Around Hamburg
Hamburg is the true capital of northern Germany. A great financial, industrial and cultural hub that acts as the driver for the entire region. The legacy of the Hanseatic League is very much in evidence in this part of the country, with several cities having a rich historic and cultural heritage well worth our attention. A visit to the area around Hamburg is the perfect complement to a trip to northern Germany. Here is a summary of the most important points of interest around Hamburg.
The stamp of the Hanseatic League is clearly visible across this part of Germany. So almost any city we visit near Hamburg is going to reflect this particular style. Great mansions, river ports, industrial architecture, imposing churches…
The explanation for all this is the prosperity achieved by the League during the Middle Ages, a legacy that today can be seen in virtually every town and city in the north of the country. In addition to the federal state of Hamburg itself, the neighbouring states of Schleswig-Holstein to the north, and Lower Saxony and Bremen to the south, contain a series of cities that perfectly reflect those times.
That is why any trip to Hamburg would not be complete without going on to visit one of the not-to-be-missed cities described below.
- Stade: a rival to Hamburg in its advancement as a powerful port in the Middle Ages, the small city of Stade has preserved its charming historic quarter and its old port on the canal that crosses the city. Stade is barely an hour’s car drive to the west of Hamburg.
- Lübeck: Lübeck is another essential northern German city that you won’t want to miss. It was one of the most important cities in the Hanseatic League, and is now a World Heritage Site, due in no small measure to its 1,000 or more historic buildings. Lübeck is an hour’s car drive to the north-east of Hamburg.
- Bremen: also just over an hour’s drive from Hamburg, but towards the south-west. This is the city of the four animal musicians in the story by the brothers Grimm — and there is of course a statue of them here. Bremen is also a World Heritage Site, thanks to its flawless historic quarter, one of the most beautiful in Germany.
- Luneburgo: another of Germany’s prettiest cities. Lüneburg has an undiluted Hanseatic heritage, with its river port, its hoist, and its old warehouses right in the centre of the city. It is only 45 minutes from Hamburg.
- Buxtehude: the small town of Buxtehude is perfect for a half-day excursion from Hamburg. Buxtehude forms part of the Fairy Tale Route, and its enchanting historic quarter is flanked by the canals that cross the town.
Barely an hour away therefore, you have five lovely cities that you can visit from Hamburg. All are elegant and immaculately preserved, truly reflecting the power they enjoyed centuries ago. A visit to the area around Hamburg is an excellent way to best appreciate the powerful business dynamic that united so many cities in northern Europe; they could even be considered as a forerunner of the European Union.
Related plans
Bremen, a fairytale city
Bremen, the city of musicians, is an ideal trip from Hamburg, offering a day full of charm and fun experiences.
Lüneburg: a pearl of northern Germany
The town of Lüneburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Its Hanseatic past survived the Second World War, escaping like few German cities from the bombings, and reaching our days in a beautiful state of plenitude.
Buxtehude, the Village of Fairy Tales
Muy cerca de Hamburgo se encuentra Buxtehude, una pequeña y encantadora ciudad histórica de la época hanseática que merece la pena visitar.