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Hamburg, Germany
Photos: The Hamburg Port is the center of activity in this
waterfront city. - Photo copyright: NYCruiseInfo.com
Located on the northern shore of Germany is located the city of Hamburg.
Hamburg holds the title of the second largest city in Germany and the 2nd
largest port in Europe. Located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea on the
Southern tip of the Jutland Peninsular the city has close ties to the sea.
Known for its canals and river systems the water plays an integral part in
the city’s ambiance. Hamburg is located between the river Elbe and the river
Alster and Bille. The city center is located between two lakes - the
Binnenalster (Inner Lakes) and the Aussenalster (Outer Alster). All of the
waterways, make Hamburg an ideal city for a day or evening boat ride through the
many canals. Viewing the city from the water, provides a whole different
perspective.
The skyline is a mixture of architecture styles. The city skyline is adorned
by 5 church steeples including the famous St. Michael’s Church.
In addition to it’s waterways, the city of Hamburg is also known for its
parks. The Hamburg State Park (Stadpark) is 300 acres of walking paths,
greenery, statues and recreational activities located just outside the city
center.
The Botanical Gardens of Hamburg (Planten un Blomen) are very beautiful and
offer the largest Japanese Garden in Europe. For a late night stroll, the
gardens offer illuminated fountains, concerts and special cultural events.
For the children, there is the Hamburg Zoo - Hagenbeck Tierpark. The Hamburg
Zoo was one of he first zoos to have animals roaming in a natural environment
without fences. The animals are contained by using natural boundaries - moats,
rocks, etc. The zoo is home to over 2,500 animals and provides a nice way to
spend the day with the family.
The city is ideal for taking a walking tour and for people watching. The
parks, canals, architecture and water-edge paths provide many diverse
opportunities for exploring. The city of Hamburg has over 2,300 bridges which
criss-cross the many canals and rivers - more than any other city in Europe. The
city also offers a variety of shopping - everything from small boutiques to
larger brand name department stores. If you want to shop with a local Hamburg
flair, shopping along the Monckebergstrasse is recommended.
Getting around the city is easy either by foot or by public transportation.
The city offers transportation passes that are accepted on numerous busses and
trains.
The population of the city of Hamburg is 1.7 Million people and the greater city of Hamburg has over
3.5 Million inhabitants. The roots of the city
date back to 808 AD. Hamburg is the second wealthiest city in Europe just behind
London. The city of Hamburg is over seven times larger than the city of
Paris with 14% of the land used for parks and recreation.
Known for its cultural attractions, the City of Hamburg offers the Hamburg
State Opera, Hamburg Phiharmonic Orchestra, the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the
Gallerie der Gegenwart. The
Hamburg Kunsthalle Art Museum is considered one of the most important art
museums in Germany for contemporary and modern art. The museum has artwork that
dates back to 1400 AD. In total, Hamburg serves as the home to some 79 museums.
Not for the children, Hamburg’s famous Reeperbahn section is known for is
nightlife, nightclubs, casinos, cabarets and adult shops. The famous Reeperbahn
section has all of the nightlife and entertainment available. The Reeperbahn is also famous for giving the Beatles their start when they performed
in a number of cabarets in 1967.
The city is a cultural mixing pot with 65% of the occupants of German decent.
The remaining 35% are mostly Turkish, Afghan, Iranian, Russian, Polish,
Portuguese and Ghanaian.
Overall the city has something for everyone, mixing, culture, nightlife,
history and recreation all into one city.
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