A weekend in Hamburg!

Germany’s ‘Gateway to the world’, Hamburg is home to the largest port in the country. It’s legacy stems from the Middle Ages when it became an important trading post. However, the city offers much more than that. Hamburg is a city of contrasts; the old town and it’s new modern architecture such as Elbe Philharmonic Hall. Picturesque parks with lakes and the largest warehouse complex in the world. There is something for everyone in the city.

Hamburg Card

In preparation for your trip, I’d recommend purchasing The Hamburg Card. This gives you unlimited travel throughout the city and discounts on attractions and tours. We had our Hamburg cards at the ready making it easy to get around and explore.

Speicherstadt

The large warehouse complex of Speicherstadt is not only the largest in the world but also a Unesco World Heritage site.You may recognise this classic view of the warehouses towering over the canals with their distinct architecture and red-bricks reflecting in the water.
This is a lovely area to discover on foot as many of the buildings are home to small cafes and shops to stop in along the way.

Kunsthalle Hamburg
If you enjoy taking in art on your travels, you must check out one of Germany’s largest galleries – Kunsthalle Hamburg.
The Kuntshalle houses exhibitions of all major periods from Renaissance to contemporary art.Wandering around each of the grand buildings that are linked by an underground passage, you are able to delve into the range of works displayed. There is something for all art lovers!

Alster Lake
Where the Alster river meets the Elbe, there is a picturesque lake in the heart of the city. Surrounding the lake is an elegant residential area which creates a peaceful atmosphere.
This is a great spot to relax and hang out on a sunny day!

The Chocoversum

The Chocoversum is a chocolate museum, where you can take a guided tour and find out about how chocolate is made. The best moment of visiting The Chocoversum is when you are able to make your own chocolate bar adding as many combinations of flavours that you want. This is a great place to spend a couple of hours, especially if you have children with you. If you are tight on time, I would suggest skipping this in favour of exploring the city.

Sky Bar
Whenever I visit a new place, I am always looking for somewhere that I can enjoy a cocktail with amazing views. As you can imagine, sky bars are some of my favourite spots. Head to one of Hamburg’s sky bars to enjoy the sunset and take in the city views.
The perfect end to a day of discovering the city.

Reeperbahn
If you want to party in Hamburg, head to the Reeperbahn which is known as the world’s most sinful mile. This is where you will find a ton of different bars and nightlife. We ended up in a cowboy themed bar where a German rock band were playing – it was a lot of fun!

Where we stayed

We stayed at The Reichshof Hamburg which has an air of aristocratic chic as soon as you enter the lobby.The rich history of the hotel is present throughout the interior, blending art deco designs with modern influences. Our room was spacious, decorated in stylish natural tones and modern style elements. The lights beside the bed added a unique touch to the space. The rooms are equipped with large (and super comfortable) king size beds, coffee making facilities, Wifi and complimentary toiletries. Breakfast is served in Stadt Restaurant, where there are freshly made dishes focusing on the use of high quality local ingredients. There is something that everyone will enjoy, from typical German fare to vegan options and everything I tried was delicious. The Reichsof Hamburg is a perfect base for exploring the city, it is within walking distance of Alster Lake, the Rathaus and many other galleries.I truly enjoyed staying in this elegant hotel, however, after we left my friend realised that money had been taken from her bag that she had left in the room the entire time. This was obviously really upsetting, as it was not a small sum of money to her. It left me feeling very disappointed that somebody would steal from a guest.

Hence, I have mixed feelings with regards to the hotel. I think it is a lovely place to stay in a great location, but I would urge anybody staying here to be very cautious with your valuables.  It is a harsh reminder to us all to be extra vigilant and always use a safe when staying in hotels!

The Verdict

Hamburg is a perfect place for a weekend getaway, there is a multitude of things to do and see, the transport system is easy to use and you can explore on foot without feeling overwhelmed. I hope you enjoyed my favourite discoveries, so you know how to spend your time in the city.

Have you ever been to Hamburg? 

Disclaimer: We were invited by Come to Hamburg and received a complimentary stay at The Reichshof Hamburg. However, as always all opinions and photography are my own and I will always share my honest experiences.