Trips in and around the city of Hamburg

Enjoy the sea and sun on the beach in Hamburg

The urban beaches of Hamburg are miniature artificial paradises constructed with tons of imported sand and palm trees. The district of St Pauli is one of the best nightlife venues of Hamburg and the Beach Club Strand Pauli is located on the banks of the Elbe River. The beach is just a five minute walk from the Landungsbrücken U-Bahn station. You can sunbathe in a Strandkörbe, a traditional wicker seat, while enjoying German sausages and beer and listening to the pumping music from the many beach bars around the area. Hamburg City Beach Club is near the old docks in Altona. The Altona’s Strandperle is a much more casual beach hangout compared to other more sophisticated beach bars which are found throughout the city in summer.

Trips inside Hamburg City

There are so many places to visit in Hamburg that you may wonder where to start. For a cultural experience you can visit the various museums in the city. Begin your holiday with short trips in Hamburg City before venturing outside it for the more distant attractions. All the structures surrounding the river Alster are coloured white and their roofs are covered with copper to maintain the picturesque view. Take boat trips on the Alster and view the beauty of the water encircled by the attractive buildings, trees and green parks. Water sports are popular here. You can rent canoes, rowboats and kayaks from any of the many rental outlets here. The Hamburg port is a hotspot for cruise lovers. Enjoy pleasure trips aboard the many cruise liners offering day trips to nearby destinations. In case of rain, you can head over to the Miniatur Wunderland to see the world's largest model railway exhibit.

Short day trips from Hamburg

A short 45 minute trip from Hamburg can take you to Bispingen. An ideal destination for skiing and snowboarding, Bispingen is relatively much less crowded than the main ski resorts. There are some good cafes and restaurants around the place that serve traditional fare like Apfelstrudel, Eintopf and Kasespatzle.
The peaceful town of Bremen is also just over an hour away from Hamburg. Take your time to experience the local culture and old world charm of a town that seems suspended in time. There are a many interesting places to visit like the historic Alstadt and the Marktplatz.

Schwerin and Berlin

You can take trips from Hamburg to Schwerin by bus. The journey will take you a little more than an hour. One of the most gorgeous castles in Germany, Schwerin was once the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburg. The city of Schwerin is surrounded by lakes and the opulent Schwerin Castle is located on an island in the lake. There are many remarkable places of interest here such as the Alter Garten square, the Altes Palais, the neoclassical State Art Museum and the Staatstheater. Schwerin Cathedral, constructed in red brick Gothic style, is another popular attraction in this city.
Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is just a 2 hour trip from Hamburg. You can consider visiting the Pergamon Museum or the Stasi Museum on a weekday to avoid the crowds. The Stasi Museum, now a research and memorial centre, used to be the head quarters of the German secret police. Do not miss the chance to dine at the Mani Restaurant famed for its authentic German cuisine.

Author: Ricardo Carvalho

Guest Relation Manager of NH Collection Hamburg City

In Hamburg we say “Moin”! My name is Ricardo Carvalho and I'm a “Hamburg Jung” (Hamburg boy) with Portuguese roots. I was born here, and I live in and love Hamburg.
In order to share my enthusiasm for the city, I started training as a hotel specialist at the NH Hamburg Altona in 2007, and moved to the NH Collection Hamburg City in 2015.
With the philosophy of the NH Collection brand as well as the special service Guest Relations offers I have found my perfect job! I am always happy to show my guests the most beautiful city in the world and enjoy making their visit to Hamburg as memorable as possible.