Best in 2 to 3 Days

Best in 2 to 3 Days

Start at the Alster Lakes and head toward the main shopping boulevards of Jungfernstieg and Mönckebergstrasse. A short walk south of Mönckebergstrasse takes you to the majestic Rathaus and its square, while a brief walk north on the same street leads to the equally impressive Hauptbahnhof. To the southeast, the Kontorhausviertel is one of the nicest parts of town, a collection of old brick warehouses dating back to the 1920s. On your second day, take a quick tour of the Freihafen Hamburg, Hamburg's port. Compare the port's modern warehouses with their antique counterparts on photogenic Deichstrasse in the Altstadt (Old City). You may want to inspect at least one of the city's great churches; a good choice is the city's premier baroque landmark, St. Michaeliskirche. Finally, head over to the Landungsbrücken, the starting point for boat rides in the harbor and along the Elbe River. And don't leave Hamburg without a jaunt down St. Pauli's Reeperbahn.

If You Have 3 Days

Begin watching wild animals roam free at Hagenbecks Tierpark. Equally green are the two parks, Planten un Blomen and the Alter Botanischer Garten, in the business district. After exploring the downtown's other attractions, from the Alster Lakes to the Hauptbahnhof, detour to the Kunsthalle and the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, both showcasing some of the best art in Germany. Devote your second day to historic Hamburg and the harbor. Take in the docks and don't miss the 19th-century warehouses of the Speicherstadt. After a walk among the charming houses on Deichstrasse, continue on to the meticulously restored Krameramtswohnungen, the late-medieval Shopkeepers' Guild Houses. Next, visit the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte for an excellent overview of the city's dramatic past. Save your third day for St. Pauli. Board one of the boats at the Landungsbrücken for a sightseeing tour through the harbor. One evening should be spent along the Reeperbahn, perhaps including the Erotic Art Museum, one of the few tasteful displays of eroticism on the strip.