You haven’t seen anything: this city is considered sleepy

Germany is the homeland of the Christmas celebrations that we know today, the ones that Israelis have become so addicted to in recent years, with the picturesque markets, the mulled wine, the sparkling lights and the magical atmosphere in the air. I admit that I did not even think of Hamburg as an equal destination for Christmas celebrations, maybe because it is not the classic German town with an ancient castle on top of a hill, the kind that looks like it came out of a postcard. But I was greatly surprised, and I came back mostly with a taste for more.

True, the second largest city in Germany is known for its glorious past as one of the founders of the Hanseatic League and as an important port city for hundreds of years, but Hamburg was partially destroyed by fire in 1842, and was heavily bombed during World War II, so we only found a few ancient streets like Deichstraße the lively, and also some impressive buildings in a variety of styles in the center of the old city.

Still, if I was expecting a gray city, I discovered an elegant and chic volume, with eclectic architecture, glorious history, fascinating neighborhoods, lots of attractions for adults and children, plenty of restaurants and opportunities for shopping, and most importantly, Christmas celebrations as usual.

The Christmas markets open towards the end of November (most of them close on December 23), and we discovered that there are more than 15 different markets scattered in the city, each with its own character. The large and historic market opened this year on November 23 in the town hall square, with a multitude of traditional wooden pavilions, souvenirs of all kinds, the smell of roasted almonds, sausages and hot wine, and it looks right out of fairy tales, especially against the backdrop of the impressive town hall building. As an added bonus, one that children will really love, three times a day there is also Santa who flies over visitors’ heads while sitting in a reindeer-drawn carriage.

But that’s just the beginning, because when we walked around the center of the old city we discovered food and souvenir stalls, carousels and twinkling lights in almost every square. All you need is just to walk around the beautiful streets – from the prestigious shopping street full of brands New wall committee Spitalerstraßeand even in the Hafen City neighborhood (HafenCity) the new one that faces the river, and you will find that the whole city is celebrating big.

Don’t forget to also take a look at some of the inner courtyards that are scattered around the city, because in the Bleichenbrücke area, for example, we happened to come across a courtyard full of parties, sparkling lights and food and beer stalls. And for those who are looking for something different, there is also a particularly playful market in the St. Pauli neighborhood, because in addition to sausage and mulled wine stalls, there is also erotica and a colorful atmosphere of a winter pride parade.

And speaking of St. Pauli – did you know that without Hamburg, there probably wouldn’t have been the Beatles? Because in the early sixties, long before the Fantastic Four filled halls in Britain and the United States, they appeared for several weeks in the lively bars of the neighborhood, the entertainment district of Hamburg. Here they were truly discovered, and John Lennon even admitted: “I was born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg.” The Beatles’ influence on the city is clearly visible in the square named after them, in a small museum dedicated to them or on an independent tour that you can do among some of the clubs that have become legends. And along the way, you will also get to know a fascinating neighborhood rich in graffiti, good restaurants, boutiques, and also a less fair atmosphere – but very authentic.

Apart from beetles, Hamburg is a city of canals and bridges. In fact, it has over 2500 bridges – more than Amsterdam and Venice combined! Add to that the impressive architecture of the port area, including the beautiful Philharmonic building (Elbphilharmonie Hamburg), which looks a bit like a giant frozen wave, the urban-elegant look of the beautiful warehouse district (Speicherstadt), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and some unique Hamad corners like the bridge overlooking an island between two canals, and you’ve got a destination that is both an urban trip and an aesthetic experience.

Some of the city’s 34 museums and attractions are also concentrated in the warehouse area, such as the coffee museum (visit the excellent museum store, where we also found a coffee shop perfect for a cold day) or the spice museum, which is hidden on the third floor of a warehouse building with a rather neglected entrance. But don’t give up, because there you will discover a huge museum store rich in spices of all kinds – evidence of Hamburg’s historical importance as a bustling trading city.

Still in the warehouse area, we also visited the world of miniatures (Miniatur Wunderland), one of the most popular attractions in Germany, with a miniature model of Hamburg alongside many countries in the world. Everything is made to impressive detail, with buttons that children will enjoy pressing to activate all kinds of things. This is undoubtedly an impressive attraction, it’s just a shame that it was too crowded with tourists so the spaces are too small to accommodate everyone and it’s hard to get an impression of the power of this whole thing.

An equally popular attraction is the Hamburg dungeon, which is just a few steps away, and provides an interactive glimpse into the darker side of Hamburg, just like in an escape room – with actors who will tell you stories from the days of the Inquisition, the Great Fire, and some of the famous murders that took place in the city. Not for the faint of heart, and not for small children. Another experience that is more suitable for children is Port of Lighta sort of perfect audiovisual experience for Christmas, which looks like a connection between Disney and contemporary art. Book tickets for all attractions in advance.

If you lack some shopping, continue to the Hafen City area and visit the mall Westfield The big one, where you will find all the known brands, alongside cafes and restaurants. and then return to the old city and also visit Passage Europe near the town hall, where you will find several floors of shops, including a huge branch of the great bookstore Thalia. And if you haven’t had enough of the Christmas markets, there is a glittering market full of revelers on the nearby bridge as well.

Hamburg is four hours away by direct flight with a company Eurowings From the Lufthansa group, so it’s very convenient to jump to for a long weekend. We are staying at Fraser Suites Hhamburga five-star apartment hotel right in the city center, within walking distance of almost everywhere, with a metro station nearby and even a small Christmas market just a few steps away. The hotel was formerly used by the local tax authority, since then it has been renovated in an impressive art nouveau style, and has spacious and well-equipped rooms, an excellent breakfast and even a library with a lit fireplace on the first floor. The hotel is decorated for the holiday, and on our last evening in the city it even snowed quite heavily which added to the magical atmosphere

* The writer was a guest of the German Tourist Board.