What are the first things that come to mind when you think of Hamburg? Probably the city's stunning location on the Elbe and Alster Rivers, the colorful activity in the St. Pauli entertainment district, unforgettable musicals, a night at the theater, Michaelis Church (colloquially 'der Michel') or the impressive harbor.

Hamburg, 1,200 years old, is loved both for its contemporary scene as well as for its cultural offerings. In between traditional trading houses and renowned theaters, the latest trends are always cropping up. Hamburg lies open to many streams of influence.

With city-state traditions reaching back for centuries, it has always played a special political and cultural role. Today, as a key commercial hub, an international harbor and a media

and cultural center, the metropolis on the Elbe River with its one million inhabitants is once again pursuing ancient traditions with typically Hanseatic aplomb.

This comes as no surprise: Germany's second largest city offers a high quality of life and international flair. In Hamburg, the word "boredom" is unknown.

LIFESTYLE BY THE WATERSIDE Life is good on the banks of the Alster. With a population of 1.705 million in an area covering 755 km2 and measuring 40 km at the widest point, there's plenty of room for an attractive life style. Parks, green spaces (including the world's largest cemetery at 4 km2) and recreational areas account for roughly 13% of the city proper!

Living near the water affects life in the Hanseatic City more than  

almost any other metropolis. A dense  network of waterways and open water shape the city's appearance and make up 8% of its total area. Hamburg has even more bridges than Venice!

After a day's work, many a citizen simply sets sail on the Alster and goes boating right in the middle of town. Boat riding on the Alster ("Alsterschippern") or on the larger canals (known as "Fleeten") is a great way to see much of town.

The port of Hamburg itself is no less intricate. On a big harbor tour smaller launches ply the narrow canals of the historical Speicherstadt, where the aroma of tea and spices will tantalize you, evoking nostalgia for world of trade at the turn-of-the-century.

© Hamburg Tourismus GmbH