Ask an expert: Hamburg travel tips from Thomas Dowson

What's are 4 best tips for a person traveling to Hamburg?

1. As Germany’s second-largest city, the attractions are spread out. My first tip is to get a Hamburg Card and familiarize yourself with the excellent public transport.
2. The history of Hamburg is related to its position on an important river, the Elbe. One of the best ways to experience the city is by taking a cruise. There are many to choose from.
3. Hamburg has over 30 different Christmas markets during the Advent season, making it an excellent destination for a winter city break.
4. Hamburg can be cloudy and wet. Be prepared for bad weather whenever you visit so it doesn't spoil your trip.

What are your top 5 favourite GetYourGuide experiences in Hamburg?

• Hamburg: 1.5h Grand Harbor Evening Lights Cruise
• Hamburg: Insider Tour of the Reeperbahn & St. Pauli
• Hamburg: Speicherstadt and Hafencity Guided Tour
• St. Pauli: Guided Food Tour with 5 Tastings
• Hamburg: Walking Craft Beer Tour in the St. Pauli District

What should I do on my first trip to Hamburg?

Hamburg's harbor is the German city's main attraction, so a harbor cruise is essential for anyone planning their first visit. There's no better way to get a feel for the city and its history, which you'll learn about as you visit the best museums in Hamburg, or see landmarks like the UNESCO-listed Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the world, to the striking 20th-century Elbphilharmonie concert hall.

What are some hidden gems to see in Hamburg?

Technically it's only half-hidden, or half-submerged, but the Soviet submarine in the harbor gives you a rare chance to step inside a real submarine and see what life was like for the 78 men on board. The U-434 vessel, built in the 1970s, is still in very good condition. Visitors enter at one end and walk, and crawl where required, through compartments to the exit at the other end.

How much time should I spend in Hamburg?

Like most big cities with a long history, you could easily spend a week in Hamburg and still not see it all, but two or three days is long enough to see the highlights: a harbor cruise, the impressive town hall, St. Michaelis church, Reeperbahn street, and a walk through the old warehouse district.

What food is Hamburg known for?

Franzbrötchen — a buttery, cinnamony pastry said to have been introduced by Napoleon's troops — is a must for any sweet tooth. For dinner, try labskaus, a stew of meat, potatoes, and onion that is often made bright pink by adding beetroot. Here's a list of the 12 local dishes to try in Hamburg.

What is the best way to get around Hamburg?

Hamburg is a big city, and its best attractions are scattered across it. Fortunately, Hamburg has a good public transportation system, so it's easy to get around. If you want to leave the navigating to someone else and just enjoy sightseeing, the hop-on hop-off bus in Hamburg is a great option as it makes its way around them all.

What are the best months to visit Hamburg?

Hamburg is a great city to visit in summer. It's never uncomfortably hot and is drier and less windy than winter and early spring. Once the spring flowers bloom, Hamburg comes alive with street festivals, live music, and art exhibitions all over the city. Over four days in September and at many venues in the Reeperbahn, Hamburg's buzzing entertainment district, visitors can enjoy Europe's largest club festival, the Reeperbahn Festival.

What are the most exciting neighborhoods in Hamburg?

For a vibrant nightlife scene, head to the Reeperbahn in St Pauli. The street is lined with theaters, nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. And it isn't known as "the sinful mile" for nothing — there are also sex shops and strip clubs along the wide boulevard. Look out for the Beatles monument, a reminder that the group built their fame (as well as in Liverpool) in their early days.

What are the best neighborhoods for shopping?

You can find everything from flea markets to luxury boutiques in Hamburg. The most high-end shopping is along the kilometer-long Neuer Wall. Colonnaden has exclusive boutiques and historic architecture, but the pedestrianized street also hosts a monthly flea market. Across the city, regular antique and flea markets are lovely to bargain hunt around, like the FlohZinn (first Sunday of the month) and Langschläfer Flohmarkt (last Saturday of the month).