm
Admission: Adults 10 €, children up to 16 years 5 €,
senior citizens above 65 years 8 €, school children/college students 7 €

Museum Ship "Rickmer Rickmers"

The floating hallmark of Hamburg and one of the last sailing ships in merchant trading times. The SS RICKMER RICKMERS was built in the year 1896 as a fully rigged ship made of steel, on transverse ribs at the company's own shipyard in Bremerhaven and named after the founder's grandson. The hull is 97 m long, 12.20 m wide, and the draught amounted to 6 m. It was commissioned in August 1896. The engine room has a steam engine and one of the "Krupp" diesel engines. In all, the visitor will get to see the three forms of drive over the last 100 years: wind, steam, and diesel. The visitor will also get acquainted with life on board and get a glimpse of the numerous cabins. Since September 1987, the SS RICKMER RICKMERS has been at the "Fiete-Schmidt" dock and is open daily to visitors.

Opening hours:
Daily from 10 am to 6 pm, ticket office closes at 5.30 pm
Admission: Adults 3 €, with HamburgCard 2.30 €, school children/college students 2.50 €, with HamburgCard 1.80