Hamburg International Airport is one of Germany and Europe's main hubs with numerous flights arriving from dozens of international destinations. There are four terminals at the airport with Terminal 1 serving domestic and European destinations, terminals 2 and 3 for both domestic and international services and Terminal 4 for long haul flights. A free shuttle bus connects the terminals.

Passenger facilities at Hamburg International Airport are comprehensive and include currency exchange, ATMs, banks, business services, shops, bars and restaurants, with Terminal 4 having the best amenities.

Hamburg Airport is just six miles north of the city centre and public transport includes the Airport Express, which runs every 15 minutes to Hamburg’s central train station, as well as a night bus. Although there is no direct rail link with the airport, nearby Ohlsdorf station is well connected by bus number 100; from here trains run regularly to the city centre.

Car hire is also widely available at the airport with virtually every popular make and model of saloon available as well as online booking. The route from the airport to the city centre makes use of the B433 and the Rothenbaum Chaussee, a 10km (six-mile) journey.

The U-Bahn rail system (Hamburger HochBahn) is the most useful form of public transport within Hamburg and it has three lines - U1, U2 and U3. The U-Bahn is also complemented by the S-Bahn service, which runs independently but connects at Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and Hamburg-Altona.

Both systems run throughout the week between 04:30 and midnight every five minutes, and 24 hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights and during public holidays. The underground has a service every five minutes while S-Bahn trains run every 10 minutes in central Hamburg and every 20 minutes outside the city.

Like the trains, buses in Hamburg are also very efficient and run throughout the day and night. While the trains have the inner-city well covered, those who plan on travelling further afield would be better off going by bus as they cover the entire region extensively.

Taxis can be hailed in the street in Hamburg as well as taken from one of the many ranks in town. In addition, taxis can generally be seen outside the city’s big hotels, at the bus and train stations and at the airport. Taxi fares in Hamburg are cheaper then other prominent German cities although it is still expensive to travel by taxi for the duration.

Ferries ply the harbour and River Elbe with six regular public transport services in operation. Ferry 62 is one of the most useful, running from Landungsbrücken to Finkenwerder.

The 'Hamburg Card' provides unlimited use of public transport in the city as well as access to some popular attractions. For those aged under 30, the 'Power Pass Card' is also useful, providing unlimited travel as well as savings on food, drink, and entry to many of Hamburg's nightspots.

Hamburg’s many waterways, parks, pedestrianised areas and bike-friendly roads also make getting about by bicycle a pleasure. On a pleasant day one can see a lot by bike and there are several places in and around town that rent them out by the hour or day.

The Lower Saxony region of Germany is beautiful and touring it by hire car can be a wonderful experience, with numerous picturesque villages and towns that are not all that far from Hamburg city. Car hire in Hamburg is best done ahead of time online, where you can have your vehicle waiting for you at the airport or at your hotel through major car rental companies.