Hamburg: Cheap Flight Destination, Great City
With bargain flights to and from the north German city, there is little reason not to pay a visit to this delightful place.
What to do in Hamburg
Hamburg is a very cycle friendly city and on a fine day it’s a great idea to take one of the many StadtRAD bicycles, found across the city, out for a spin. The first half an hour is free and afterwards it’s only 8 cents a minute or €12 for the whole day. Use them to have a leisurely cycle around the large lake, ‘Binnen-Alster’ or to head up to the charming botanical gardens ‘Planten un Blomen’.
For any football fans out there, you have two very good options to choose from should your stay collide with the German footballl season. Hamburger SV play in the hugely impressive Volksparkstadion, renovated in 1998.
It holds a little over 57,000 on matchdays and this includes over 10,000 safe standing spaces. About six kilometres to the south east you will find the home of St Pauli, a club who have developed a large cult following. Unlike their city rivals, they are in the second tier of German football but the atmosphere in the stadium often makes up for the lower quality of play.
Speaking of St Pauli, this is one part of Hamburg you definitely want to visit. It’s a very quirky part of town with its own distinct character, full of unique shops and bars. Take a stroll through the streets there and also drop by the Hamburger Dom which is next to the St Pauli underground stop. The Dom is a hugely entraining fun fair with some great rides, delicious bratwurst and plenty of beer.
Another one of Hamburg’s more quirky treasures is the Miniatur Wunderland. It may not seem like your cup of tea at first but the world’s largest model railway exhibition is an overwhelming hit with visitors. The attention to detail on the tiny figurines, the smooth running mechanics and the sheer size of the place which boasts 100,000 moving vehicles is wonderful and well worth the €13 entry.
Hamburg: When to visit
Hamburg isn’t one of Europe’s most well visited tourist spots so even in the summer things shouldn’t be too busy. Cheap flights are available year round although sometimes they need booking a little while in advance. You can’t go wrong with any time between May and September due to the pleasant temperatures, perfect for hiring out a boat on the Binnen-Alster.
Best places to eat in Hamburg
Other Backpacking City Break Ideas
Erika’s Eck is the place to go if ever you find yourself in the north of the city. There’s plenty on the menu including some huge schnitzels and a XL currywurst, all available at very fair prices. If you ever fancy a change from German food, Mr Cherng’s very popular all you can eat Chinese & Thai buffet lunch is available for just €10.90 (Monday to Friday).
Backpacking Accommodation Options in Hamburg
The vibrant Meininger Hamburg City Centre hotel has a large number of rooms fit for all-sorts of travellers. Whether you just want a good nice sleep or you want to hang out in some modern communal areas, this place has it all while also offering some cheapest dorm beds in the city.
Another option is the family run Homeport Hostel, situated close to Hamburg’s main train station. Incredibly clean with a patio and balcony guests can lounge around in, this is one of Hamburg’s best value private room stays.