The 5 best sights in Hamburg

The Germans call Hamburg a city-state. Indeed, located at the mouth of the Elbe, where the river flows into the North Sea, the city is unlike any other city in Germany. Hamburg has a huge number of sights to see in more ways than one day. Here are just a few of them.

The Big Michelin

The city’s inhabitants affectionately refer to the church of St. Michael.  Built in the 17th century, the church was destroyed in a lightning strike in 1750 and rebuilt but was destroyed by fire again in the early 20th century. In 1912, the church was rebuilt according to surviving old blueprints. It is now one of Hamburg’s most famous tourist attractions. An observation platform was built in one of the church’s towers, 106 metres above the ground, offering a spectacular view of the city.

The Old Tunnel under the Elbe

This engineering masterpiece is over 100 years old. This engineering masterpiece is over 100 years old, located 24 meters below the ground and some 500 meters long. It can still be used today – it connects the two banks of the Elbe, on which Hamburg lies. It is also an excellent tourist attraction which is impossible to forget.

Lake Alster

The artificial lake near the city centre is considered one of the most beautiful places in Hamburg. There is a beautiful parkland around the lake which is a favourite picnic area for picnics, sports, yoga and relaxation for residents. The Alster promenade is also very beautiful. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful promenades in Germany.

Speicherstadt

This is an industrial part of the city called the “warehouse city”. Most of the structures of this unique architectural complex are still used for their intended purpose today. For tourists Speicherstadt is attractive primarily because of its unique architecture. Also in this part of Hamburg is the unique “Coffee Museum”. It is home to a number of artefacts which tell the story of the spread of brown gold in Europe.

The Reeperbahn, or ‘mile of sin’

This is a must-see quarter in Hamburg’s St. Pauli district. It’s often frequented by adventure-seekers and lovers of escapades condemned by religion and traditionalist morals.

Prostitution is legal in this area, but the Herbertstrasse is only open at certain hours. Moreover, minors as well as women who are not engaged in the sex trade are strictly prohibited from frequenting this street. This “red light district” is also a historical site. After all, it came into being at the beginning of the 19th century as an area where sailors who were in port could find the entertainment they longed for at sea.