The highlight for many visitors is the harbour, which is now also being given a new look with a flight of steps designed by Zaha Hadid. Directly opposite the Elbphilharmonie, between Baumwall and Landungsbrücken, it offers an excellent view of the river. Right next door, you can set off on a tour of the harbour. Even for long-established Hamburg residents, watching the ships is a favourite leisure activity – whether on a boat tour, from the numerous beach clubs on the banks of the Elbe or from the romantic captain's quarter of Övelgönne. The ships have often not only travelled from Asia or across the Atlantic, but also along the Elbe. When you see them arrive in Hamburg, you quickly get the feeling that the city is right by the sea. Yet it is still around 100 kilometres from here to the North Sea coast. For 827 years, the city has celebrated its harbour at the annual Hafengeburtstag (Harbour Birthday), as well as maritime events such as the Hamburg Cruise Days cruise ship festival and the Elbjazz Festival, which takes place on a ship dock.
HafenCity Hamburg
HafenCity Hamburg – a new and inspiring district that celebrates its location on the waterfront – has been under construction for 25 years on quays near the city centre that have become too small. Flats for 16.000 people and workplaces for 45.000 people are being built on 157 hectares. Large parts of it have already been completed. The open spaces and waterfront promenades as well as the modern buildings, including the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, make HafenCity a centre of attraction for Hamburg residents and tourists. The historic Speicherstadt warehouse district right next door, whose brick architecture has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, and the neighbouring Kontorhaus district with the famous Chilehaus offer charming contrasts to the modern architecture.
