~~The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is home to around 1.8 million people, a city-state and one of the sixteen states of Germany. It is located on the river Elbe at its confluence with Alster and Bille. Regarding inhabitants and surface, Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and the ninth largest in the EU. The port of Hamburg is the largest port in Germany and seat of the international sea court of law. It officially goes back as far as to the 7th century.

Hamburg has many faces that can be explored like the old warehouse district. The largest timber-pile founded warehouse district in the world is listed and today a tourist attraction. It accommodates several museums like the Deutsches Zollmuseum (German Customs Museum) and the Miniature Wonderland, a model railway.

Immediately bordering the district is a new building area, the harbour city with its landmark the Elbe Philharmonic Hall which is made of glass. The harbour promenade is not less fascinating. Hamburg’s skyline features the tall spires of the most important churches. One of them is St. Michael's Church, nicknamed “Michel" which is also the landmark of Hamburg.

The city of Hamburg is, after New York and London, the third biggest location for music in the world. More than 40 theatres, 60 museum, 100 music venues and clubs as well as many places of interest with supraregional significance, make Hamburg an international city of culture and music.
A typical Hamburg visit includes a tour of the famous fish market, the port of Hamburg, also called Germany’s gate to the world, the harbour promenade (Landungsbrücken), the Reeperbahn, the Wax Figure Cabinet and last but not least a boat tour on the Alster.

More information: http://english.hamburg.de/

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