Hamburg travel guide

Hamburg Warehouse Complex

The world's oldest warehouse complex, built of red brick with Gothic gables and turrets, is a century old and still in use for storing exotic goods from around the world, like tea, cocoa, silk and oriental carpets. Known as the Speicherstadt in German, this historic section of the Free Port between the Deichtorhallen and Baumwall has been turned into a tourist attraction by the addition of an open air theatre, spice museum, miniature exhibition and an old Russian submarine open for exploration as well as a few other little museums and some regular art exhibitions. Another popular attraction in Speicherstadt is the 'Hamburg Dungeon', an interactive museum showcasing the more unpleasant and gory aspects of the city's history.

Just wandering through the narrow cobblestone streets and exploring the small waterways lined by old warehouses is fun, and taking a boat out into the harbour is also a treat. The Speicherstadt is illuminated at night by light shows which create an enchanting spectacle, particularly viewed from a boat on a harbour night tour. The harbour has played a huge role in Hamburg's identity and history and exploring this area is insightful.

Hamburger Kunsthalle

Hamburg's premier art gallery offers the chance to view works from the Middle Ages through to the present day. The Kunsthalle's main aim is to educate the public rather than showcase particular art treasures, with exhibitions constantly changing to introduce new art forms. The museum now actually occupies two buildings: the Galerie der Gegenwart, a modern structure exhibiting contemporary art, while the famous old building showcases the older works, most dating back to the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries.

The Hamburg Museum

The Hamburg Museum gives a detailed description of the city of Hamburg from the 8th through to the 20th centuries. Scale models have been used to illustrate the changing shape of the city's famous harbour. Exhibits include reconstructions of various typical rooms, such as the hall of a 17th-century merchant's home to an air raid shelter from World War II. Actual features from old buildings have been moved into the museum creating an exciting architectural space. The museum is crowned by a tower designed to look like a lighthouse and dating back to 1922 when the museum opened. The gorgeous central courtyard is covered with a glass ceiling and the space is now used for exhibitions and concerts.

Planten un Blomen

In the middle of Hamburg is an oasis of green lawns and trees, with colourful flowers and fountains providing a lovely backdrop to relax in. Visitors stroll around the Japanese garden and enjoy the tropical flower collections and teahouse, while children will enjoy its playgrounds, pony rides, miniature golf and ice skating rink. In summer, there are evening concerts and plays, with wonderful light shows at the fountains, but the park is beautiful in autumn and spring too, when the colours are spectacular. Right in the heart of Hamburg, it's easy to access and ideal for blowing off some steam and taking a break from the traditional sightseeing.

St Michaelis Church

St Michaelis began as a humble church in 1647, eventually expanding to become the grand building which today is one of Hamburg's most recognisable landmarks. Visitors can take tours of the 270 foot (82m) tower; the crypt, which contains the bodies of Johann Mattheson and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach; and view an interesting presentation on the history of Hamburg. The tower has a magnificent viewing platform, reached either by elevator or by climbing the 452 steps that climb past the bells and the famous clock machinery.

Miniatur Wunderland

Train enthusiasts will love Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg but so will almost everybody else. With more than 4,000 square metres of floor space, there is much to see with tiny models based on various regions, both local and international. The largest of its kind in the world and the most visited permanent exhibit in Northern Germany, there are 900 trains with 12,000 carriages, as well as 300,000 lights, 200,000 trees and 200,000 human figures. Sections include Southern Germany and the Austrian Alps, Hamburg, the Coast, America, Scandinavia and Switzerland.