Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg-Famous Tourist Destination for Domestic/International Visitors

Hamburg the second largest city in Germany and the eighth largest city in European Union is a famous tourist destination for domestic as well as international visitors and ranks 16th in the world for liveability in 2015.It is the second smallest German state in terms of area having a population of over 1.7 million inhabitants. The Hamburg Metropolitan Region comprising of parts of the neighbouring Federal States of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, tend to have over 5 million people.

The city is located on the river Elbe. The city of Hamburg has earned a well-deserved reputation as Germany’s Gateway to the World and is the biggest port as well as the second busiest in Europe, inspite of being placed across the River Elbe which is 100 kilometres from the North Sea. Hamburg is full of pride of its status as a `Free and Hanseatic City’ and tends to share the same status as a province, making it one of the 16 federal states or Bundeslander of Germany.

The official name Freie and Hansestadt Hamburg – Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg reflects its history as a member of the medieval Hanseatic League, as a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire, a city-state as well as one of the 16 states of Germany.

Transport Hub & Affluent City in Europe

Earlier to 1871 Unification of Germany, it had been a fully sovereign state and preceding the constitutional changes in 1919, the severe civic republic had been ruled by a class of hereditary grand burghers or Hanseaten. Hamburg is said to be a transport hub and an affluent city in Europe and has become a media and industrial centre with plants as well as facilities belonging to Airbus, Blohm + Voss and Aurubis.

Hamburg is also an important financial centre for centuries and the seat of the second oldest bank in the world namely Berenberg Bank which is second to Berlin in size and population. It is also a home to one of the biggest harbours in Europe. With one of the most important harbours in Europe as well as the world, Hamburg takes pride in its mercantile background that had been responsible for the wealth of the city in ancient times.

From 1241 onwards, it had been the member of the Hanseatic League, a medieval trade monopoly through Northern Europe. Towards the 19th and start of the 20th century, millions of the inhabitants had left Europe while on their way to the new world via the Hamburg harbour. Presently the harbour ranks second in Europe and eleventh in the world.

Richest Metropolitan Region – European Union

After experiencing its several waterways as well as canals, one would get to know why it has been called the `Venice of the North’. The Fischmarkt, the local fish market should not be missed at this destination together with the Merchants District which has been marked by its imposing red brick architecture.

 An amazing dining experience beside the river of a night out in the university quarter should also not be missed. Being a major port city in northern Germany, it is connected by the Elbe River to the North Sea and is crossed by hundreds of canals as well as contains large spaces of parkland.

 The central Junfernstieg Boulevard tends to connect the old town – Altstadt and the Neustadt, passing Binnenalster Lake scattered with boats with cafes and restaurants around it. The local specialities are oyster and traditional Aalsuppe – soup. Hamburg is said to be one of the richest metropolitan region in the European Union in the company of Brussels as well as London.