Hamburg and surroundings

Pack your car and head to Hamburg for a self-drive holiday that's a cornucopia of experiences.

A good self-drive holiday can take you to many idyllic cities, but few will offer as wide a range of experiences as the metropolis of Hamburg. Hamburg is shopping, art, culture, history and gastronomy fused together and, as Germany's second largest city, a natural centre for the whole of northern Germany. With less than 2 hours drive from the Danish-German border, Hamburg is the perfect destination for a city lover on a driving holiday.

Hamburg is a beautiful city filled with charming areas, historic buildings, green spaces and a lively nightlife. Here you can combine everything your heart desires to make your holiday include just the elements you want. Start your stay by enjoying the city streets at your own pace. From the large town hall square, Rathausmarkt, you can easily find the city's main shopping street. The Rathausmarkt is used for various markets and concerts throughout the year and is also where you will find the beautiful town hall. Built in the Neo-Renaissance style, the town hall is one of Germany's most impressive parliament buildings. Perfectly situated between the Alster and the Elbe, the building's more than 650 rooms make it larger than Buckingham Palace.

Another of Hamburg's landmarks is the fine Baroque church of St Michaelis. Take the opportunity to climb the church tower and enjoy the view over the city. On your way up the tower, pause and catch your breath at the beautiful church bells.

Since the beginning of the 18th century, every Sunday morning there has been a market on the St. Pauli Fischmarkt. Fish, fruit, flowers, clothes and souvenirs as far as the eye can see. Whether you're looking for a bargain or not, you can't visit Hamburg on a Sunday without feeling the vibrant energy of the famous market. You can, of course, have a hot cup of coffee. When you're done at the market, head down the Elbe past the floating harbour, Landungsbrücken. Here you can take a break from walking and go on a fascinating harbour cruise. The experience through one of Europe's largest ports is quite unique.

Further down the river, you'll reach HafenCity, a new modern waterfront district offering shopping, culture and gastronomy. It's also home to the old warehouse city of Speicherstadt, the world's largest connected warehouse complex. The streets of the whole area are divided by numerous outlets of the Elbe and the area is therefore characterised by a sea of bridges. Some of the warehouses still serve their original purpose and others now feature exciting attractions such as Miniatur Wunderland, which is well worth a visit for children. Here they can experience the impressive model railway exhibition. Read more about the various experiences in the famous warehouses on Hamburg's official tourist website.

Also visit the entertainment district of St. Pauli, where you can find the world-famous Reeperbahn street. The street used to have a bad reputation but today it is one of Hamburg's hippest streets, full of cafés, discos and English pubs. A walk on the famous street is a must during a visit to Hamburg.

These are just a few of Hamburg's countless sights. There is no experience you can't find in the city and the whole family can have their holiday dreams come true. So let Risskov take you to Hamburg, whose countless possibilities guarantee you the perfect self-drive holiday.