Day 1 in Hamburg

Welcome to Hamburg! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.

Begin the afternoon with a pleasant lunch in any of the charming streetside cafes to be found throughout the city. Afterward, we recommend that you get acquainted with Hamburg by choosing an optional tour such as `Hamburg Hop-on Hop-off Tour`, showcasing the main sights of the city. Enjoy the sights from a superb vantage point while listening to interesting commentary, and discover the numerous aspects of the city.

As night falls, take a stroll along the waterfront, then climb the steps to Davidstrße to venture into the Reeperbahn district, one of Hamburg`s most famous locations, and home to the legendary Red Light District. It is an area that would have rivaled Amsterdam in its prime. Today the scene of the Reeperbahn is less intense but street prostitution is still legal during certain times of the day. An iconic nightlife destination, Reeperbahn is a hub of clubs, international restaurants, theatres, great bars and sex shops that harmoniously co-exist. Grab dinner here and enjoy the lively atmosphere this area has to offer.

Day 2 in Hamburg

Wake up early today and head to St. Michaelis (familiarly known as `Michel`), the most famous of Hamburg`s churches and one of the city`s most important landmarks. Climb the 433 ft. tower (or take the elevator) to the top of the church, and get your bearings from here. The viewing platforms offer excellent panoramas of the city and port. Look for the stunning bronze statue of Archangel Michael killing the devil over the entrance. Some 2,425 people have been buried in its crypt. In the courtyard to the east of the church the Krameramtswohnungen, dwellings originally built to house the widows of members of the local Shopkeepers` Guild, as well as a museum.

From St. Michaelis, walk to the harbor and stroll along the pier, also called St. Pauli Landungsbrucken (`landing bridges`). Pay a visit to the museum ship `Rickmer Rickmers`, built in 1896. After almost 90 years of sailing the seven seas, the three-masted tall ship with a long colorful history is now a museum where visitors can roam the decks to explore the crew`s and officers` quarters, the galley and the engine room.

From here, take a harbor boat tour from the pier, a unique way to see one of the world`s largest working harbors. The Landungsbrücken area has plenty of tour companies offering harbor tours, ranging from hop-on-hop-off barges and dinner cruises to speed boat experiences. Canal tours are also popular and there are plenty of options to choose from.

Make a midday lunch stop before taking a walk through Hamburg`s 100-year-old underground Elb-Tunnel, situated at the western end of the pier. Opened in 1911, the historic landmark is 0.3 miles long; it brings you to a small island where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Hamburg`s cityscape.

Head back to the pier and walk to the Speicherstadt district, the historical warehouse district and the world`s largest warehouse complex once used to store tobacco, coffee, dried fruit, and spices. Another landmark here is the Köhlbrandbrücke, a 2.4 mile bridge that spans the harbor.

Stay in the Speicherstadt district to wind down your day with some dinner and drinks. The district has a trendy and alternative vibe. When the weather is nice, the bars are full and the party fills out into the streets. Just a few streets further begins the multicultural Karoviertel, known for its trendy cafes and cocktail bars.

If you want to continue the party late into the night, check out the city`s best underground clubs under the Sternbrucke bridge.

Day 3 in Hamburg

Start your day at the beautiful lake Binnenalster in the heart of Hamburg; take a walk along the water, and enjoy a coffee with a great view of the lake from the Alster Pavilion.

Afterward, head to the main shopping boulevard Jungferstieg, a lovely shopping area with the lake on one side and the shopping area and restaurants surrounding it. Stroll around the main boulevard and down the charming side streets lined with a wonderful mix of old buildings and modern shops.

From here, head to the Alster Arkaden; walk along the canals through these old arcades, which were inspired by Venetian architecture; you`ll soon reach the main square of Hamburg`s city center, Rathausmarkt, dominated by the richly decorated Townhall of Hamburg; this neo-Renaissance building from 1886 is considered to be one of the most beautiful and largest buildings constructed in the 19th-century.

Grab some lunch as you walk through Hamburg`s pedestrian zone and one of the main shopping streets Mönckebergstraße until you reach the central train station. The area around the train station boasts many wonderful museums. We recommend you take some time to explore Kunsthalle Hamburg, one of Germany`s top art galleries. The gallery consists of three separate but connected buildings on the Glockengießerwall. Highlights include numerous altarpieces, works by local artists of the 14th century, and Dutch masters of the 16th and 17th centuries. There is also many noteworthy 19th-century German and French paintings, plus substantial modern and contemporary art collections.

Spend your last evening in Hamburg on the atmospheric River Elbe, a nightlife location in its own right. The port provides a great backdrop to stroll in the evening along the river lined with floating restaurants, outdoor bars and street food stalls. At night the river is covered in neon lights from the Theater im Hafen (Theater in the Port) across the water and the passing ships. After enjoying the views, try some traditional Hamburg food with a view of the river.

Additional Days in Hamburg

Should you be able to spend additional days in Frankfurt spend a day exploring many of the exciting getaways nearby. We recommend a trip to Lübec, located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Past the iconic Holsten Gate, the water-enclosed picturesque Old Town is an absolute charm to discover on foot. The town offers many architectural jewels, beautiful streets to wander with original medieval buildings, and quaint shops and boutiques to discover.

Your Last Day in Hamburg

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.