Hamburg, meine Perle… is what the locals like to say. And it’s nothing but true. Hamburg is a pearl of entertainment, cuisine, culture, architecture, shopping and of course – nightlife! I’m confident that we all know about the St. Pauli Piers (Landungsbrücken), the Elbphilharmonie, the Reeperbahn and so forth. So with this blog we’ll go off the beaten tracks and see what else Hamburg has to offer. Writing this, I’m actually sitting in a relaxed beach club in St. Pauli, overlooking the Elbe and harbour. So be prepared for some first hand tips. And some Klönschnack.
Laidback Skyline view
There’s plenty of overrun places to enjoy the skyline of Hamburg. This ain’t one of them. On this little beach you’ll usually only find a few people around you, sitting in the sand and having some cold ones while enjoying a great view towards the St. Pauli piers, the Elbphilharmonie and the Michel church and more. Apart from that you may witness some impressive cruise ships floating along. To get there, you’ll have to walk through the old Elbtunnel and keep left. It’s not hard to find. 
Great cake, decent wine and another magnificent view
Blankenese is one of the wealthiest parts of Hamburg. Hence, you’ll find many impressive buildings with stunning architecture surrounded by lots of water and great views. However, this part is far away from just being posh, but has a great flair with plenty of cute bars and cafes. One of them is a little hidden, but not short of an impressive view – Cafe Schuldt. To get there you’ll have to climb quite a few stairs but trust me, it’s worth it. The address is “Süllbergstrasse 30, 22587 Hamburg. Just let Google Maps guide you.
Stand up Paddling on the Alster
Assuming you have good weather, there’s nothing better than grabbing a cold beer and going for an SUP tour on the Alster. There’s multiple starting points, I recommend “Alstersurfer”, which is close to the center and surrounded by impressive architecture and beautiful alleys. Depending on your fitness level you can either have a short trip to the city center (Jungfernstieg) or up to the northern part of Hamburg, with its parks and green landscapes.
Have a drink above the roofs of St. Pauli
At 20up you will not only enjoy great drinks, but also a pretty decent view over the harbour, St. Pauli and even up to the Elbphilharmonie. It’s a littly pricy, but definitely worth a drink! You’ll find the bar on top of the Empire Riverside Hotel St. Pauli.
Stroll along the alternative Gängeviertel
The Gängeviertel is a very small, rather rustical and alternative part of Hamburg. The residents are one of a kind and are often happy to tell the one or other story. Further you’ll find cafés and things like free stores, in which you don’t buy things but rather swap. Every now and then also concerts or parties are hosted there.
See you in Hamburg, have a great time! Got any more tips? Share them in the comments.
