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Best time to fly to Hamburg

The best time of year to visit Hamburg is between May and September when the climate is warm and mild, the city is abuzz with festivals and urban beach bars open their doors.

The only thing to keep in mind is that the warmer weather attracts more tourists, and flight and hotel prices tend to be higher during this time, so make sure to book your tickets to Hamburg well in advance if you plan to travel in the summer.

If you’d prefer to book flights to Hamburg outside peak season, the fall months of October to December are cooler yet equally charming. There are typically fewer tourists around, and there’s still plenty to do.

The exceptions to this are Oktoberfest and the buildup to Christmas when visitors flock to the famous Hamburg Christmas markets.

The spring months of March, April and May are also pleasant – blossoms emerge and riverside cafes come to life. Your coat might still be needed though, as temperatures can be cooler!

Getting around Hamburg

Traveling on foot is one of the best ways to see the city, but fortunately, you can also take advantage of the extensive public transport system if you need.

Transport in the metropolitan area is operated by HVV (Hamburger Verkehrsverbundand), which is comprised of buses, subways and light rail, plus commuter trains.

The Hamburg City Pass gives you access to the top attractions in the city, with access to public transport included. This includes travel on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, harbor ferries, buses and airport transfers.

Rideshare and private taxi services are also available, with city cabs and MOIA (which is the Hamburg equivalent of Uber) being the two major options.

Traveling by rental car is possible but is not recommended as there can be quite some traffic during peak traveling hours.

Things to do in Hamburg

There's no mistaking the grandeur of Hamburg's waterfront location - the city built great wealth on its port, and today it's the second-biggest metropolis in Germany. The water influences all, from the huge dockside warehouses to the seafood menus. This harborside city has lots of history and plenty to explore, including more bridges than any other city in Europe.

Between the Rathaus and the red-light Reeperbahn, fish markets and flea markets, harbor tours and HafenCity - Hamburg will keep you busy. The elaborate Rathaus (town hall) is a good starting place: it was built in the 1890s when Hamburg was flourishing as a trade port. Contrast this with the dazzling, ultra-modern Elbphilharmonie concert hall, a landmark seemingly topped by a giant glass wave. Visit for a stellar city view.

More architectural highlights are in the warehouse district of Speicherstadt. These enormous red-brick complexes have Unesco World Heritage recognition, and a boat tour offers a scenic way to appreciate them. Bucking the trend that bigger is better: Miniatur Wunderland is an incredibly popular model railway exhibition and a truly magical attraction that's rich in detail.

Shopping in Hamburg

One of the best shopping stops is the Flohschanze, a Saturday flea market held along Neuer Kamp street in the Karolineviertel, just south of Sternschanze. Take a stroll around this area for fun shops and cafes with a creative, hipster vibe.

For a different feel, head to the boutique-laden, arcaded Jungfernstieg promenade, which joins to the city's mainstream shopping strip, Mönkebergstrasse.

Be sure to cruise Neuer Wall to see the best of Hamburg's luxury shopping scene.

And for something more local, the street named Lange Reihe near the central station has a couple of stores selling cute items which were made in Hamburg.

What to eat in Hamburg

Contrary to popular belief – the modern ‘Hamburger’ as we know it was not invented in the city, though it is said influenced by a traditional Hamburg method of preparing minced beef.

However, there are plenty of hamburger joints scattered over the city if you can’t resist the urge.

Alternatively, get a fried-fish sandwich for a real taste of the city - there are vendors all over, especially around the port.

Another uber-local taste is the Franzbrötchen, a flat croissant laced with cinnamon.

And a trip to Germany wouldn’t be complete without a Shnitzel or Appel Strudel – so make sure to try those on your travels.

Top rated eateries

There's no escaping the seafaring heritage of the city at Hamburg's noisy, atmospheric Fischmarkt in St Pauli. It requires an early start (with the market kicking off around 5am), but as an institution of the city since 1703, Fischmarkt is well worth a visit.

In summer sunshine it's hard to beat a picnic in the flower-filled Planten un Blomen park.

For picnic fare and leisurely grazing, check out the twice-weekly Isemarkt in Eppendorf - it's one of Europe's largest farmers markets, with some 200 stalls stretching an impressive half a mile.

Close to Speicherstadt, the cobbled Deichstrasse is good hunting ground at dinnertime.

For a fresher feel, hit the uber-cool Sternschanze neighborhood (also known as Schanzenviertel or simply Schanze).