Situated on the banks of the River Elbe, not far inland from the North Sea coast, Hamburg is Germany’s largest and most important northern city. Almost entirely flattened by WWII bombs, Hamburg luckily retains lots of traditional charm lying side-by-side with modernity and boasts many impressive buildings in the form of churches and interesting museums.

The city topography is all about water with a bustling harbour and many city rivers and lakes, while numerous parks and gardens lie strewn about. Most people tend to stick to the city centre, which is split in two by the Alsterfleet Canal and features the Altstadt (Old City) to the south of it and the Neustadt (New City) to the north.

The neo-Renaissance Rathaus lies in the old town and is one of the highlights while the new town is better known for its baroque forms, the most impressive of which is the massive Michaeliskirche church, the largest in northern Germany. Other popular highlights include the Kunstmeile (Art Mile), with its many galleries and museums, the 14^th century St Jacobi Kirche church, and the interesting Rickmer Rickmers ship.

There are also many pleasant areas to wander around the city, such as the Alsterarkaden with its delightful Venetian architecture and interesting shopping, the alley quarter (Backerbreitergang) in the new town, which was spared WWII bombing and ambitious development, and the notorious Reeperbahn, best known for its wild nightlife.

There’s also lots to do for families with kids in Hamburg owing to the fascinating collection of parks, leisure centres, weird and wonderful museums and, of course, the huge port area itself. The town also has shopping prowess with a large collection of glitzy malls in the Neustadt and a plethora of trendy boutiques and natty markets to boot.

Hotel options in Hamburg are perhaps not as great as some other cities in Germany, as it can be expensive to stay within the confines of the city centre with only mid-range and up hotels in evidence. Those seeking budget options can find them in the suburbs of Altona, Hohenfelde, Sankt Georg and St Pauli. As Hamburg has a very good transport system, getting around is quite easy..

It is essential that you book any hotels well ahead of time though, as the city is generally full even at non-peak times of the year. The best way to do this is to book hotels online where you can guarantee a room with ease and save significantly at the same time.

Hamburg International Airport provides the main gateway for getting to Hamburg and receives flights from all over Europe and farther afield. The airport is only just outside the city with good transport options as well as car hire. You can also get here by train since services come in from neighbouring countries and other German cities, while ferries also serve from the UK.

Hamburg has seen a lot of destruction throughout its thousand-year or so history, with invasions, wars, fires, floods, and bombings all featuring in its misery and eventual mass development. It has a key location on the North Sea which made it a target for invading armies as well as seeing it as a major port. The city state also saw much destruction from Allied bombs in WWII and was the exit point for millions of Europeans seeking out the New World.

Hamburg is a 1,000 year-old city dating back to the 9^th century, when a moated fortress (Hammaburg) was built. This lead to the building of settlements all around the fort although not much happened on a large scale until the city’s positioning on the River Elbe was fully realised.

By the 12^th century Hamburg had become one of Europe’s main port towns after officials were granted free trade and exemptions from customs in 1189. Hamburg became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1241, giving it independent political power along with scores of other towns in northern Europe who were also in ‘the league’.

The 19^th century was a turbulent time for Hamburg where it was invaded and destroyed by fire. Napoleon occupied the city in the early 1800s and although some good came of it in the form of democratic reforms, the economy suffered greatly. Then there was the Great Fire of 1842 which razed a third of the entire city and killed many. Hamburg’s port was particularly busy in the 19^th and 20^th centuries; through it literally millions left Europe on their way to the New World.

More hardship was also to come in the following century after the Allies flattened much of the city at the end of WWII, which also left many thousands dead. The Great Flood of 1962 added further to the general misery when much of northern Germany, and Hamburg in particular, ended up underwater.

Hamburg today has never had it better; it is a world city with one of the biggest and most important harbours as well as being one of Germany’s media capitals and a tourist hotspot.

Hamburg’s northerly location makes it one of the chillier climes in Germany with often wet and windy weather coming in from the North Sea. Summer daytime temperatures are pleasant and low while winter is popular with skiers for the nearby Harz Mountains.

If warm weather is necessary while visiting Hamburg, get here between May and September when daily averages hover around the low 20s (°C). Most rain hits in July and August so May and June are good for the weather and less crowds.

Hamburg winters are cold and the mercury frequently drops below 0°C. Snowfall is rarely heavy in Hamburg yet the Alster lakes in the city centre of town often freeze over enough for locals to enjoy skating on them.