"Welcome to Hamburg" a Hamburg Travel Page by chris.hh

Hamburg has a huge harbor even if it is not situated at the seaside directely. Still it has very a maritime flair. Also because there is lots of water in Hamburg: of course, the harbor but also the big Alster Lake seperated into inner (Binnenalster) and outer Alster (Außenalster). Binnenalster is known because of the Jungfernstieg which is a tourist attraction with the most expensive hotels and shops aroung. The Außenalster is pretty a large lake that is very busy in summertime: sometimes it looks like traffic jam because of all the little sailing boats cruizing around. Also there are many canals in Hamburg. It is said that Hamburg has more bridges than Venice - but I did not check this so far. Hamburg also has a small sandy beach - unfortunately not at the coast and even more unfornately mostly not that sunny and hot - but anyhow: there is a real beach! That's in Övelgönne that you can reach by ferry (seel tip transportation). And there are some beach clubs that became very famous. The one I like the most is next to Fischmarkt that you pass by coming from the Landungsbrücken called Strand Pauli. It's easily to miss because it's hidden behind a wooden fence and the area looks like a parking lot. There is a pink little house. Strand Pauli is not too hip and it has that cozy more familiar flair than those big ones with pool and cocktails and stuff. So: harbor, beach, cannels + bridges, ships, huge lake in the middle of the city center - what else do you need?