Travel: ​5 Things to do in Hamburg, Germany

What To Do in Hamburg, Germany

Planning to nip across to the continent for a weekend?

We managed to fit in a quick trip to Hamburg recently and thought we should share our newfound wisdom on what to do in the German city known for its history and nightlife.

5. Go for a walk along the Elbe

Having been a country in its own right not that long ago, Hamburg's port is still a strong               economic centre, and you can't miss this fact. You can get tours around the port and harbour (some are even included in day tickets for public transport - 11.80 for a group of up to five people) but we recommend you just spend a couple of hours taking in the sights from the shore. In particular look out for the Elphie (a striking concert hall built on top of an old warehouse).

4. The Five Main Churches (Hauptkirchen)

A strongly Lutheran state, Hamburg has five Cathedrals, known as the Hauptkirchen, which served the entire city up until the 19th century. Four still stand in their entirety, but all five are worth a visit.

• St. Jacob's (St. Jackobi)
• St. Catherine's (St. Katherinen)
• St. Paul's (Petrikirche)
• St. Nicholas's (Nikolaikirche)

Damaged badly in allied bombing raids during WW2, only the tower of St. Nicholas's still stands. Briefly the world's tallest building, the tower now acts as a memorial to those who died in the bombing raids, and in atrocities carried out across Europe.

• St. Michael's (Michelkirche)

Possibly the most striking of the churches, and certainly the largest inside, 'Michel' has the grandeur of a concert hall. It's the newest of the five churches, and is in the town's new town. But don't let that put you off, it's only a fifteen minute walk from the town hall, and well worth it.

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