For more than 800 years, the port has been the heart of Hamburg. The best way to discover it is to take a guided tour. But if you want to look at ships in particular, head for the Schulau Ferry House. Here, every big ship is greeted with its own national anthem.

The district of St. Pauli is a firm favorite with early birds and night owls,  who all like to converge on the fish market at the crack of dawn every Sunday. In addition to fish, the market sells just about everything. St Pauli is also home to the Reeperbahn, a tourist magnet with bars, clubs, discos and theaters.

Downtown Hamburg boasts many beautiful old buildings, testifying to its proud past as a center of trade. The City Hall is said to have more rooms than Buckingham Palace. Right behind it is the oldest stock exchange in Germany, opened in 1558.

From Visit Germany
Editor: Sue Cox