As the centre also boasts its own lakes, visitors find quite an array of interesting activities on the water to enjoy. Both an industrial city and a green one, Hamburg is Germany's second largest industrial centre, yet boasts spacious gardens, parks and woodlands as well.

The importance of this city internationally is also reflected in the fact that it is the centre for banking and service industries for northern Germany and, after New York, the world's principal consular city. The Hamburg Congress Centre, venue for many international exhibitions and trade events, is one of Europe’s most modern and popular conference centres.

For the visitor, the centre of Hamburg offers fine opportunities for walking and shopping. For instance, at the intersection of the Jungfernstieg and Neuer Jungfernstieg is the Colonnaden, featuring an array of shops and cafes. This neighbourhood is also home to the Hamburgische Staatsoper, a modern structure that’s well worth visiting. Overall, there’s a lot to see and do here and many of the city’s hotels are excellent, as are their services.