The Perfect Itinerary For Exploring Hamburg

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and a major tourist destination for locals and foreigners alike. Having grown up in the southern part of Germany, I haven’t explored the northern part of the country, which is why I am especially happy that I finally made it up to Hamburg! I loved the atmosphere in the city and recommend anyone traveling to Germany to go exploring Hamburg. It’s a unique metropolis with a laid-back ambience.

Here’s the perfect itinerary for exploring Hamburg:

Have Breakfast At PALEDO

Nothing will get you more prepared for a sightseeing day than the Açaí bowl from PALEDO. All meals at PALEDO are grain-free, lactose-free and sugar-free, which means you are able to do something good for your body while traveling one of the most exciting cities in Germany. Who could say no to that?

Getting there: Get off at U3 Hoheluftbruecke and walk 10 minutes to Lehmweg

Start at Rathaus

The Town Hall of Hamburg is a historic structure that stands for the long history, culture and people of the city. You will be surprised to hear that this building has more rooms than London’s Buckingham Palace, 647 rooms to be exact. The ornate clock tower makes the Town Hall most iconic. On top of that, you can tour the Town Hall with an English speaking tour guide for around 35 minutes.

Getting there: Get off at Jungfernstieg and walk 5 minutes

Explore the Jungfernstieg

Jungfernstieg is an urban promenade and Hamburg’s foremost boulevard. It is also close to some of Hamburg’s largest shopping malls, banks, art galleries and high-end stores. In fact, locals come here to relax, watch and meet, as its scenic setting on the Binnenalster has a unique charm.

Getting there: Get off at Jungfernstieg

Take the best photos at Speicherstadt

This area was probably my favorite part of the city. Speicherstadt literally translates to “City of Warehouses” and marks the warehouse district of the city. In fact, Speicherstadt is the largest warehouse district in the world. What’s also unique is that all its buildings solely stand on oak logs. The area was built between 1883 and 1927 and was awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 5th, 2015.

Getting there: Get off at Meßberg or Baumwall

Stroll Along Port Of Hamburg

You cannot visit Hamburg and not walk along the port – you simply CAN’T. The port is situated on the river Elbe, around 110 km from the North Sea. While it’s Germany’s largest port, it’s the second busiest port in Europe (after Rotterdam) and the 15th largest port in the world. The port is basically as old as the city itself and was founded in 1189. Since then, the port enabled Hamburg to become a leading trading city.

Getting there: Get off at Landungsbrücken

Take in Nature at Planten un Blomen

This urban park is the largest in Hamburg and was built in 1821. Today, it houses a great variety of different flora and fauna and is a major destination for locals who want to relax and take in nature. While exploring Hamburg, stop by Planten un Blomen and take a deep breath to recharge your energy. Not only is this park famous for its different selection of plants, but also for its water-light concerts, public theater and music performances.

Getting there: Get off at subway stop St. Pauli.

Visit Crazy Reeperbahn

by IK’s World Trip

This are of Hamburg is notorious for sex. Located in St. Pauli district,  it is a major center of nightlife and also Hamburg’s red-light district. The entire street is filled with a variety of restaurants, night clubs, and bars. There are also strip clubs, sex shops, brothels, and even a sex museum.

Getting there: Get off at St. Pauli and walk 5 minutes

Ride the Ferris Wheel at Dom

The Hamburger Dom is a large fun fair attracting over ten million visitors per year. The fair is held year-round and always filled with people. The highlight is the large ferris wheel allowing you to get splendid views of Hamburg.

Getting there: Get off at St. Pauli and walk 2 minutes

Stay at Superbude St. Pauli

If you are looking for a reasonably priced, comfortable and ultra-hip place to stay during your travels in Hamburg, consider Superbude! This place is located in a hip Hamburg neighborhood with lots of restaurants, bars and nightlife. Superbude offers an organic, local breakfast buffet and the interior and furniture are partly used from recycled or reused materials. It’s very close to the subway station Sternschanze and close to all main attractions.

Getting there: Take subway and get off at Sternschanze, then walk 7 minutes. OR take the bus and get off at Bernstorffstraße right in front of the hostel. 

More photos of my exploring Hamburg

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