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Hamburg City GuideOne of Germany's most popular cities is even more enticing than it was a few years ago, thanks to the Hafencity, the Ballinstadt Emigration Museum, and other new attractions.
Hamburg
is the second-largest city in Germany and the third most visited, with only
Berlin and Munich
attracting more tourists. Between 2001 and 2009, the number of overnight stays
in Hamburg grew by 70 percent, reaching a total of 8.2 million--thanks in part
to the city's maritime attractions, musical-comedy theatres, and airport
expansion in recent years. (Hamburg also has a long-standing appeal for
English-speaking visitors: Its trading ties with England go back nearly 750
years, and it was in the British occupation zone after World War II.)
Why visit Hamburg? We can think of several reasons:
A lively and fascinating harbor.
Hamburg is the busiest port in Northern Europe, and it's the leading transfer
port for shipments between China and the Baltic. It has a rich maritime
tradition, with shipyards, container terminals, canals, and lakes in the heart
of the city--and with more bridges (2,300+) than any other city in the world.
History, museums, and architecture.
Hamburg was a key member of the Hanseatic League, is dotted with churches and
museums, and is the site of HafenCity, the largest inner-city
development in Europe.
Entertainment and culture.
Whether your tastes run to nightclubs, operas and
philharmonic concerts, theatre, Beatles tours,
or hired hanky-panky in the city's downsized
red-light district, Hamburg is ready to offer you a good time. Shopping. Hamburg attracts
serious shoppers from throughout Germany, Western Europe, and the
East--including Russia, whose millionaires and billionaires come to Hamburg for
designer clothing, jewelry, and yachts.
Pleasant walks and scenery.
Hamburg was voted "European Green Capital" for 2011, and it certainly looks the
part: Even in downtown Hamburg, you'll see plenty of trees, and
nature-conservation areas make up 8 percent of the city's total space. For tips on what to see and do in Hamburg, go to
page 2 of this article. Next page: Sightseeing in Hamburg
About the author: Durant Imboden is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on European cities and transportation. After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel topics for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors (now including Germany for Visitors) in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from Forbes and The Washington Post. For more information, see About Europe for Visitors, press clippings, and reader testimonials.
Top photo copyright © Tobias Helbig. |
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