Hamburg Travel Guide - Attractions

For a perspective a bit different from what you might see strolling through the city’s streets, you might want to take a sightseeing boat from the Jungfernstieg pier to have a view of fashionable streets and parks around the Binnenalster from the water. At the end of a day of sightseeing, you can take in the non-stop nightlife for which the Reeperbahn is so well known.

Altstadt: a wall around the Altstadt, Hamburg's old city, shows the visitor a city that is actually quite young by European standards. The Great Fire of 1842 destroyed most of the historic buildings here. Even the seemingly ancient St Petri, which is the oldest of Hamburg's churches, was rebuilt.

Altona Fish Market: offers up a lot more than fish and in fact is as popular for early morning risers as it is for those finishing up a late night out on the town. Everything you could imagine is on sale at this lively and colourful city market, which has been a Sunday morning tradition since 1703. The well-known restaurant that’s located in the historic Fish Auction Hall features live musical entertainment alongside its tasty food to help rejuvenate tired shoppers.

The Alter Elbtunnel: links the island of Steinwerder with the district of St Pauli. Built from 1907-1911, this is the oldest of the tunnels under the Elbe and is over 1400ft long. The tunnel is worth seeing, not only as it provides access to the other side, but also because it is ornately decorated with tiles and is accessed on its north side by a unique dome-shaped entrance hall.

Carl Hagenbeck's Tierpark: is actually the Hamburg zoo and one of Europe's best. It was founded in 1848 and is currently home to around 2,500 animals representing 360 species. The paddocks are unfenced and the park is beautifully landscaped. You can see dolphin and sea lion shows, go for rides on camels and elephants and take a train ride through the park’s ‘fairyland.’ This is a great treat for children, who can enjoy the spacious playground as well as all of the other amenities.

The Reeperbahn: is Hamburg's infamous red light district, located in the St Pauli district, which is to the east of the city centre. At one time the Reeperbahn is where rope was produced for the ships in Hamburg’s harbour.

Afrika-Haus: boasts two giant bronze elephants at its entrance. In the courtyard, a palm tree and a statue of a native African by Walter Sintensis further establish the atmosphere for the headquarters of the Woermann Trading Company.

Africa House was built in 1899 by this firm that made its fortune trading with Africa during the colonial period. The facade is adorned with the company flag, rendered in ceramic tiles and the interior staircase features a collection of photographs recounting the history of the company and the building.