Living in Hamburg, Germany

If you are interested in arts and culture, Hamburg is home to a variety of museums that will give you an in-depth look into the city along with Germany’s national history. Popular museums include the International Maritime Museum, the Museum of Hamburg History and the Kunsthalle Hamburg which is a large art museum.

If you are looking for something a little bit different, you may want to spend a day at Miniature Wunderland which is the largest model railway and miniature airport attraction in the world.

Like many German cities, you can find green parks in abundance in Hamburg. Locals often meet friends, sunbathe or indulge in a picnic at one of the many parks spread across the city. During the summer time the parks become even more enticing - nature lovers will be spoilt for choice with green spaces to explore.

The city’s largest and most famous park is Stadtpark, where guests can enjoy a stroll past beautiful sculptures or through the botanic gardens. There is also a swimming pool and the park hosts open air concerts during the summer months, attracting many students and music lovers.

Hamburg is one of Germany’s main port towns, so people flock to the city to taste the world-famous fish! Tourists and locals can be found at the Sunday Hamburg Fish Market, where venders sell daily catches from the Baltic SEA. At the Altonaer Fischauktionshalle (or The Fish Auction Hall) you can enjoy fresh seafood from a variety of vendors while listening to live music and soaking up the great atmosphere.

If seafood isn’t your thing, ÜberQuell restaurant is a great lunch option. This is a quirky location and a popular spot for craft beer and pizza. In the St Pauli quarter you can visit AHOI, where you indulge in a rum tasting and savour authentic Hamburg cooking that can be enjoyed and shared tapas style.

HafenCity is a new urban quarter of Hamburg, more than 120 acres of former port land, known for the landmark Elbphilharmonie Hamburg concert hall. It features innovative architecture design and spans the historic Speicherstadt. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site with red bricked facades, canals and winding bridges.

Reeperbahn in the St Pauls district is a famous entertainment district. Today the street is filled with clubs, galleries, theatres, cabarets and bars. The Beatles fans may be interested to know that they played in several clubs around the Reeperbahn, some of which are still open and accessible today.

For those with a creative side,the popular neighbourhoods of “Schanze” and “Karolinenviertel” are alive with colour, you can find artful graffiti on every corner. There are lots of trendy boutiques, cafes and bars on the cobblestoned streets and many walking tours which will give you an insider’s view into the area.

Hamburg has a rich cultural life, whether you are looking for museums, dinner, theatre or music. One of the most popular music venues is The Elbphilharmonie - a huge venue which opened in 2017 and sits on the River Elbe. Inside there are three concert halls, a music school, a restaurant, a hotel and a viewing platform to look across the city. Alternatively, if you are interested in musical theatre, why not spend an evening at one of the city’s many shows?

The city is not just about nightlife and Hamburg is made up of many waterways and canals. For the adventurous types, Supper Club boat rentals offers canoes, pedal boats, kayaks and board rentals. This gives you an opportunity to explore the city at your own leisure or have a leisurely day on the canal.

Water Shows

In the summer months you may like to visit a water garden concert by the Parksee in Planten un Blomen. The fountain and water lights are synchronised to dance in time with the music and many people flock to the park for this nightly event.

Vogelball

This is a special event that runs every year and translates to “Bird Ball.” The music festival for Electronic Dance Music attracts many fun-seekers and attendees often dress up using bright coloured beads and feathers. There is much to explore with wild art installations, stages and the mythical woodland.

There are a number of reasons why people visit Hamburg, including: the food, the character, the canals, the architecture and the parks. If you are visiting or studying in Hamburg, there are a few places you should definitely tick off your to-do list.

The Elbphilharmonie is a modern concert hall on top of an old warehouse. The venue overlooks the harbour so you may want to pair your visit with a boat ride through the canal. Another must-see site is the Hamburger Rathaus (City Hall). The Neo-Renaissance building is available for public visits, why not book a guided tour and learn more?

If you are looking for a more exciting side of Hamburg, The Reeperbahn is a must-visit street in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district. Also known as Germany’s red light district, this is a popular destination for nightlife.