Hamburg – Gate to the World

With its flair and maritime charm, Hamburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. The “Gateway to the World” – as the port city on the Elbe is often referred to – offers its visitors city life pure and simple, with unique experiences in shopping, culture as well as nature.

Grand shopping boulevards, elegant arcades, and some of Germany’s best hotels are to be found in Hamburg. This Hanseatic city boasts not only elegant residential areas and town houses on the Elbe River, but also luxury at its best: abundant nature and green areas, time to savour culinary delights, and a relaxed attitude to life. While elegant Hanseatic style doesn’t have to be expensive, it certainly exudes a unique identity – just like the residents of Hamburg.

When visiting this Hanseatic city you should not miss to discover the impressive harbor during a boat trip. Sightseeing boats launch from the Landungsbruecken and weave their way through huge container vessels, majestic steam-powered ocean liners and elegant yachts. Or discover the old town, where noble merchants once traded coffee, tea and spices. Today it’s an inviting scene of residences and grand corner buildings from the 17th to the 19th century, quaint restaurants and laid-back bars.

Another reminder of Hamburg’s heritage is the historical Speicherstadt, home to the world’s largest single complex of traditional brick warehouses, resting on thousands of oak supports and intersected by narrow waterways, the Fleets.

Michael’s recommendations

Hamburg is an amazing city and has lots to offer – but for some reason is not that well-known as Berlin or Munich. The entire city was dominated by the shipping industry due to its large harbor. While this is still an important industry for the region, the city has changed and offers a mixture of local culture with international influences.  

Restaurant recommendations

The 2 star gourmet restaurant Seven Seas is the heart of  culinary pleasures at the Süllberg.  This is where Karl Heinz Hauser and his excellent team celebrate the art of cooking on the highest level.

Kevin Fehlings, The Table, is a very modern restaurant serving classical dishes interpreted in a modern way, subtly nuanced by the influence of different countries and regions. Guests are being seated at one long gently curved table of dark cherry wood, offering both sociability as well as the possibility to be seated in smaller groups.

Recognized with two Michelin Stars and 19 Gault Millau Points,  Gourmet Restaurant Haerlin is by now widely recognized beyond the city of Hamburg. Executive Chef Christoph Rüffer and his team will make your palate sparkle with flavors as stunning as fireworks. Inspired compositions of various, intuitively contradictory aromas and the use of surprising textures make each of the seasonally-adapted menus unique and an exceptional culinary experience.