City Information

 

Hamburg

It´s all about the port: Germany´s second largest city has always been a global metropolis. The „Gate to the World“, as Hamburg is called, is indeed Germany´s link to the world, being one of Europe´s largest port towns on the banks of the Elbe River, just before it reaches the North Sea. The port is also Hamburg´s central attraction, a port ship-cruise should be part of any visit to the city, the HafenCity (PortCity) is a new town quarter emerging in and around the harbor´s former storage quarter (Speicherstadt).

Experience one of Europe´s most exquisite shopping avenues, the Jungfernstieg, and the Reeperbahn, one of the world´s most famous places for nightlife in St.-Pauli-district with its many bars, Varieté theatres and music clubs.

City Hall in all its magnificence is a witness to the town´s past as one of the richest cities in the medieval Hanseatic League, still present in the official name of the town: Hansestadt Hamburg. Not far from there stands St. Michaelis Church, Hamburg´s famous landmark and most popular sacral building of northern Germany, simply called „Michel“ by the people. The Kunsthalle (Art Hall) is Germany´s largest art museum and only one example of the many cultural highlights like Deichtorhallen Art Exhibition Center. Soon to be finished is the Elbphilharmonie, the new philharmonic concert hall right in the Elbe River, the true heart of the City of Hamburg.

References to Hamburg´s past as a gate to the New World can be found in BallinStadt, the museum city of the emigrants leaving from here. And the significance as a trading town can be experienced in the Spice Museum.

A stroll on the shores of Lake Alster, right in the heart of the city, shouldn´t be missed eiter, and be sure to be there when the famous Fischmarkt (fish market) opens on sunday morning, this is where the original Hamburg can be found.

For more information see www.hamburg-tourism.de/en

 

Dresden

Dresden has many faces. Home of the Saxonian kings of old. Gate to the Saxonian mountains towering over the Elbe river valley. Then there´s the Elbe River itself, dominating the city for many miles, nowhere else in Europe are there flooding plains inside a large city anymore except here, making the impressive breadth of the green plains on the river banks the perfect place to enjoy Dresden. One of Germany´s most famous bridges, the „Blue Wonder“ (Blaues Wunder), an old steel construction, spans the Elbe River here in Dresden.

The city is eternally connected with the Saxonian king August the Strong, a lover and collector of fine arts, who assembled such unimaginable splendour under his reign that a visit to the Historical Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe), where most of his treasures are on display today, might well take the best of one entire day.

The style and beauty of the royal era can still be felt all over the city centre. The famous Zwinger ensemble right on the shores of the river, hosting an impressive art collection, the Royal Palace alongside the Semper Opera House might well be one of Germany´s most famous views. And the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), symbol of the city´s destruction in February of 1945, has recently been completed.

But Dresden also has the Neustadt, a young, bustling quarter where young folk and students make themselves a creative home just across the bridge north of the Zwinger ensemble.

Wine is grown on the hills of the northern shores of the river and on a sunny day the vineyards will open and await visitors. Whoever´s not afraid of a couple of stairs is rewarded with magnificent views over the city and a glass of fine wine.

For more information see www.dresden.de/dtg/en