The second largest city in Germany and the eighth largest port in the world, Hamburg is a historical beauty with its magnificent avenues and imposing buildings from the past. Having been a member of the Hanseatic League, this city-state is officially known as the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The name ‘Hamburg’ has been derived from the castle fortress that King Charlemagne ordered to have built between the River Alster and River Elbe, although the exact location is unknown, in order to avert Slavic invasions. The fortress was called ‘Hammaburg’, which was then translated as Hamburg to name the city.
Tourism is a major driving force of the economy with millions of tourist arriving in the city each year. Major attractions in Hamburg are the majestic Town Hall, the ostentatious St Michaelis Church, the old ware house district of Speicherstadt, the harbor promenade of Landungsbrücken and the splendid museums. The impressive baroque masterpiece, St Michael’s Church also provides an excellent panoramic view of the city, provided you have the energy to get up all the stairs that lead to the viewing tower. A walk along the River Elbe gives you a view of the Blankenese District.
Most popular are the harbor and canal boat tours that take you along the river stopping at all major tourist attractions including the museums. This is a great way of sightseeing in Hamburg and most tourists opt for these cruises. Also of great interest is the ‘Miniature Wunderland’, which displays miniature models of famous places of various countries of the world. The Wunderland, located in Speicherstadt, is still under construction as more models are yet to be built, making it an important tourist attraction in Hamburg. Those with family can visit the well-known Hamburg zoo, Tierpark Hagenbeck, a zoo consisting of open enclosures with only moats keeping the animals away from you.
Hamburg is a prominent transportation hub of the country, as it is connected to four major motorways and also has a railroad service that goes up to Scandinavia. Tunnels and bridges link up the northern and southern parts of the city. The Alter Elbetunnel (old Elbe Tunnel) is a huge tourist attraction. Hamburg Airport, the oldest in Germany, serves air transport to 125 major destinations in the world. There is a good railway service called the S-Bahn and an underground rail service, U-Bahn that run through the city, besides buses apply in areas where the railway network does not run. Ferries are also a popular transport medium in Hamburg.
Photo by © febrok provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by © febrok provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by © febrok provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by © febrok provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
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