The city's most exclusive hotel is The Atlantic on the Aussenalster, a myriad of culinary newcomers can be found between the fish market and Övelgönne, and shoppers are drawn to the Karoviertel - Hamburg's new designer quarter. A boat trip on the Alster fills the lungs with fresh air, while a harbour cruise inspires ocean-going dreams. Outings to Planten un Blomen recreational park and the famous zoo Hagenbeck's Tierpark are also worthwhile.
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Germany's leading weekly news magazine „Der Spiegel“, the biggest illustrated magazine „Stern,“ the renowned weekly newspaper „Die Zeit,“ the highest-circulation tabloid „Bild“ - they all come from Hamburg. Springer, Gruner & Jahr and Bauer, account for 50 percent of the German press. And the German press agency dpa also has its headquarters in Hamburg. The city is an important media centre with over 10,000 mediarelated companies. Two particularly promising areas of growth are the film and multimedia industries.
Bricks, glass and steel, baroque, Renaissance and Jugendstil - Hamburg's architecture has many faces. The red-brick building style is typical of the early twentieth century. The best example is the historical warehouse quarter, while the city centre is characterized by baroque churches, the town Hall in Renaissance style and whole streets with Jugendstil buildings. Accents are set by spectacular new buildings, such as the StadtLagerhaus and the Kaffeehaus. But the biggest project is still on the drawing board: the futuristic Hafencity in former dockland areas will increase the inner city by 40 percent.
The harbour anniversary, Hamburg Cathedral and celebrations on the Alster - these are all regular festivals in Hamburg's calendar. The Hafenfest guarantees a weekend full of fun around May 7th. Hamburg Cathedral fair with its stalls and carousels takes place in spring, summer and winter, while the Alster celebrations take place at the end of August.
The USA and the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China and the Principality of Monaco - almost 100 countries have consulates in Hamburg, the proverbial „gateway to the world.“ Thanks mainly to its functions as a port and trading centre Hamburg now ranks second only to New York with its concentration of consular representatives.
24 hours a day, 365 days a year - Hamburg's heart is its harbour. Hamburg harbour is by far the most important in Germany, and with its container turnover figures it belongs to the top ten in the world ranking list. 100 million tonnes were handled last year. The harbour area covers 87 square kilometres, about one tenth of the whole city state, and some 140,000 jobs depend on it. About 12,000 ocean-going vessels put in to Hamburg harbour every year. The centrepiece of the harbour is the „free port.“ Within this area shipping and goods can be dealt with free of customs formalities. The planned „Hafencity“ will result in changes in the customs borders. The storehouse area will be separated from the free port.
Soho, Pigalle, Las Vegas - St Pauli has a bit of everything. In the clubs, cafés and casinos on Hamburg's famous Reeperbahn the night is turned into day - and when that's over, it's time to move on to the legendary fish market in the early hours of Sunday morning. Customers can buy fish, fruit and vegetables from the vociferous stallholders.
Impressive stage designs, incredible effects, fantastic costumes, thrilling music - Hamburg's musicals attract two million visitors a year. The program includes the international Disney hit „The Lion King“, „Dance of the Vampires“ after Roman Polanski's film, and the love story „Mamma mia!“ with Abba's 22 greatest hits.
