Hamburg

The Hansa city in Northern Germany

Did you know that Hamburg is the second biggest city in Germany? And which is the biggest one? Of course, the capital city, Berlin.

You might not think that Hamburg is not far from Berlin, actually it’s even a good location for a daytrip from the capital city or nearby. You can just take a bus or a train and discover one of the biggest and most famous cities in Northern Germany. However, staying for a weekend gives more chance to explore the city.

It is a special place because of the water that is basically everywhere in the city. Some of the buildings, especially the ones in the so called Speicherstadt, are representatives of the North-German architecture. You will be amazed by the view that you have in this famous part of Hamburg. You probably know that it has always been an important Hansa city, so you should walk around in the port (Hafen) where you can even eat a Fischbrötchen – a sandwich with fish – if you’d like to. Boat trips are also very popular in Hamburg, so you can spend more time on the water. The weather is though tricky, it might be a bit chilly, even in the summer, so be prepared for that, and check the weather forecast before your trip. 😉

For a basic sightseeing, you should visit the famous churches, the Rathaus (city hall) and maybe some more places that are recommended everywhere on the internet. But I have two extra trips that are the best of Hamburg, at least for me they are the top ones. 😊

One of the most famous buildings, located right on the water, is the Philharmonie. It is actually a concert hall, but you can go in almost any time, with a free ticket! You just have to go to the counter and ask for it. The building is beautiful and special both from outside and inside. You can go out to the terrace, make a round and have a look at the city from different perspectives. The best photos can be made of the port and the ships from here. It’s a must to see when you are in Hamburg!

My other recommendation is to visit the world-famous museum, the Miniatur Wunderland. But I suggest you booking your tickets online and ahead of time, because it is a really popular place among tourists, families with kids, etc. The prices are a bit higher than in an average museum that’s why I also hesitated a bit, if it worth it. But after buying the ticket and visiting this place, I must say: yes, it does! It is amazing how different countries and cities are there in small, as miniatures. You can see them in daylight and at night, with lights. But take your time for this museum. I could “only” spend there about two hours and it wasn’t enough for me. I would suggest you not to rush and just enjoy this very special place. It was my third time in Hamburg as I finally went to this museum, but I might go back again. 😉

If you speak German, it might be interesting to pay attention to how local people speak in Hamburg. The greeting form “Moin” is well-known, and they use a North-German dialect. If they are friendly or not, is hard to tell, I haven’t spent enough time there to define. Though, during these short daytrips, my experiences were rather positive, for example when having lunch in a restaurant. I can only recommend you visiting this famous and beautiful city, it will surely be a nice and interesting experience.