More than just sex!!!! (Hamburg)

Member Name: mancsoulsister

Product:	Hamburg
Date:	24/07/00 (237 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great nightlife, nice people,water

Disadvantages: The image

Contrary to popular belief Hamburg is not all Reeperbahn, prostitutes and seedy sex!!!! It is a city of great contrast and has many things to see and do for your average 'non-sex' tourist.

Hamburg has a great nautical tradition which is mirrored in the many sights that can be visited around the city. To get a true feel for the maritime past, why not take a 'Barkasse' tour from 'Landungsbrücken'. The tour will take you through the tax free old port (Speicherstadt) as well as around the modern habour and ship building areas. The Speicherstadt is littered with museums devoted to trade from the bizarre, specialised Spice museum to the more main stream historical museum. Each of these museums is interesting and well worth a look.

If you head into the centre of town, you won't fail to notice the 2 large lakes, the Innen and the Außenalster. This is a good starting point for an exploratory boating trip. I hired out a canoe and paddled along the many secluded canals and waterways that the city is built around. It gives you a very different perspective of the city. I paddled past some of the most beautiful villas I have ever seen, took trips down leafy side waters and often felt I was in the middle of the countryside instead of one of Germany's largest cities.

If you are more interested in cultural activities, there is a beautiful art gallery right next to the central station. The exhibits vary widely but are all worth a visit. Hamburg also has a wide range of theatres and cinemas. a quick look in a the local paper ('MoPo') will tell you what is on and where.

The nightlife in Hamburg is varied and I had a great time deiscovering various bars and clubs around the city. I particulary enjoyed 'Rosie's Bar' in the Hamburger Berg. It had a very definite 70s kitsch feel about it. The Aurel in Ottensen does the best Caipirinhas in Hamburg and they are half price before 9pm!!! Hamburg also has
one of the best Jazz/Dance clubs in the world - The MoJo club on the Reeperbahn which is well worth a visit. Again a quick peek in the MoPo will tell you what is going on and where to find it. Unlike other German cities, Hamburg has no legally enforced closing time so you can party on all night!! If you do take this option on a Saturday night, then why not take a post club trip to the 'Fischmarkt'. The Fischmarkt is a Hamburg institution. Set in a large hall on the Elbe, it offers fishermen and other stall holders a chance to sell their wares. It also offers a wide range of breakfasts for the hungry as well as live music to sway along to. The Fischmarkt opens at 5am and shuts at around 10am - so get there early

I think Hamburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has a lot to offer apart from the clicheed sex scene. It is there (and quite in your face on parts of the Reeperbahn) but you can avoid it and still enjoy the city of Hamburg!

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