Looking ahead to summer 2021, My wife and I have a Baltic Cruise scheduled. My current thinking is to fly to Frankfurt and take the train to Bacharach for 4 nights. We will train to northern Germany for 4-5 nights, then train to Copenhagen where we will board the ship. The cruise ends at Copenhagen and we will fly via Iceland ( stay 2 nights ) and back to Denver.

My German professor ( I am auditing German classes - free to senior citizens! ) recommended Hamburg. I have been there for a couple of nights, but that was 42 years ago and I was primarily there for a conference. But when I mentioned Lubeck as a possibility, his eyes lit up and he gushed enthusiastically about it.

So my question is - should I stay in Hamburg for 4 nights and take a day trip to Lubeck, or do the revisers ned stay in Lubeck and day trip to Hamburg?

Lubeck is probably easier to grasp on a day trip than Hamburg.

https://flic.kr/p/X88pRx

Lübeck will keep you going for a day, maybe two if you do the sights intensively. Although it's very picturesque it's only a small city. There are a few things you can do there, though:
*the market in the square
*a ride in a lift to the top of the Petrikirche to see a panoramic view of the city.
*Read Buddenbrooks (by Thomas Mann) and visit the Buddenbrooks House (Thomas-Mann-Museum).
*Visit Café Niederegger, which specialises in its house-made marzipan (available all over Germany but this is where it comes from). Have a slice of cake and a marzipan coffee.
*See the Holstentor, which is a former medieval gate to the city. You can go inside and see a model of the city (Michael, that's where your photo comes from, doesn't it?).
*Shop in the little picturesque shops near the market square, in the street where you find Café Niederegger.

It's been a long time since I've been to Hamburg but it is a big city and has the charms of one. If you are into nightlife, St.-Pauli, which is the red light district, is 'exciting'. The Reeperbahn is the most prominent street but not to my taste. You can cruise the harbour, which is a working port, quite interesting. At night you can visit the Dom, which is a funfair, which is on three times a year. Eat Raucheraal (smoked eel) or Frikadeller (fried meat patties) from one of the food carts. The Beatles lived in Hamburg for a while and there is a Beatles tour. There is an indoor model railway which is very big. There is a brewery which you can tour also. I also understand that part of the harbour has been gentrified and that is somewhere to visit (Hafencity), but I haven't been there yet. In summer Planten un Blomen is the city's botanical garden. If you like music the Elbphilharmonie is a new building which is now a big tourist attraction. You could probably do all these things over the course of 2-3 days. I like Hamburg a lot but I've only ever just scratched the surface, whereas it's not hard to do Lübeck properly in a short space of time. Last time we were in Hamburg it was a December and we visited the Christmas markets and visited the Lego shop, which at the time was new to my daughter. I think adults can get some joy out of this too!

Lavandula

Lübeck has a lot more to offer than post #2 suggests. Let me add a couple more.

First of all, the new Hansa museum with its interactive exhibitions. Top class and a must see imho.
For art and history lovers, there is museum quarter St. Annen. And various smaller museums in historical houses, dedicated to celebrities who lived there, etc. A list with links is here: https://www.luebeck-tourism.de/culture/museums.html

Explore some of the many Gänge, the picturesque back lanes and yards with their small houses.

Visit the churches - St Marien is the most spectacular, St Jakobi the one that fascinated me most.

Visit the historical city hall.

Rent bikes, either cycle out to Travemünde and take the boat back, or the other way round, depending on the direction of the wind (important issue!) Along the way, don't miss the detour to the former fishermen's village of Gothmund with its thatched houses.
Or cycle along Trave or Wakenitz river.

All in all, the question is whether you prefer spending more time a big city with all its attractions, city life, cultural events and so on, in that case the choice whould be Hamburg as a base - or a small historical city with old world charm, which is Lübeck. It is really a personal choice. Hamburg is a fascinating city. Lübeck is a fascinating city. The choice is yours and really depends on your personal preferences.

Travemünde seen from the boat

One of many Gänge

Old town streetview - one of many

At Niederegger's
Lübeck images...

The must-have photo

Thatched houses in Gothmund

Biking to Travemünde with my travel companions

Return to Lübeck by boat at sunset

Vaults of Marienkirche, a miracle of brick gothic

I'd stay in Hamburg or along the Elbe and travel to Lubeck and Luneburg, both great visits. You may also like the UNESCO bioreserve off towards Berlin

WOW, quokka! What gorgeous photos. I'm dumbstruck. Thank you!

Many thanks for compliments! *blushes*

I'll better not get started on Hamburg. It is really a win-win decision.

Okay, can't resist...


Hamburg's city hall and centre, seen from Michel steeple

Landungsbrücken

Harbour cruise

Speicherstadt

Church of St Catherine

Evening in the harbour

Harbour ferry

Elbphilharmonie

Winter's day in Blankenese

Elbe shore in Blankenese

Agree with all that's been said. Found both cities delightful (after steering clear of Hamburg for years based on bad advice). Why not consider splitting your time between the two and doing 2 days in each?