I have been 3 times to Hamburg, but only one as a tourist, which is where I got most of these photos. The other two times I was focused into some bureaucratic stuff, so not much to report about… That one time as a tourist was a weekend getaway, so I would dare say that you can get a great scope of the city within that timeframe. This is what I found to be more interesting about this city as well as some warnings taken from my perspective as a visitor:
· The weather:
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Rain: Try to match your trip with the sunny days, because in Hamburg when it rains, it rains. In my case we almost missed a full afternoon/night because it was if not impossible, quite uncomfortable to go out and explore. And needless to say, that taking a phone or a camera to snap some photos was a no-go!
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Heat: But be careful not to go in the peak of the summer days. Hamburg get’s seriously hot. So beware of the temperature!
· Take the Harbour cruise:
If you are like me, it will open your eyes to a new dimension of business. You will appreciate better the imported stuff you consume and use, and will be in touch with the magnificent system behind them. Then walk around that area, let yourself feel the smells and noises, which can become overwhelming at times.
· Go to the Speicherstadt:
It was sad for me that the afternoon I had reserved to discover this are was that rainy one I mentioned before. So I was not able to walk and discover this world heritage site as much as I would have loved to. Plan in advance being able to walk there, get lost among the canals, notice the similarity of the buildings as well as their peculiarities of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
· Commercial side & Shopping in Hamburg:
Even if you don’t really buy anything, take some time to walk the old-modern side of town, an example is the area around the station “Jungfernstieg”, where you find a big lake to shill and get the feeling of the streets: the bikers, the speed of the locals and their rhythm. It is cool how this part of the city seems to have been built around it. There are many luxury shops and, in the near of one of its corners, you will find a mall called “Europa Passage” with everything you need, from photo studio to a supermarket. On one of my trips, In the last one I bought the fresh bottles of water, as they got warm very soon due to the extremely hot temperatures.
· Visit the St. Pauli & the Red Light District area:
Go to this are so you can appreciate how much it changes when the sun goes down. And while in there, take a quick stop into the awesome bar called Strand Pauli, which recreates a beach in the city center.
And when the night comes, go back out and explore the rise of the Red Light District. Go to the Davidwache stration and then get lost around the sex shops and sinner side of town.
Hans Hummels
· While in town, try to find one of the Hans Hummels, a working class pop icon made into colourful statues. And don’t forget to take a photo with him!
I guess that with that small guide, you can get a very good idea of what Hamburg has to offer. Is that all there is? Of course not! But it will make for an unforgettable, super photogenic and culturally rich weekend getaway.
This post is inspired by a question made by @PoliMC, so thanks for giving me the idea.
