Hamburg - Neighbourhoods between harbour, Elbe and Alster

Hamburg is not a city with a single centre. The Hanseatic city is made up of many districts that differ greatly in mood, architecture and pace. Understand the districts and you understand the city.

This overview helps you find the right corners for your trip, whether you are after water, culture, nightlife or calm.

HafenCity and Speicherstadt

HafenCity is one of the largest urban development projects in Europe. Modern buildings, squares by the water and the Elbphilharmonie shape the scene. Right beside it lies the Speicherstadt, a quarter of red-brick warehouses that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the canals it feels especially atmospheric when the lights come on.

St Pauli and the Reeperbahn

St Pauli is Hamburg's best-known entertainment district, yet it offers more than nightlife. People live here, and there are theatres, music clubs and small cafés. The Landungsbrücken at its edge make a good starting point for walks and harbour tours.

Sternschanze and Karolinenviertel

This is where young, creative Hamburg meets. Cafés, second-hand shops, bars and street art line the streets. If you like to stroll and watch, you will feel at home.

• Set off without a fixed plan, as the best places turn up by chance.
• It is lively at weekends and more relaxed during the week.

Altona and the Elbe

Altona feels like a city of its own. The district has pedestrian streets, handsome nineteenth-century houses and a fish market on the Elbe bank with centuries of tradition. From here the Elbe trail leads downriver.

Blankenese: the village on the Elbe

Blankenese sits on the Elbe slope, and between steps and gardens a jumble of houses tumbles down the hill. The view of ships passing by is impressive. The district suits a quiet afternoon.

In Altona and Blankenese it is also worth watching the container ships slowly gliding along the Elbe. That belongs to Hamburg like the wind and the gulls.

Around the Alster

The Outer Alster is Hamburg's living room. Sailing boats, walkers and runners share the shore. Villas, parks and cafés surround the water. A walk around the lake is relaxed and shows Hamburg in its elegant mood.

The city has a well-developed network of S-Bahn, U-Bahn and buses. Harbour ferries also form part of the regular public transport and are a scenic way to enjoy the water and the skyline. Dress in layers, because the weather on the coast changes quickly.

If you only have a weekend, follow this order: HafenCity and Speicherstadt in the morning, St Pauli and the Landungsbrücken in the afternoon, and on the second day Altona and Blankenese or the Alster. That way you see the city's waterside, its lively side and its calm side. In the evening HafenCity looks especially fine when the lights are mirrored in the water. Expect short showers when it rains, and keep an umbrella ready.

Hamburg invites exploring. Pick two or three districts and give each of them time, and you will truly experience the city.