When to fly
Most tourists take a flight to Hamburg during May through to September. This period also experiences the warmer weather, although there is also more rainfall. Hamburg’s warmest months are June, July and August, with temperatures usually between 19 and 22 degrees Celsius. During this time, hotel rates and flights to Hamburg may be more expensive, especially if you plan on visiting the city for a festival, as these draw in a lot of tourists. Therefore, it is advised to book flights to Hamburg early and reserve accommodation in advance. One such popular event is the annual city festival, Alstervergnugen, which takes place in August around the Alster Lake. Expect to see hundreds of national and international artists, acrobats and athletes, as well as lots of delicious food.
March to May and October to early November have pleasant weather and fewer tourists swarm the city. This can therefore, be the perfect time to visit if you wish to explore the city when it is a little quieter. Cheap flights to Hamburg can be found during November to March, when fewer visitors are here, lines are shorter, and you can focus on cultural events.
Winter in Hamburg can be quite cold, with temperatures around the freezing mark, however if you wish to see the city in a blanket of snow, December to February can be an ideal time to book flights. You may also be able to find cheap flights to Hamburg and discounted tours and hotel rates, but prices will rise if you choose to visit near Christmas or New Year. While there, don’t let the cold dampen your spirits by taking the time to wonder around one of the many picturesque Christmas markets, for instance the one in the square near the Old Town Hall. The magical atmosphere is great for all the family, whether you’re warming yourself up with a mug of mulled wine, or watching the Christmas parade.
City overview
Hamburg is known as the “gateway to the world” and is one of the largest ports in Europe. Centuries of trade have led to the city becoming a rich and diverse place with plenty you’ll want to experience.
It may or may not be the birthplace of the hamburger, but it has plenty of other things to brag about such as its Hanseatic League past, its standing as a city state, Germany’s second-largest city, and Europe’s second-largest port city (after Rotterdam). It is also the home of the sinful Reeperbahn and the place that gave the Beatles a start.
Travellers taking Hamburg flights will discover a city criss-crossed by canals. It has an astonishing 2,300 bridges, more than Venice and Amsterdam combined. The lake at the centre of the city, the Alster, is made up of two lakes, the Binnenalster (inner Alster) and the Aussenalster (outer Alster) and is a popular spot.
The Altona Fischmarkt, on the banks of the Elbe river, is a must-go spot. It's open early on Sunday mornings - 4am in summertime, 7am in winter - and over by midday. It's not just the place to go for a bit of cod, there's a flea market that sells almost everything.
Aside from the water and greenery, Hamburg has plenty for culture vultures with theatres, music halls, cabarets and museums. The largest art gallery is the Kunsthalle, which has a fine collection of 19th and 20th-century masters.
You’ll want to see some historic icons after taking flights to Hamburg, and one of the best is The Michel: a cathedral on every postcard that’s worth seeing for the dramatic statues outside of the angel Michael fighting Satan. Go up the tower for superb views of the city.
Reeperbahn is Hamburg’s top area for nightlife. Among the neon lights you can find all sorts of things going on in this diverse place, including theatre productions, live music, nightclubs and bars. This racy area is where The Beatles began to build their reputation in the early 1960s and you’ll find Beatles Platz on the corner of Reeperbahn and Große Freiheit named in their honour.