Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg is a major port city and second largest city situated on the Elbe River in northern Germany. Two-thirds of Hamburg is occupied by parks, lakes or tree-lined canals, giving a refreshing rural feel to one of the country's major industrial and media centres.

Sightseeing is concentrated in two main areas, the city center and the harbor. Hamburg's historical center is mostly modern with only a few ancient houses and churches surviving the 1841 fires and WW2 bombings. The city center looks onto the Alster Lake, of which the outer section (Aussenalster) is particularly attractive.

The other principal sightseeing center is the harbor and the adjoining red-light district of St Pauli with its infamous main street, the Reeperbahn. St Pauli is the city's leading nightlife area, with numerous theaters and respectable nightspots. The harbor is the second biggest in Europe and provides visitors with boat tours, museum ships, the Speicherstadt warehouse museums and the colorful comings and goings of any major port.

Things to see and do

* Fischmarkt
* Hamburg Kunsthalle gallery
* Harry's Hamburger Hafenbasar
* Museum für Völkerkunde

General Information

Cruise Season - Oct - April
Currency - Euro (€) (EUR)
Language - German
Land Area - 755 sq km's
Population - 1,700,000
Electricity - 2 pin round pins European style
Time - GMT plus one hour
International Country Telephone Code - + 49

Port Location - The Hamburg cruise centre is located in the Harbor area at the centre of Hamburg called the Hafencity.

Transport Links - Hamburg has the fourth-largest international airport in Germany, (8 km) north of the city center. National and international connections by train and bus are available.

Hamburg has a well developed public transportation system.