24 Hours in Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg is considered Germany’s most liveable city – known for its modern, young vibe and its unique waterfront location (it has more canals than Venice). Here are my top travel tips for Hamburg: what to see and do when you are visiting Hamburg.
Click here for your full travel guide to Munich in Germany.
MORNING
Breakfast at the Alsterarkarden
Start your day with a nice breakfast at one of the many traditional cafes at the Alsterarkarden (also great for afternoon coffee and cake). The white arcades along the Alster River evoke a touch of Venetian elegance and are the showpiece of downtown Hamburg.
Don’t miss the beautiful ‘Rathausmarkt’ (town hall square) at the opposite side of the Alsterarkarden. In December the lively square turns into a Christmas market. During summertime, you can find farmer’s markets and many events taking place here. The Rathaus (town hall) itself was built in 1886 and its architecture is truly magnificent.
Shopping Jungfernstieg
The best shopping in Hamburg is around the Jungfernstieg area. Don’t miss the traditional ‘Alsterhaus‘, which not only offers the latest international fashion brands, a great selection of living accessories and beauty products but this shopping centre also spoils you with restaurants and gourmet shops.
Lunch at the Binnenalster
For lunch head to one of the many restaurants along the ‘Binnenalster’ such as the restaurant Alex. From there you have spectacular views of the Binnenalster. During summer the restaurants all have outdoor seats. 
Boat Tour around the Harbour
For a close-up experience of Germany’s largest port city, I recommend a harbour boat trip on a traditional Barkasse (former dockworkers ferry). Guided tours are operated from the piers at Landungsbrücken. The tour takes you to the big container terminals, the historic Speicherstadt warehouses, as well as the modern Hafencity and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg concert hall.
One of my favourite travel tips for Hamburg is visiting the Speicherstadt. While the Speicherstadt is part of the larger harbour city quarter, it is also a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest warehouse district in the world. It’s worth visiting the Speicherstadt at night when all red brick buildings are illuminated.
Spectacular views from Elbphilharmonie
In the Speicherstadt you can find also the Elbphilharmonie, one of the largest and acoustically most advanced concert halls in the world. You don’t have to visit a concert to enjoy the Elbphilharmonie. Just get a free ticket to head up to the observation deck for 360-degree views of the Hamburg harbour and city centre! Check out the Störtebeker Restaurant on the same level for some cold beers or sundowner drinks. A real highlight!
In summer, I recommend ending your evening with a beautiful sundowner at the Aussenalster. There are many bars on floating peers, some even with sundeck chairs and DJ sunset music. I can recommend the lounge a-mora or Café Prüsse. My insider tip: Not only can you enjoy your sundowner from those locations, but you can also rent small catboats, or pedal boats (in case you’re stopping by during the day).
Are you planning your trip around Europe? You might be interested in reading my tips for travelling to Munich or the perfect trip to Austria’s mountains as well.
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