Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

The city takes its name from the first permanent building on the site, a castle ordered to be built by Emperor Charlemagne in 808AD. Built on rocky ground in a marsh between the River Alster and the River Elbe as a defence against Slavic incursion, the castle was named Hammaburg. The location of this castle is uncertain.

Hamburg, Germany's gateway to the world is situated on the river Elbe. No other German city can boast of so many open spaces and so much water, an invitation for countless walks.

Visitors to many restaurants and pub do not find it difficult to come into contact with the people of Hamburg. They are always game for a chat, as long as no shoulder slapping goes on. There is even less reserve in St. Pauli, whether it be at the accordion hop in the Pils pub or at the Ball Paradox (a ladies' invitation dance) in Cafe Keese, The Afro-Latino taverns or hot Discos.

The visitor should, however, be warned about tourist traps, bad quality of service can not always be as well estimated in advance as it can with the ladies in the famous display windows in the Herbertstraße. People don't go to bed at dusk in other areas either.

Pleasure starts in earnest in the late evening in the University area in Eppendorf, in St. George behind the Thalia Theatre and at Groß.

You can get a first-class ox-chop to keep you going at 3 o'clock in the morning in the taverns near the slaughter house in the Schanzen Quarter. If it happens to be Sunday don't miss the fish market on the banks of the Elbe.

The people of Hamburg do, in all modesty, regard their city as a world metropolis, and the shopping facilities certainly justify their claim.

In the traditional shopping streets Spitalerstraße and Monckebergstrße there is a predominance of lower price range articles, whereas, in the attractive shopping area between Rathausmarkt and Gansemakt, Jungferstieg and the Poststraße every wish under the sun is granted and price-wise the sky's the limit.

No visitor to Hamburg wants to miss a stroll down the Reeperbahn If you want to get to know Hamburg you must see the neon-lights, the thronging crowds of tourists and hear the babble of languages.

The Reeperbahn and the Girls - Visit Breakaway's Adult World

The locals prefer the areas of Poseldorf, Lang Reihe or Groß-Neumarkt, where there are plenty of pubs. Things are lively in the Factory (Hoheluftchausee), merry at Buttstadt's (Rothenbaumchaussee), musical at Schwenders (classical music, Groß-Neumarkt).

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