The port city of Hamburg (pop. 1,660,700), with more than
40 mi/64 km of canals and 2,500 bridges, has an independent, entrepreneurial
spirit—it’s the closest thing to a city-state in Germany. It’s still exciting
to watch enormous freighters move up the Elbe for loading and unloading.
Though commerce is Hamburg’s strength, it has its share
of cultural attractions, as befits a town that was once the home of Johannes
Brahms. Be sure to visit the cathedrals of St. Jacobi (where you can see
a distinguished 15th-century altar) and St. Michael (baroque, with a 440-ft/134-m
spire offering a great view of the city), as well as the unique Rathaus
(city hall, supported by dozens of pillars—it’s really a grand building).
Hamburg is also a fun city—make time to enjoy some of the beer halls,
explore the St. Pauli district and the various parks (such as Alster Lake,
downtown). Stroll through Hamburg’s famous fish market (which sells much
more than fish).
The Reeperbahn is one of the most famous red-light districts
in Europe. Although it once had a reputation for sleaze, it’s now closely
patrolled and a big tourist attraction. Parts of it are family-oriented
(video arcades, etc.), but parts are definitely for adults only. The X-rated
area has ladies of the night lining the streets and live sex shows in
the bars—if you venture there, make sure you know what you’re getting
into. Female tourists may be subject to catcalls—and an occasional bucket
of water—hurled by professionals sitting in windows.) The Museum of Erotic
Art, on Bernard Nocht Strasse, has works by such famous artists as Delacroix
and Picasso.
Hamburg has many shopping districts, including an antiques
section in the Markthalle, near the Hauptbahnhof (main train station),
and many upscale stores in the new Gansemarkt area. The granddaddy of
all the shopping streets in Hamburg is the Monckebergstrasse, with more
than 100 shops. There are also some unusual museums in town, such as the
Museum of Arts and Crafts (Islamic, Asiatic and antique art and artifacts)
and the Museum of Hamburg History (scale models and replicas of street
scenes, ships, trains and even a South Pacific island in miniature—it’s
world famous among model enthusiasts). Art lovers will enjoy Hamburg’s
modern-art museum, in the Deichtorhallen (former flower-market buildings).
A day trip can be taken to Lubeck. 160
mi/260 km northwest of Berlin. 55
mi/88 km northeast of Bremen.
