Last month I got to tick off my list one of the cities that I always wanted to visit but somehow never got around to doing so. Through the “Come to Hamburg” project I got the chance to visit Hamburg for two days and explore it so I can report back to you. There are so many things to see and do, that two days are not enough. Somehow, we managed to squeeze as much as we could on our time there, and we ended up walking over 20 km in two days. In this post, you will find all the details with regards to flights, transportation, accommodation and sightseeing for two days in Hamburg and how we experienced it, so I hope you get a good insight of all the fun things that you can do in Hamburg.
Flights
The flight is less than two hours long from Dublin and we decided to fly midweek with Ryanair which meant that our flights were relatively cheap (about 50 Euros return), but beware that weekend flights can be more expensive so make sure you book in advance.
Transportation
Transportation in Hamburg, is very straightforward and to get to the city from the airport there is a direct train, but do your research in advance as if you are not a German speaker like myself you might find the names difficult to read so familiarise yourself with your destination. To make sure that you are making the most of your transportation and also to save money purchase a travel card – read more here.
Accommodation
There are so many nice hotels and hostels to choose from that you are spoiled for choice. However, if you are looking for something more unique then you will have to go for the hotel we stayed at which was the Superbude in St Pauli.
St Pauli is considered to be the most hipster part of the city close to the Reeperbahn, Hamburg’s red light district. Superbude hotel has the hipster character of the neighbourhood and you can see it in its quirky design. So if you are a fan of something less ordinary then you will love your stay there like we did.
The Reception is very welcoming and different and you can easily chill for a few hours and catch up on your day’s schedule before you head off for the day.
The Rooms also have the character of the hotel and their comfy beds are exactly what you need after a long day in the city.
{The sweet welcome pack that the hotel left for me}
{Breakfast is served till 12:00 and there are a lot of healthy option for you to start the day}
Free walking Tours & Bus Tours
The best way to explore the city is on foot and there are lots of free walking tours that you can choose from especially when the weather permits it– see more here.
City bus tours
The weather in Hamburg can be cold and rainy depending on the season and a city bus tour is the best way to see the major sights. See more here. For our second day in Hamburg, we chose to go for a hop on – hop off city bus tour where we got to see the main parts of the city. The tour operates till 5 pm and there are a few lines that tour around the city, go for the Line A which is the Sightseeing Tour.
Hafencity River tour
A rather different city tour but surely fun is the Hafencity River tour. The bus turned into a boat and we got to explore Hamburg’s historic Speicherstadt, the sophisticated HafenCity and the authentic district Rothenburgsort. The tour at the moment is offered only in German but in the future, they are looking to add a multilingual tour. See more about the tour here.
Sights
Rathaus
Rathaus is Hamburg’s town hall and is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city close to the Alster. I am sure that you won’t miss it as it’s neo – renaissance architecture will make you stop and admire. If you have time go and check the lobby which is open to the public. We didn’t have time to do that, but it will be on my list next time I visit Hamburg.
Alster
Alster is the second most important river of Hamburg, which in some areas can look like a lake, but don’t get fooled especially near the Rathaus area. The architecture of the buildings around the river is magnificent and so breathtaking so a walk near its banks should be in your to-do list.
Reeperbahn
If you didn’t know Hamburg is the second city in Europe that has a red light district after Amsterdam. That was something that I was not aware of and it caught me by surprise. It is located near the St Pauli area and a walk at the Reeperbahn should be included in your “to – see list”. The colourful lights, the interesting sex – shops and the bars of the area make it a must see.
Where to Eat
Ban Canteen (St. Pauli area)
If you are looking for something different to eat, and a place where you can check out all the cool people of Hamburg hanging out, then you have to visit the St. Pauli area and especially Ban Canteen specialising in Vietnamese cuisine. Make sure to try out their “All in bawl” dishes and you won’t be disappointed. If you are also looking for a refreshing drink they will offer you three different types of homemade lemonade to choose.
Better Burger Company
After a long walk around the city, you will get tired and sometimes all that you will need to get you back to your tourist mode is a good big burger to fill you and to comfort you. We found a delicious burger at the Better Burger Company near the Mönckebergstraße area, a very short walk from the Rathaus. Their burgers were so delicious and real that we got so nicely full that kept us going for the day. When you get there, make sure to ask for the guys to walk you through the menu as there are a few options to choose from.
Nightlife in Hamburg
Christiansen’s Bar
We may only had two nights in Hamburg, but we made the most of it. We started off the night by visiting the Christiansen’s bar where the bartender offered us some delicious and tasty classic cocktails with a twist. It is located very close to the river and is a nice bar to start off your night and even enjoy a nice dinner.
Skyline Bar 20 up – Rooftop bar
Hamburg’s skyline is beautiful, as it looks like is floating on water and no better place to admire it, than the Skyline 20 up bar. You will find it on the 20th floor of the Empire riverside hotel right next to the river.
{The view from 20 Up Skyline Bar}
The Clouds – Rooftop bar
Another beautiful roof top bar is the Clouds bar located right at the heart of Reeperbahn. You will find it at the top of the two very famous buildings called “The Dancing Towers”. I particularly loved this bar as most of the tables are facing the view so you won’t miss it. We were also lucky to get there near the sunset and got to see the beautiful change of colours and how Hamburg’s Reeperbahn got ready to welcome the night.
{The view from Clouds Bar}
For this amazing experience I have to thank the Come to Hamburg project for having us and of course, my travel buddy Lorna Duffy which made this trip one to remember.
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If you want your city to be feautured on my travel guides then please do get in touch on [email protected]
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