Hamburg

Located on the rivers Elbe and Alster, this 1,200 year-old city is a wonderful blend of history, culture and contemporary life. Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, is built around water – there are two lakes in the city centre (Inner and Outer Alster lakes) where a lot of leisure time is spent. Boat rides on these lakes or on one of the many canals in the city (or Fleete, as they are known) is a popular pass time for residents of Hamburg after a long day at work. There is also an extensive network of narrow canals throughout the city.

The port of Hamburg is the most important in Germany, acting as the gateway for container goods to northern, central, and Eastern Europe. The port is one of the most important paper transhipment centres in Europe, and the biggest trading place for raw pharmaceutical materials. Another interesting fact: Hamburg is the largest import harbour for coffee has been the main transhipment centre for tea in Europe. Even the British get their tea from Hamburg!

Nearby is Speicherstadt, the world’s largest continuous warehouse complex. Here, the neo-Gothic gables and green copper roofs of the traditional red-brick warehouses stand side-by-side with the most modern shipping houses, giving a beautiful view on Hamburg’s impressive history as a trading city. Many of the buildings here have been put to secondary use so a visit is well worth it! The Hamburg Dungeon, the Speicherstadt museum, the German Customs Museum, and the Spice and Herb Museum can all be found here.

The fabulous football stadium, the AOL Arena, is one of the participating stadiums during the 2006 Football World Cup in Germany.

Hamburg’s long and interesting history is also immediately visible elsewhere, as baroque churches, patrician mansions, and modern steel and glass buildings all stand side-by-side. The inner Alster especially preserves the commercial history of the city with the many classical buildings. Here you will also find Hamburg’s characteristic red-brick buildings, built to look like ocean-liners, including the Chile Haus. Architect Fritz Höger designed this building for a rich merchant with staggered balconies to look like ship decks and curved walls meeting in the shape of a ship’s bow.

Today Hamburg is one of the most important media business locations in Germany. More than 6,000 advertising, publishing, radio, TV, film, and music companies are based in the city, with 15 out of 20 of Germany’s largest publications being produced here.

For the latest information on where to go and what to see, visit www.hamburg-tourism.de

Airport information

easyjet flies into and out of Hamburg Airport, Terminal 1.

Hamburg airport is accessible to disabled passengers with wheelchairs and disabled toilets throughout.

You can request wheelchair assistance from DRK Mediservice (tel: (040) 5075 3353).

By car

Hamburg Airport can be reached via the A7 motorway from the Schleswig-Holstein and Niedersachsen directions; take exit Schnelsen-Nord. From the direction of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern the airport can be reached via motorways A1 and A24, exit Horn (A24).

It is advisable to leave some extra travelling time when going to the airport during rush hour, as drivers may experience some traffic congestion on the approach to the airport.

By coach

Coach operator Jasper runs the Airport Express; a bus service between the airport and the main train station in Hamburg (Hauptbahnhof). From the Airport buses leave every 15 minutes between 06.00 and 19.00, after this time they leave every 20 minutes until 23.00. There are further early morning services: please visit www.jasper-hamburg.de for full details.

Bus 110 connects the airport and Ohlsdorf station, from where passengers can travel to the city centre. Please visit www.geofox.de for full time table details.

By train

Hamburg Airport does not yet have a direct rail connection to the city centre. The nearest subway and suburban railway station, Ohlsdorf, is served by suburban rail lines S1 and S11 and the subway line U1; all of these will take you to or from the main station, Hauptbahnhof, or Jungfernstieg (city centre).

In 2008 a direct rail link will connect Hamburg city centre and the airport, with only 23 minutes travelling time.

By taxi

Pre book your door-to-door airport transfers with easyJet’s partner Holiday Taxis. We cater for the Business and Leisure Traveller.

There is also a taxi rank is located outside the passenger terminal.

Hotels

easyJetHotels has been designed to offer you the best possible prices for hotels and apartments, from budget to 5 star, in more than 500 destinations throughout the UK and Europe. Visit easyJetHotels for our full range of hotels and apartments in Hamburg.

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