Hamburg
A visit to Hamburg is not complete without a steamboat ride to Lake Alster. Departing from Jungfersteig, the old fashioned maritime vessel chugs along the River Elbe. You will arrive at peaceful cafés, expensive apartments and fascinating sculptures. For the active visitor various water pursuits such as rowing boats, pedloes and dinghies are readily available. Should you decide to stop by Lake Alster, check out the beautiful Planten un Blumen. A peaceful urban greenway with tropical greenhouses and botanical gardens. If visiting during the summer, don’t miss the spectacular water, music and light show.
Culture vultures will want to head for the Museum of Hamburg History. As well as the famous Kunsthalle art gallery which houses the largest collection of Edvard Munch outside of Oslo. For those who dare brave the Hamburg Dungeons, a sister company of the London Dungeons, learn about the city’s dark history fuelled by fire, floods and plague.
After the war
Like the majority of major German cities, Hamburg was a victim of heavy allied bombing and much of its baroque charm has been replaced by modern glass fronted buildings. The few surviving historical monuments however, are still reflected with great importance and have been renovated on several occasions. In the 19th century St. Nicholas’s church was the tallest building in the world and in 2008, St. Michaelis Church was on the reverse of the two Euro coin.
Surrounded by so much water, Hamburg is home to 2300 bridges, more than Venice and Amsterdam put together and subsequently specialises in sumptuous seafood restaurants. Shrimp in potato soup and lobster salad are popular choices and, depending on where you eat, not overly expensive. The best restaurants however, are outside the city centre in Univiertel and Schanzenviertel around Schulterblatt and Schanzenstrasse. The food stalls outside the Rathaus, Hamburg’s City Hall serve delicious traditional snacks though prices are inflated.
Hamburg nightlife is centred round St. Pauli where there are numerous pulsating bars and nightclubs. It is also where the city’s notorious sex industry is most prominent and though not as thriving as it was once, is still no place for the prudish.
Travelling to Hamburg by Ferry
Before the closing of the UK to Cuxhaven ferry, traveling to Hamburg by ferry was quite simple. However since that route closure there is no direct ferry from the UK to Germany.
Taking the ferry Dresden will inevitably require some driving or a train journey. There are no ferries to Germany from the UK. More than likely you will go via Holland, Denmark, Belgium or France. There is no direct trains to Dresden from any of the ports, though you’ll get from Amsterdam with just one change.
looking to cut out some of the drive from London to Berlin by taking a ferry. Are there any reasonable options? thanks
Hi Greg
There are no ferries to Germany from the UK. Your options will be to go via France or Holland. So the best ferry options would be:
1) Approximately 2 hour drive London to Dover. Dover to Calais Ferry. Approximately 8.5 hours drive from Calais to Hamburg.
2) Approximately 2 hour drive London to Dover. Dover to Dunkirk Ferry. Approximately 8 hours drive from Dunkirk to Hamburg.
3) Approximately 4.25 hour drive London to Hull. Hull to Rotterdam Ferry. Approximately 5.5 hours drive from Rotterdam to Hamburg.
4) Approximately 2.75 hour drive London to Harwich. Harwich to Hook of Holland Ferry. Approximately 6 hours drive from Hook of Holland to Hamburg.
5) Approximately 5.5 hour drive London to Newcastle. Newcastle to Amsterdam Ferry. Approximately 5.25 hours drive from Amsterdam to Hamburg.
I hope this helps.
I need to pick up old furniture from Hamburg by small van, how much roughly and do i needcovid test for ferry as well 3
Hi Marita
Currently to enter Germany under UK Coronavirus Guidelines, you will have be to fully vaccinated (and provide proof), or be a German Citizen. Unvaccinated UK citizens will be refused entry into the country.
Unfortunately Germany no longer has a direct ferry route, this means you need to go via one of it’s neighbouring countries. Why not consider getting the ferry to Holland and France which will get you within a few hours drive of Germany.
Unfortunately without knowing when you want to travel or through which country you want to travel through, I am not able to provide a quote. If you get back in touch with more details then I can help.
Hello I need to get to poland by van which is the best port from uk hull or newcaslte to Amsterdam or Rotterdam
Hi John
This is entirely up to you. It will come down to multiple factors, for example: Dates of Travel. What time do you want to travel at? How far you will be driving to get to your destination in Poland. Unfortunately we would need more information to give you better quotes. Sorry we cannot be of more help.
How I can travel with my Family Germany
Hi Moh
Currently there are no direct ferry routes from the UK to Germany. To travel to Germany we would advise getting the Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry then take a scenic drive through Holland and into Germany. I hope this helps.
Is there any way to go entirely by ferry from UK to Hamburg, Germany? Yes, by changing somewhere.
Hi Jerry
Unfortunately not. There is no way to travel to Germany entirely by ferry. May I suggest catching the ferry to either Holland, Belgium or France (as this will get you to within a few hours drive of Hamburg? Have a look at our Germany Destination Guide for more information. I hope this helps.
Hi I need to get to hamburg from hull with car and friend …how much and which is the by option …….can I get there from Newcastle
You cannot get to anywhere in Germany direct from the UK. If you are travelling from the north of England you will need to take the Newcastle Amsterdam ferry or the Hull Rotterdam ferry. You will then be looking at a 4-5 hour drive to Hamburg.