Historic Hamburg
The "Altstadt" (The Old City) is the oldest quarter in Hamburg and for tourists one of the main attractions. The most well known buildings in the area are probably the Chilehaus (Chile House) and the Kontor Häuser (Office Buildings) at the Burchardplatz, also the Spinkenhof, Mohlenhof and Messberghof are popular destinations.
In some places the "old Hamburg City" can be remembered very well, e.g. in the Cremon Street, you can find shops and residential dwellings side by side, with loading bays on the canal side and trade entrances on the street side, transporting goods by land as well as by water. Deichstrasse (Dyke Street) an old trader’s street also with shops and residential dwellings has a numerous amount of restaurants and bars inviting you to stay and taste some of the local brews and fine foods.
"Michel" Church – Hamburg’s Landmark
The St. Michaelis Church, built in 1751 is not only the most important baroque church in northern Germany but it also has the largest clock face in Germany with a circumference of 24 meters. Its tower, the "Michel" is 132 meters high and has a viewing platform from which you can view the Harbour and City undisturbed. Every day at 10:00 a.m. and 09:00 p.m. "Turmblasen" takes place, a trumpeter playing a piece of classical music which can be heard for miles around.
Krameramtswohnungen (Shops, Offices and Apartments)
Krameramtswohnungen is a historic architectural and idyllic part of Hamburg built in the 17th century, in close proximity to the Michel Church. One of the historic trader’s apartments is still in its original condition and is equipped with the complete furnishings from around 1850/60 by the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte (Hamburg History Museum), which is open to the public.
Trostbrücke (Consolation Bridge) at the upper Nikolaifleet
Since 1266 the Trostbrücke, in the old part of Hamburg, has been connecting the Episcopal City around the area of Domstrasse, Petrikirche and the Comital city, founded by Gustav Adolf III. and the count of Schauenburg-Stormarn and Holstein. There are two statues standing on the bridge in commemoration of these two founders.
Stockexchange / Chamber of Commerce
Hamburg Stock Exchange/Chamber of Commerce, the oldest building of its kind in Germany, is located at the rear of the Rathaus (Town Hall). Public viewing is also permitted.
The Old Elbtunnel
When the Elbtunnel was opened in 1911 it was a technical sensation – today it is a nostalgic and lovingly maintained piece of Hamburg history. The distinctive rectangular dome structure at St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken is home to the operating machines and four large lifts which have been transporting people and vehicles through the 426.5 meter long tunnel underneath the Elbe River, through the two beautifully tiled tunnels both 6 meters in diameter you will see daylight at the other side at Steinwerder, giving an absolutely wonderful view of Hamburg from the Southbank side of the river.
Television Tower
Hamburgs tallest building is located in Lagerstrasse. It was built between 1965-68 and is named after the German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz. The tower is 279.8 meters tall and weighs a total of 43. 000 tonnes. The catering and viewing platform located 128 meters up has been closed since January 2001 – up until then visitors could discover different perspectives from 128m above the ground – from the end of a bungee rope... Re-opening of the tower for visitors in the near future is rather unlikely due to the high structural alteration costs this would involve.
The Jewish Cemetery Hamburg-Altona and Eduard-Duckesz-House
The Jewish cemetery in Altona dates back to 1611 and is considered one of the most important Jewish burial grounds worldwide because of its size, age and the religious and cultural significance of many of its gravestones. The Cemetery measures almost 2.5 acres and consists of a Sephardic and an Ashkenazic part. From Eduard-Duckesz-House you have a view over the historic cemetery without even entering the cemetery grounds.
Every Sunday at 12:00 p.m. there are guided tours (Adults 5,00 €, Children free). The cemetery is open to the public from October till March on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 02:00 p.m. – 05:00 p.m. and from April till September on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 03:00 p.m. – 06:00 p.m. and also Sundays from 02:00 p.m. – 05:00 p.m. On Jewish and Bank Holidays the cemetery is closed.