ROL Cruise recommends...
1. Relax in Park Planten un Blomen
Located in the heart of the city, Park Planten un Blomen caters for all. With a Japanese garden, rose garden and botanical garden, there’s plenty diversity for nature-lovers to enjoy. The playgrounds, trampolines and roller skating rink are ideal for families, while visitors of all ages can engage in a mini-golf tournament or challenge each other to a game of giant outdoor chess.
2. Take a tour of the town hall
Estimated to have cost 11 million German gold marks (around 80 million euros) when it was constructed in 1897, the ornate town hall is an unmissable Hamburg landmark. Spanning a massive 17,000 square metres, the town hall is believed to contain 647 rooms – that’s six more than Buckingham Palace! Make the most of your visit by joining a guided tour, from which you’ll gain fascinating insights into the history of this architectural masterpiece.
3. Take a stroll through the Speicherstadt
You can’t go to Hamburg without wandering through the historic ‘Speicherstadt’ district. Built at the turn of the last century and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the buildings here stand on timber-pile foundations, casting idyllic reflections on the water come evening. It is in these buildings that precious goods such as tea, coffee, tobacco and oriental carpets are stored.
4. Marvel at St Michael’s Church
Known as ‘Michels’ among locals, the stunning St Michael’s Church is Hamburg’s best-known architectural landmark. Beautiful inside and out, St Michael’s dates back to the eighteenth century and contains one of the largest organs in the world. Ascend to the top of the church’s bell tower to be rewarded with spectacular views over the city,
5. Let your imagination run wild at the Miniatur Wunderland
Get lost in Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway and Hamburg’s top attraction on TripAdvisor (at the time of writing). Far more than just trains, the model depicts parts of Scandinavia, Germany and the United States with amazing attention to detail. More than 200,000 figures stand in the 1,300 square metre exhibit, undertaking a variety of activities - from celebrating to putting out fires; taking their daily commute to giving birth! When night falls (a day in Miniatur Wunderland is 15 minutes), the world is lit up by 300,000 LED lights.
