The World Heritage port city of Hamburg boasts a rich maritime history that flows throughout its myriad of architecture styles, seafood restaurants and naval institutions. The German city is utterly picturesque, with more canals than Amsterdam and Venice combined, crisscrossed by some 2,500 bridges that lead to spacious parks, classical music venues and unique museums.

Things to do

Most of your time in Hamburg will no doubt be spent around its many waterways, which yield an array of memorable attractions, including the Elbphilharmonie, one of the world’s most acoustically advanced concert halls. Looking for local culture? Get your art fix at Kunsthalle Hamburg, one of the world’s largest art museums that is home to centuries-old masterpieces and contemporary creations.

Visiting Hamburg with your family? Be sure to visit Miniatur Wunderland, a 15,400-metre-long model railway with incredibly realistic recreations of countries, such as Switzerland, Italy and the United States. If you’ve got time for a day trip, venture out to Heide Park and get your thrills on its roller coasters, water rides and other exciting theme park attractions.

If you love wildlife, make sure you save time for Tierpark Hagenbeck, a historic zoo that first began in 1863. Here you’ll meet Germany’s only group of walruses, along with lions, monkeys, tigers and other animals separated by moats instead of cages. Embrace everyday Hamburg life at the Fischmarkt, which kicks off early Sunday morning with piles of caught eels, shellfish and other exotic marine life.

You’ll find most of Hamburg’s nightlife clustered along the Reeperbahn, a street renowned for its rave clubs, music bars and other late-night entertainment. However, if you prefer something a little quieter, visit the Wilhelmsburg quarter and enjoy scenic bicycle paths through lush gardens on this tranquil island.

Getting around

Hamburg’s size makes walking tough, but you can ride bicycles around most of the city. If you prefer to use public transport, there are buses, ferries and underground and city-level trains running throughout the city’s various zones.