One of the best ways to explore Hamburg is to take a boat trip around its famous harbor. Alternatively, you can check out some of its most popular attractions on foot.
The city has plenty of architecturally significant buildings that are worth a visit. Some of these include St. Michael’s Church, which is renowned for its 132-meter-high tower that doubles as a viewing platform.
St. Nicholas Church
Located on the Zeughausmarkt in Hamburg’s Harvestehude district, St. Nikolai Church is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
The Gothic Revival-style structure sehenswürdigkeiten hamburg was built in the neo-Gothic style by English architect George Gilbert Scott and was completed in 1874. It was also the tallest architectural structure in the world for two years before being surpassed by the Rouen Cathedral building in France.
A glass elevator takes visitors up the spire, which is the fifth highest in the world at 76 meters and offers a spectacular view of the port, the Alster lakes and Hamburg’s historic centre. The viewing platform is adorned with historical photos of the attacks on Hamburg by Allied bombers during operation Gomorrah in 1943.
During the Allied heavy air raids on Hamburg from 24-29 July 1943 (Operation Gomorrah), the church was heavily damaged, but its crypt and tall-spired tower remained relatively unscathed. These ruins now serve as a memorial and an important landmark for the city.
The Elbe Tunnel
The first river tunnel on the continent, the Old Elbe Tunnel connects central Hamburg with docks and shipyards on the south side of the river. Opened in 1911, the 426-meter-long (1,398-foot) tunnel runs 24 meters (80 feet) underneath the river’s surface.
Since its opening, the Elbe Tunnel has been a symbol of engineering art and has been placed under a preservation order. It continues to inspire film teams and people looking for an unusual experience.
Visitors can ride a free lift down 80 feet into the deep, or use hydraulically driven cages for a small fee to drive down to the bottom of the tunnel. A popular tourist attraction, the Old Elbe Tunnel is a great way to explore hamburg from a unique perspective.
Construction of the Elbe Tunnel began in 1907 with 4,400 workers toiling beneath the Elbe. The project was a major engineering feat, but it was also a dangerous one for the workers. They worked under pressure to keep the Elbe from flooding the tunnel construction.
The Firefighting Ship Museum
The Firefighting Ship Museum is an educational institution that focuses on maritime history and ships. Located in the city’s oldest warehouse, the museum has a variety of exhibits and displays that explore the history of Hamburg and the sea.
The museum also has a simulator where visitors can steer a container ship around the world. In addition, there are many historical artifacts, including letters from British admiral Horatio Nelson and a pure gold model of the Santa Maria.
Another popular museum in hamburg is the Miniatur Wunderland, which features detailed scenes of different countries and locations throughout the world. The museum is constantly expanding and adding new landscapes, so you can always find something new to see.
The Reeperbahn is a popular theater district in Hamburg that attracts people from all over the country. The street is known for its live music and theater performances, and has a rich history as a sailors’ quarter.
The International Maritime Museum
Located in a huge red-brick heritage warehouse, the International Maritime Museum is home to more than 3,000 years of man’s nautical history. Originally started as the private collection of Peter Tamm, it now contains a vast array of artifacts, model ships and maritime paintings.
Visitors can explore a 3,000-year-old dugout and a reproduction of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s lifeboat from his trans-Antarctic expedition on level nine, as well as the world’s largest bone ship collection on deck eight. Other exhibits showcase artwork by marine painters from the Netherlands, Great Britain and Germany.
The nine exhibition decks, which are spread over a 10 storey building, reveal a wealth of maritime history. Whether it’s the voyages of discovery, from navigation and communication to sailing ships and historic costumes, or modern seafaring, from trading to passenger shipping, you’ll learn everything there is to know about the history of the world marine on each of these levels.
Comments are closed.