Hamburg, Germany

Ham-huh? I would have never thought to visit this city until it was recommended by a friend to do a quick daytrip for my birthday last year. We didn’t make it then, but I’m glad we were able to get there.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and it’s only a few hours train ride from Berlin. It is also a major port city that is crossed by hundreds of canals which also makes it a main port hub for cruise lines.

Annalina was out of school for a week in February for Winter Holiday, so we decided to make a quick weekend getaway and go on another exploration adventure. The train ride there caught me by surprise. I thought I had already seen all the different types of train layouts on our past trips but this one had a more vintage, classic feel. The seats were sectioned out in compartments that held up to five and each had its own sliding door. I felt like I was in an old movie. Like I should be hanging my head out the window, waving my handkerchief and saying goodbye to the city as I ventured off into the distance.

Hamburg is one beautiful city. We were expecting snow all weekend, but the weather turned out to be sunny and cool. No complaints. We were more prepared this time and had made a list of things we wanted to see before going. I created a separate Google map marked with popular tourist spots, highly ranked restaurants and other local faves. We then sectioned out the areas and decided what we would see each day we were there. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this planning process before – it was such a great way to get around.

Day one consisted of staying close to the hotel since we traveled early that morning and didn’t want to tire out so quickly. Most cities in Europe will have a City Hall (seats of the local government) and some type of tall structure that oversees the city’s skyline that tourists will visit. We were definitely tourists so that’s what we did. Hamburg City Hall (“Hamburger Rathaus”) is probably the most beautiful one we’ve seen yet by far. I’m still so amazed at the architecture in Europe. The intricate detail and handwork that goes into the design is remarkable. Pictures never do the buildings justice. You have to see it in person to fully appreciate it.

We chose to visit Elbphilharmonie for the city lookout. “It’s the largest and acoustically most advanced concert hall in the world.” The cool, wavy glass construction on top of an old warehouse made it a must see for us. I also knew the almost three-minute surprise escalator ride to the top would be fun for all.

We always throw in a child-friendly venue or landmark to suit the little one in our travels so during our walk around the area and scenic view of the harbor, we made our last stop at the biggest playground in the city before heading back for dinner near the hotel. Then we hit the pillows early since we knew day two would be an even bigger adventure.

Keeping Beatles songs on our constant playlist (even our 6-year old goes to sleep to “Hey, Jude”), we knew our first stop in the morning would be to Beatles-Platz (“Beatles Square/Plaza”). This is where The Beatles got their first taste of stardom in the 60s. There are life-sized silhouettes/statues made of steel in the shape of the band. They are placed on two streets that intersect and the ground resembles a vinyl record. When reading online about this famous spot, I assumed the suggestion to go in the morning was to see the statues clearly. Once we got there, however, we realized it’s the “red-light” district of the city and this area would definitely put off a different vibe at night. Kind of goes from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in the daytime to “Sexy Sadie” at night. Obviously not an area for kids. We quickly took our pictures and made our way to the next stop. Whew, talk about awkward.

Next stop Alter Elbtunnel (“Old Elbe Tunnel”). It’s an underpass that was built in 1911 for workers to have a more direct route between the north and south sides of the Elbe River. It’s about a 1/4 mile long and 24 meters below the river’s surface. This experience was really neat and is popular for photo opportunities. We stayed longer than expected here and ended up missing the legendary fish market that was next on our list. With more than 70,000 visitors coming every Sunday morning, I bet this is a site to see along the river. Live music is played and visitors enjoy walking through tent after tent of seafood, fresh fruits, plants, textiles, sausages and more.

We decided it was time for a late lunch and we luckily stumbled across the restaurant, StrandPauli. “Your island in the city”. For a minute here, we felt like we were back in Florida. The outside patio was filled with sand and people were laying back in lawn chairs having a drink. The restaurant roof was covered in straw resembling a tiki hut and the decor inside felt beachy. It was packed so we knew it must be good. We decided to grab a table and after looking over the menu we decided, why not have a “hamburger?”

We made a pit stop at the biggest indoor playground before calling it a night. We took a scenic route home as the sun was setting and walked through Speicherstadt – an area that is often referred to as “Germany’s Venice.” The walk was amazing. The canals were gorgeous and beautifully lit – what a great way to end our trip.

Hamburg is a great city to visit. The majority of our expenses in Hamburg went towards food. Entry into most of the attractions we visited didn’t cost a thing. I honestly probably wouldn’t have cared to visit Hamburg it if we didn’t live in Berlin. People always want to go to cities in Europe (who wouldn’t, of course) that are famous to everyone and spend thousands of dollars to fly the distance. I feel fortunate to have the luxury to save those thousands of dollars and travel cheaply within Europe so we’re soaking it in. It’s these “little,” lesser-known cities that will make our experience here that much more memorable.

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