Things you need to see on a weekend in Hamburg
Arriving in Hamburg in Northern Germany you will notice everywhere small little details that will tell you a story. It is a tale of ropes and ships, of fishes and sailors. The story of the city of Hamburg is the story of the strong bond between the land, its people, and the Elbe River. Spending a weekend in Hamburg, you will discover this fascinating tie. The architectural evidence of this connection is in the former warehouse area registered in the World Heritage list. It is a relatively new recognition that arrived in 2015, the same year when UNESCO inscribed Christiansfeld in Denmark.
What to see in Hamburg
Start your weekend in Hamburg visiting the Chilehaus building. Before entering, observe the colonnade with sculptures of ships and low reliefs of mermaids inside the ceiling of the arcade. Marine motifs will be the leitmotiv during your time in the second largest city in Germany. Chilehaus, Sprinkenhof, and the other buildings in the Kontorhaus district are part of the UNESCO Heritage along with the Speicherstadt, or warehouse district. In detail, the Chilehaus and the other 5 large office complexes are masterpieces of 19th-century architecture. Located in the center of the port of Hamburg, these urban developments were realized between the 1920s and the 1940s to host businesses related to the port’s activity. They are living proof of the importance of international trade between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
Visit the warehouse district
As an ideal continuation of your stroll around Kontorhaus, your next stop will be in Speicherstadt, the warehouse district. Among the places to visit in Hamburg, this is the most picturesque zone and the most photographed. Since the city is not a big touristic destination, taking a picture of the charming Wasserschloss won’t be hard. The small castle built between two canals is among the oldest buildings in the area. Created as an inn for workers of the merchandise cranes of the warehouses, it currently hosts a nice restaurant. The entire area was built between 1885 and 1927 and was partly rebuilt after WWII until 1967. Strolling around the 15 blocks, you will also notice some of the best attractions in Hamburg.
Good to know: The Wasserschloss is illuminated at night.
Hamburg attractions in the warehouse district
The sweetest of all Hamburg’s attractions is Chocovervum, the chocolate museum in the Kontorhaus district. Many of the other Hamburg’s most popular attractions are somehow related to its portal trading history. For instance, the Speicherstadt museum will give you an insight into the traditional work of the warehouse and international trade. Once the imported goods were sorted, the shipment process was continuing following other paths. You can get an insight into the means of transportation by visiting the Miniatur Wunderland Model railway. Models of ports, airports will captivate the little ones. Proceeding your walk in the Speicherstadt area, another attraction will fascinate with horror all the teenagers in the group. Playing with the history of Hamburg great fire of 1842, Hamburg Dungeon is a kind of haunted house where visitors need to escape the fire, meeting a ghost.
Other places to visit in Hamburg on day one
Amongst the places to visit in Hamburg, a special place takes on the Elbphilarmonie. Located at the end of the warehouse district, in the new Hafencity, it is widely considered Hamburg’s new landmark. From the exterior, your attention will be captured by the glass façade resembling a wave. Moreover, in this continuous game of reminiscences, the lower part of the building in red bricks recalls the warehouse district. The grand hall is the centerpiece of this concert hall designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. Opened at the beginning of 2017, it is accessible all day long and offers the most striking view over the Port. Proceeding along this ideal tour of the places to visit in Hamburg during a weekend you might end your day crossing the old Elbe tunnel. This technical marvelous at the time when it opened (1911), served to transport people and vehicles at a depth of 24 meters beneath the river.
Things to see in Hamburg on your second day
Start your second day in Hamburg early in the morning with a stroll around the local fish market. Fish, but also produces, and clothes are among the items sold on the stalls of this famous market. Later leave the port area and head to the charming neighborhood of Altona. Once a humble district where workers and drug dealers used to live and work, it’s now the artistic city hub. Fashion designers, creative agencies, and great restaurants are popping up in this area, making it a lovely destination for a city stroll. While in Altona visit the Zeise Hallen. Inside the former vessel propellers factory, is now a movie theater with shops. If you are looking for more unusual things to do, go for a street art tour in Karolinenviertel. Once there, enter the local grocery store’s parking space decorated by the students of the local art school.
Other places to visit on day two
You can’t leave Hamburg without visiting its city hall. Rathaus, this is the name of the town hall, is an impressive palace built at the end of the 19th century. Besides the exterior façade, visit the inner courtyard connecting the city hall with the Chamber of Commerce and the stock exchange. This space looks like an Italian square with a fountain surmounted by the sculpture of Hygeia, the Greek goodness of health. From there enter inside the charming Chamber of Commerce with a hall resembling the colors of the river in Hamburg. From there proceed to the local art museum ( Kunsthalle) visiting its remarkable collection of 19th-century art.
Other points of interest in Hamburg
If you have time and you really want to unwind with a stroll, continue your exploration in Blankenese, the most charming area of Hamburg. In this residential area, where Hamburg born fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld had its German home, you will breathe a Mediterranean Riviera feel. Perched on a hill facing the Elbe River, on the top of Blankenese there is a luxury hotel from where you can enjoy a stunning panorama. The most significant landmark of the area is the old fisherman house. Models of boats and other marine motifs decorating local homes will tell you that that the story of Hamburg, is a tale of ropes and ships, of fishes and sailors.
Fun facts about Hamburg
- The real name of Hamburg is Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
- Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany.
- The official birthday of the Port of Hamburg is the May 7th, 1189. On this date emperor Friedrich I, established that Hamburgians cold sail for free along the Elbe up to the North Sea.
- The Old Elbe Tunnel is a Historic Landmark of Civil Engineering in Germany
- Apparently, there are more canals in Hamburg than in Venice and Amsterdam combined.
How to get and move around Hamburg
Hamburg Airport is an international hub with flights operated by the leading airline companies. A taxi ride from the airport to downtown costs around € 20–30. If you opt for using public transportation, a single trip would cost less than €4.
The more useful apps for moving around Hamburg are Mytaxi and HVV, the official public transportation app.
Public transportation is very efficient, the metro stations are clean as well as the trains. A great way to save money while in Hamburg is by getting the Hamburg card. Booking it online you can opt for the duration (1 to 5 days), and you can access unlimited ride by bus, metro, and harbor ferry. Additionally, you will have discounts on the main touristic attractions.
