Hamburg Walking Tour: Historical Highlights from Binnenalster to the Harbor

Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city, has a fascinating history. It grew from a small harbor town in the 9th century into one of the world’s leading harbors today, and is filled with stories and places of historical significance. On this walking tour, I’ll show you the medieval canals, baroque churches, and many other historical structures in the inner city that survived the firestorms of World War II.

Our tour starts where the canal that runs along City Hall (Binnenalster) meets Hamburg’s posh waterfront, the Jungfernstieg. From there, you’ll stroll through the city center to Elbpromenade, a popular boardwalk at Hamburg Harbour. On the way, I’ll tell you about the city’s changes throughout the centuries, and how its great wealth sometimes contrasted with abominable living conditions for the poor. You’ll see some of Hamburg’s most famous landmarks like the Brahms Museum and Krameramtsstuben alley where the widows of deceased grocers in the 1600s used to live, as well as a few hidden corners most tourists miss like the Hummel Memorial.

Along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to:

• Listen to stories about Hamburg celebrities including Johannes Hummel, the Wolf brothers, and Swedish Queen Christina
• Take pictures of the many sailboats on Alster Lake
• Get ideas of where to browse and shop in both upscale or more down-to-earth stores
• Try Portuguese pastries in Little Portugal
• Find out how the Terrorist organization RAF attacked a Hamburg landmark in 1972
• Be reminded of Venice when you overlook the Kleine Alster, one of Hamburg’s historic canals
• Hear about Operation Gomorrah, the Allied attack on Hamburg in 1943
• Visit the most important Baroque Church in Northern Germany, St Michael’s Church
• Take in stunning views of the Harbor

So have your camera ready, and join me on this hour-long tour that’ll surely make you fall in love with Hamburg.