Hamburg holidays

Popular holidays

Historical sights and one of Europe’s naughtiest nightlife strips – Hamburg city breaks are a tale of contrasts.

Hamburg city breaks

Lively nightlife. Check. UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Check. Designer-filled shopping streets. Check. You get the picture – Germany’s second-biggest city ticks a lot of boxes. Hamburg’s home to the country’s largest port, too, so with boats and ships from all four corners of the globe docked here, the city’s cosmopolitan feel is really no surprise.

Renowned nightlife

Hamburg’s nightlife is legendary, and its world-famous Reeperbahn is one of Europe’s best-known party hotspots. This neon-lit strip caught the world’s eye in the 1960s when The Beatles played a series of gigs here. Since then, the number of bars and clubs has rocketed, which means Hamburg’s now Germany’s go-to city for big nights out. Just around the corner from the strip, you’ll find some more unusual nightspots in the St Pauli district – the standout being a repurposed Second World War bunker.

By the riverside

The Elbe River cuts right through Hamburg, and its waterfront’s teeming with life. Breweries, museums and beach bars are all dotted along here – not to mention the city’s famous fish market that’s open first thing every Sunday. It’s often the first port of call for night owls heading home, as they stop off for a post-night-out seafood sandwich. If you’re aiming for the south side of the river, the best route is through the Old Elbe Tunnel. In a former life, it was used as a time-saving route for dock workers, but nowadays it’s fitted out with artwork and pop-up exhibitions.

Historic sights

Hamburg’s history can be traced back centuries, and the city’s been an important trading centre since the Middle Ages. The harbour’s still a hive of activity, but as well as the boats that dock and trade here, you’ll find a whole heap of things to see and do. Our pick of the lot is Speicherstadt – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s filled with Gothic-style brick warehouses. They house museums of all kinds, plus one of the world’s largest model railways.

Popular hotels in Hamburg

Top things to see and do in Hamburg

Shopping

Bargain buys

The Fischmarkt is one of the best places to bag a bargain in the city. It’s open every Sunday morning from 5am, and alongside the fish auction and the seafood stalls, there are plenty of traders selling souvenirs you can take home in your hand luggage.

Mid-range buys

Spitalerstrasse is right around the corner from the city’s main train station, and it’s filled with familiar high-street names from back home, like Mango, Lego and Zara, along with some local German brands.

Designer buys

Neuer Wall is the city’s premier street for shoppers with more expensive tastes. Every big brand worth its salt has a store along here, including the likes of Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani and Gucci.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

The Sternschanze and Karoviertel districts back on to each other, and pavement cafés, cocktail bars and theatre-style bars are the vibe in these parts.

Lively evenings

One place steals the show for lively nights out here – the world-famous Reeperbahn. It’s wall-to-wall bars, pubs and nightclubs along this half-mile-long strip, and its neighbouring streets make up the city’s red light district.

Food & drink

Fischbrotchen

It’s no surprise that seafood’s a staple in Hamburg, being a port city. This fish sandwich, in particular, is filled with herring fillets, pickles, onions and herby remoulade sauce. Arguably, the best place to grab one is from the city’s famous fish market, and it’s the locals’ go-to snack after a night out.

Franzbrotchen

This sweet pastry’s a bit of a local speciality, and you’ll find it in bakeries across the city. It’s a buttery cinnamon roll with a sugary dusting, and it’s often jazzed up with chocolate or raisins.

Astra

Every major city in Germany has a beer that its locals are loyal to, and Hamburg’s no exception. This smooth, Pilsner-style beer’s a fixture behind bars around the city. If you fancy one, look out for its signature heart-and-anchor logo and brown stubby bottles.

Rote Grutze

This fruity dessert adds a bit of zest to your afters. Red berries are the main ingredient – they’re simmered with sugar and cornflour to form a creamy texture. It’s then dolloped into bowls, and topped with fresh berries and a warm vanilla sauce.

Finkenwerder Scholle

This dish takes its name from Hamburg’s Finkenwerder district – a former fishing village to the southwest of the city centre. As you might’ve guessed, seafood’s the key ingredient here. Pan-fried plaice is cooked up with bacon, onions and shrimp, before being served with sliced potatoes and salad.

Facts about Hamburg

Currency

Euro

(EUR)

Language

German

Time zone

GMT +1

Flight duration

2 hours 15 minutes from Dublin