Water shapes every aspect of life in the harbor city of Hamburg, Germany’s second-largest. Joggers and walkers flock to the Alster lakes to enjoy the area’s beauty, while the bustling port on the Elbe floods the city with new people, ideas, and trade. Hamburg’s many canals reflect images of spectacular church steeples alongside modern facades. A walk through the city is a walk over water—with a grand total of 2479 bridges, Hamburg has more than Venice.
A hub for commerce since its early history, Hamburg was a founding member of the Hanseatic trade league in the 13th century. Overland trade from the Baltic Sea brought prosperity in the 16th century, leading to the establishment of the first German stock exchange here in 1558. By the 17th century, Hamburg’s influence had spread, and it gained the title of “Free Imperial City” in 1618. Along with Berlin and Bremen, it is one of the three remaining city-states among Germany’s 16 states. Hamburg still values its autonomy, which, along with great sea-trade wealth, has seen the city through many hardships.
The Great Fire of 1842 leveled the entire downtown, but a massive rebuilding effort resurrected the city as an industrial-age powerhouse in naval construction and home of the Hamburg-America Line, then the world’s largest shipping firm. In WWII, a series of air raids once again turned the downtown to rubble. Over 50,000 tenants of the crowded buildings on the waterfront were killed in a single strike in July of 1943. Thanks to a massive reconstruction effort begun in the 1960s, Hamburg has restored many of its most beloved buildings.
Today’s Hamburg is both cosmopolitan and progressive. With large ethnic populations, including many Turkish and Portuguese residents, the city is one of Germany’s most diverse. The district of St. Georg is also home to a flourishing gay scene. As the unassuming cultural mecca of Germany, Hamburg houses world-renowned opera and theater companies and many of the country’s finest museums. The city’s fashion scene has produced global names like Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld and chic powerhouse Jil Sander. Hamburg’s venues hosted The Beatles before they were famous, and a thriving independent and experimental music scene exists today. At night, tens of thousands of revelers flock to the infamous red-light district of the Reeperbahn, and bars throughout the city fill up nearly every night of the week.
 Flights: Air France (☎ 040 22 71 06 10, www.jasper.de) run from the Kirchenallee exit of the Hauptbahnhof directly to the airport (25min.; every 10-15min. 4:45am-7pm, every 20min. 7:00-9 ...more
 Hamburg lies on the northern bank of the Elbe river, 100km from the North Sea. The ideally situated harbor has shaped the city’s growth. Hamburg’s center is between the Elbe and the nearby ...more
 Public Transportation: HVV operates an efficient U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and bus network. Short rides within downtown cost €1.65, one-way in greater Hamburg €260; 1-day pass €5.10, 3-day €15 ...more
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 The vibrant Schanzenviertel area, filled with students, leftist dissidents, and a large ethnic community, houses two of the city’s best backpacker hostels near many excellent, inexpensive cafes ...more
 While traditional German beer, bread, cheese, and wurst are still staples here, Hamburg’s harbor brings in a daily catch of fresh seafood, while the city’s diverse population cooks up a unique ...more
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 Many of Hamburg’s finest museums are located along the Kunstmeile, running from from the Alster Lakes to the Elbe. The Hamburg Card provides discounted admission to most museums. With new galleries ...more
 In addition to the regular offerings of music, theater, and film, Hamburg’s Rathausmarkt and other locations often host lively street fairs, especially during the summer. Hamburg owes its prosperity ...more
 St. Pauli, the Schanzenviertel, and Altona host Hamburg’s unrepressed nightlife scene. The infamous Reeperbahn, a long boulevard that makes Las Vegas look like the Vatican, is the backbone of St ...more
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