Hamburg: Things To Do

Alster Lake Cruises Take in some of the Hamburg’s most bourgeois villas and prettiest gardens during a cruise along the Binnenalster and Aussenalster lakes. Altstadt/Neustadt; Anleger Jungfernstieg; 011-49-40-35-74-24-0; www.alstertouristik.de
tour | historic | boat tour

BallinStadt A short subway ride from the Atlstadt, this museum’s exhibits describe the mass emigration from Hamburg to the United States that took place the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Computers help guests research their own family roots – German or otherwise. Just outside the Altstadt, Veddeler Bogen 2; 011-49-40-31-97-916-0; www.ballinstadt.de
museum | historic | geneology

Hamburger Kunsthalle Gallery of Contemporary Art From the old masters to classical modern and 19th-century art, Hamburg’s most stately and revered museum appeals to culture vultures. There are free guided tours Sundays at 4pm. Altstadt; Glockengiesserwall; 011-49-40-428-131-200; www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de
culture | gallery | museum | art

Miniatur Wunderland Model Train Museum With 900 mini signals and 2,800 buildings and bridges, the world’s largest model train collection inspires awe at this Neustadt museum. Among the cities rendered in miniature here are Las Vegas, Miami and Hamburg itself. Neustadt; Kehrwieder 2-4; 011-49-40-300-680-0; www.miniatur-wunderland.de
family | museum

Musicals Hamburg is Germany’s musical city, and tourists come from across Europe to see productions such as the Mamma Mia, Dirty Dancing and the Lion King, the latter of which is permanently staged at Musicaltheater im Hafen. Neustadt; Musicaltheater im Hafen, Norderelbstrasse 6; 011-49-40-180-544-44; www.loewenkoenig.de
theater | smart splurge | live entertainment | musicals

Reeperbahn You can’t visit Hamburg without strolling this sex-charged street – arguably Europe’s largest red light district. There’s a definite fringe element with the sex-toy stores and the prostitutes, but some of Hamburg’s best bars and restaurants are just off the Reeperbahn. St. Pauli; Reeperbahn street between Peper-Mohlenbeck and Zirkusweg
trendy | red-light district | bars | restaurants

St. Pauli Fischmarkt You’ve never seen a Sunday morning party like the one at the Elbe River seafood market. Live bands perform, bratwursts sizzle and beer flows from 5:30am till about 9am as revelers mix with retailers by the Fischmarkt stalls. St. Pauli; Grosse Elbstrasse 137; 011-49-40-38012-0; www.fischmarkt-hamburg.de
culinary | trendy | market | live music