About the Chapter

With a population of 1.8 million, Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city after Berlin. Located by the river Elbe and the Alster lake, the Hanseatic city can look back on a rich history spanning 1,200 years. It is home to Europe’s second-largest port with ultra-modern terminals that largely handle containers. The port is Hamburg’s main economic sector alongside other major companies such as Airbus, Norddeutsche Affinerie, publishers such as Springer and Gruner & Jahr and a number of universities and colleges.

The St. Michaelis Church, also known locally as the “Michel”, is situated near to the port and is considered one of Hamburg’s famous landmarks along with the entertainment and red-light district of St. Pauli with the renowned Reeperbahn.

Hamburg is a cultural city with a whole range of theatres, musicals, museums, music clubs and public events such as the Hafengeburtstag (the port’s birthday) or the Alstervergnügen (Alster fair).

Hamburg is also a great place to live with inner-city districts each with their own individual flair and suburbs offering a place to live in green-belt areas. The large bodies of water (the Elbe, Alster and a number of canals) flow through the entire city while also navigating a series of parks such as the Stadtpark (city park) and Planten un Blomen. The port itself is currently being redeveloped with parts of it being transformed into an ultra-modern district known as the Hafencity. Hamburg – the gateway to the world – is a multi-facetted city offering visitors a wide range of attractions and experiences.