The Great North – HolstenTherme Resort Hotel

Hamburg

The metropolis of Hamburg has great shopping, museums and gastronomy. A great way to experience Hamburg is from the sea, by jumping on a canal cruise - but of course we also recommend Hamburg from the land side when on holiday by car! An experience in Hamburg beyond the classic city pleasures is a trip to the city's fish market, which sells fish of course, but also cheap clothes, houseplants and DVDs. The first stalls open at 5.30am in summer and 7am in winter.

Hamburg is Germany's second largest city and both economically and culturally the centre of the whole of northern Germany. It is seven times larger than Paris and more than twice the size of London. In short, this means that the city offers particularly good conditions for tourists. Hamburg is a beautiful city full of charming areas and, not least, an excellent nightlife that is unmissable on a city break or a self-drive holiday in northern Germany.

HafenCity Hamburg

Go on a city break or weekend break and experience the fantastic atmosphere of the Hamburg-HafenCity district. HafenCity combines tradition and modernity in a unique symbiosis. A true architectural and cultural delight! Exciting sights like Miniatur Wunderland, the Elbe Philharmonic and places like the UNESCO-listed warehouse district "Speicherstadt", attract thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.

Hamburg City Hall

The impressive town hall building was built in neo-renaissance style in 1897 and is open to the public. Here you can see exhibitions and join a guided city tour. Rathausmarkt, the large town hall square, is frequently used for markets and concerts and if you're on a self-drive holiday in the area, it's worth checking out if there's anything going on here.

Christmas market in Hamburg

 24th November to 23rd December 2025

Mon-Sun: 11.00-21.00 - Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

Experience the real German Christmas joy and atmosphere in historic Hamburg! Located just two hours south of the Danish border, the city is an ideal destination for a Christmas holiday or a weekend break with city experiences during the Christmas season.

You will soon discover that when the Germans hold a Christmas market, everything is set. Not in that American, slightly exaggerated way, but in a charming way so that the opulence mysteriously always manages to appear understated. At the same time, you are in no doubt what time of year it is. The word "hygge" may be a Danish word - but the meaning is certainly understood south of the border.

Hamburg is a stunningly beautiful, historic city situated on the River Elbe, and you can imagine the magical scenes as darkness falls and Christmas lights are switched on throughout the inner city. The city's largest Christmas market is located in the huge square, right in front of the historic town hall building, in the charming Altstadt quarter. A huge model railway winds its way between the stalls, where you'll find everything from hatters, glassblowers, sugar bakers and toy makers, to more traditional treats like glühwein, cheese, sausages and roasted almonds. The market was first built in 2003 and since then it has only grown bigger and bigger. A short distance away, along Mönckebergstrasse, is another cosy Christmas market with more than 150 stalls, where the Christmas spirit fills the cityscape almost all the way up to the main railway station.

In the southern half of the inner city, Speicherstadt and HafenCity are home to countless outlets of the Elbe, which flow through and divide the streets, with lots of charming little bridges. Here you'll find a Christmas market in a very special maritime atmosphere, with beautiful dancing reflections in the water from the thousands of festive light bulbs and candlelight from torches and candles. In this district you will also find the cosy Nordic Christmas bazaar "God Jul - Nordische Weihnachten am Hafen", which is open for two weekends in November every year. Here you'll find lots of traditional delicacies and specialities, as well as decorations and art from all the Nordic countries.

If you're not squeamish, you can also visit the very special, erotic Santa Pauli Christmas Market, located on the 930-metre-long Reeperbahn street, which is known for its nightlife and more frivolous 'entertainment' offerings. The Santa Pauli Christmas Market has a reputation for being among some of the world's most unusual Christmas markets, and for that reason alone may be worth a look. Please note that children are of course not admitted to this Christmas market.

Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

Experience the world's largest model railway in the impressive Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. Here you can see fantastic miniature versions of from different parts of the world, such as the USA, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and, of course, Germany. More than 263,000 figures have been used, with everything from cars and ships to people, houses and planes. You won't believe your eyes when you see the level of detail! Miniatur Wunderland is a must-see for the whole family when you are on holiday in Hamburg.

Alster Tour

Find a cheap holiday at Risskov Bilferie and take the whole family on a self-drive summer holiday to Hamburg. Try going sightseeing on the Alster River and see the city and its many exciting facets from a unique angle. If you fancy a more romantic trip, a special "Twilight Tour" is offered where you will be able to enjoy the sunset between Jungfernstieg and Harvestehude, as the lights are slowly switched on around the city. Find child-friendly hotels for the trip at Risskov Bilferie.

Elbphilharmonie

Elbphilharmonie is an architectural building in Hamburg inspired by the port's warehouses combined with modern glass architecture. The building hosts various concerts and events throughout the year as well as several restaurants and bars. The Elbphilharmonie Plaza is the building's public viewing platform at 37 metres high and from here you have a fantastic 360 degree view of Hamburg city and harbour.

St. Michaelis Church Hamburg

Take a walk up to Hamburg's landmark Baroque Church of St Michaelis and see the city from a completely different angle. The church was built between 1648 and 1661, and if your legs are up to it, there are 452 steps leading up to the church tower, from where you can get an incredible view of Hamburg. If you wish, take the lift up and go down, as the stairs run past the beautiful church bells and the inner workings of the tower clock, which are quite fascinating to look at.

Reeperbahn

In the entertainment district of St. Pauli you will find the world-famous Reeperbahn street. The 930-metre-long street takes its name from the rope makers who needed a long lane to make ship's ropes, and it was here that sailors used to party when they went ashore in Hamburg. The street used to have a bad reputation, but today it's one of Hamburg's hippest streets, filled with cafés, discos and an English pub scene. A walk down the famous street is a must during a visit to Hamburg.

St. Pauli Fischmarkt

Fish, fruit, flowers, clothes and souvenirs – you will find it all at St. Pauli Fischmarkt, which has been taking place since 1703. The market opens every Sunday morning at 7.30 am, and for the next two hours the smell of coffee and a wonderful buzz of life will fill the air.

Hagenbeck Zoo

The fantastic zoo has animals for everyone with over 1,800 animals. The park is divided into two; a zoo and a tropical aquarium. In the zoo you can get up close to lions, giraffes, Europe's largest elephant herd and much more! Meanwhile you can experience sharks, snakes and more in the Trope Aquarium.

Important info! The two parks each require a separate entrance ticket. However, you can buy a combi-ticket, which gives access to both sections.

Lüneburg Heath

Go on an active family holiday and enjoy the beautiful Lüneburger Heide on a self-drive holiday to Germany. Find cheap hotels in the area and head to one of the most scenic areas in Germany. Lüneburger Heide is great for walking and cycling, where the wonderful nature experiences are part of the holiday. Enjoy the fresh air, flowering heather or a beautiful blanket of frost in the winter months. Lüneburger Heide is also popular for horse riding on the moors, wetlands and river valleys. The area is situated between the cities of Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen and is Germany's largest heathland. For almost a century, efforts have been made to preserve the area's natural environment, and the Lüneburger Heide consists of a number of nature parks and protected nature areas. Find a cheap mini break or weekend break for the whole family and get away on an active holiday in Lüneburger Heide.

Lüneburger Heide Game Park

Wildpark Lüneburger Heide is one of Germany's largest zoos. Here you can see more than 1,200 animals, represented by 140 different animal species such as Siberian tigers, musk oxen, moose, bears and goats. The park has a wide variety of eateries where you can buy everything from simple dishes to fine dining experiences. You are also allowed to bring your own lunch into the zoo. Children will appreciate the park's huge playground with trampolines, suspension bridges, miniature radios and great climbing and balancing opportunities.

Barefoot Park Egestorf

Find child-friendly hotels close to Barfusspark Egestorf, just south of Hamburg in Germany. Here the whole family can enjoy a unique experience; discover nature in a different way and keep the well-being of your feet in focus. The approximately 14-hectare nature park offers 2.7 km of landscaped trails with 60 different obstacles made of natural materials, so plenty of opportunity for an active holiday and the park is the perfect place for a lovely walk. The park also has a small kiosk where you can buy refreshments. It is certainly set up for an active holiday in the beautiful park. Find a cheap hotel stay at Risskov and enjoy a real family holiday.

Lüneburg

Go on a car holiday in Germany and explore Northern Germany on your own. Visit Hamburg and find child-friendly hotels for your trip, whether it's a summer or winter holiday, there's always something happening in the big city of Hamburg. A pleasant getaway would definitely be a visit to Lüneburg which is located on the Ilmenau River, not far from Hamburg. It is an old medieval town that became rich from the trade in salt, or white gold as it was called then. It is probably one of the most beautiful cities in northern Germany, and with a history of over 1000 years, there is much to see and experience.

There are many squares around the city, and there is always a good atmosphere and excellent opportunities to have a glass of beer while enjoying the beautiful view of the many beautiful half-timbered houses that characterize the cityscape. You might want to start at Am Sande, at Skt. Or take a ride on the horse-drawn carriage that takes the curious around the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods. Find an active holiday to Lüneburg with the whole family and drive south to Hamburg with Risskov.