SUMMER
IN BERLIN & HAMBURG
What to Do in Germany's Northern Cities
Berlin and
Hamburg are only ninety minutes apart by high-speed ICE train, so can
easily
be combined into one trip. Two of Germany’s great
cities offer distinctly different personalities which set them apart
as unique experiences. Creative and energetic Berlin, revitalized and
reinventing itself daily
after
its
re-establishment
as the unified country’s capital after the separation of the socialist
era. Berlin in 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the building of
the Berlin Wall (see Berlin
Wall 2011) While Hamburg has long been Germany’s
cosmopolitan port city with a maritime flair.
For
travelers to Germany looking for a unique summertime experience Hamburg
and Berlin are at their best, smaller crowds and perfect temperatures
with a long what to-do list.
River and Harbor Cruises
Any Hamburg experience should include a harbor cruise, exploring among
the container ships, dry docks, tug boats, ocean liners and the historic
warehouse
district (see Hamburg Harbor Cruise). Harbor City, Hamburg’s newest
urban development area is expanding the maritime experience at this former
dock area turned urban hotspot. The beautiful pristine inner city Alster
Lake is the heart of outdoor summer activities, strolling the banks past
the grand hotels and foreign embassies, renting a paddleboat or sailboat
to tease with the giant water spout fountain. Or take a cruise of the
inner city canals past the swans in the locks and musicians playing on
shore. For 2011, the European Commission has awarded Hamburgt the title
of European Green Capital.
Berlin has over 100 miles of waterways and can be explored by a boat
tour on the River Spree which winds through the center of the city. Tours
cruise past the sights of Museum Island (see Neues
Museum Nefertiti) and the Reichstag parliament building
with its glass dome
(see Visiting
The Reichstag Dome), or take you to the outer city lakes.
Almost a third of Berlin is green parks and woods. The Tierpark which
once formed
a green
belt barrior between west and east once again hosts cabaret concerts
(see Caberet
in the Tipi) The 600 plus acres of the old
Tempelhof Airport has been converted into a public space with large
grass meadows where
kite
surfing
and
skating
on the former runways is now all the rage with Berliners. Special “Creative
Sustainability” and “Green
Design” tours show guests everything from eco-hip markets, to
green art, and urban gardens.
Hamburg
and Berlin each boast more bridges than Venice in Italy. In the summer,
locals catch the sun rays along the cities’ rivers and
lakes. Urban beaches are hugely popular in both cities, ideal places
to soak in the local vibe on long summer evenings. Beach Bars are the
cities’ hottest of hot spots. The most popular beach bars in
Hamburg are Strand Pauli in the old St Pauli District
and the eclectic Strandperle
Elbe Beach. In Berlin, the Strandbar Mitte and
the Dream Beach near the main rail station, and the ultra-trendy Arena
Badeschiff are the
places to be
with a drink
in your hand and sand between your toes. To work off the calories grab
a bike rental and tour the German Capital by pedal (see Fat
Tire Bike Tours)
or hop in a horse drawn carriage.
Late
Summer Festivals
HAMBURG
Alster
Amusement Festival - Alstervergnügen
The Alster-Vergnügen Festival has been a Hamburg
summer highlight for over 30 years. The four-day inner city event features
water/air/land
acrobatics, concerts, gourmet stands as well as romantic moon-lit
nights and fireworks on the Alster lake (September 1-4).
Reeperbahn Music Festival
The annual Reeperbahn
Festival is a must in late September for music fans and the famous street of night
clubs. After all,
Hamburg is the city where the Beatles were discovered. Featuring
new and established
names of popular music, the festival‘s impressive line-up of
name acts is complemented by exhibitions, street art events, and
screening).
BERLIN
Berlin International Beer Festival- September
Munich has its famour beer extravaganza in late September, but Berlin celebrates the national libation in summertime. During
the annual Berlin
International Beer Festival, the
Karl-Marx-Allee turns
into
the world's
longest
beer
garden and
bar,
with 300 breweries
from 86 countries and some 2,000 brands of the world's finest brews.
Berlin
Music Festival
Over two days of live music
at the historic Tempelhof Airport park in September upwards of 15,000 music fans
are expected to attend this growing event. Berlin
Festival
DINING AND DRINKING
New
Restaurants, regional Cuisine and signature drinks abound in the
culbs and restaurants
of these vibrant social scene towns.
Berlin and Hamburg are the two German cities with the most Michelin Stars.
Culinary experiences are often a modern and creative interpretation
of traditional recipes.
Hamburg is the city of seafood, and dishes range from a traditional local favorite Matjes Herring (salt mild herring) sandwich to Asian-inspired haute cuisine. Fresh seafood and classical northern German dishes are served at Fischereihafen Restaurant. Much talked-about new restaurants are Goldene Gans featuring an outstanding veal with plums and the city’s best chocolate soufflé, and Vier Rosen, where former punk musician turned chef Marcus Schröpfer serves French delicacies.
Berlin’s cuisine is redefining itself just like the rest of the city. Organic farms in the surrounding Brandenburg region supply meats, traditional herbs, and fresh seasonal produce. Berlin is experiencing a resurgence of traditional German fare, now often with a Mediterranean or Asian twist. At the new eponymous restaurant Tim Raue, chef Raue serves Asian inspired dishes with an energetic vitality which almost immediately garnered a Michelin star. Also new and known for high quality homemade dishes are Chipps No 1 and No 2. The famous Curry Wurst and the Turkish Döner Kebab are the pillars of Berlin’s street food scene. Get a curry wrust while visiting the famous iconic Blaukirche in resurging West Berlin (see Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church).
Both Hamburg
and Berlin serve their own unique summer beer drink - the Hamburg Alster
Wasser (a mix of blond beer and lemon soda) and the Berliner
Weisse Bier (special beer with a shot of raspberry or woodruff
syrup).
OUTDOOR MARKETS
Hamburg’s Fish Market is well worth getting up
for before 5 am on a Sunday morning. Dating back to 1703, Hamburg's oldest,
most traditional
open-air market sells all items imaginable. If that’s not enough
to wake you up, breakfast and live music will do the trick. In Berlin,
the Trödelmarkt Boxhagener Platz Flea
Market is one the most popular of the city‘s roughly
50 flea markets. Some 100 booths sell anything from old records to
porcelain,
second-hand
fashion to antiques and furniture.
(Sundays 10 am to 6 pm).
For local transportation, the Berlin Welcome Card and Hamburg Card
offer free public transportation and discounts. Visitor information,
events,
packages, and bookings at visitBerlin and Hamburg Tourismus. For
travel between the cities take the ICE train or the IC. You can book
in advance, Rail
Europe in
the US, DB
Bahn while in country. Or just show
up at the bahnhof. If you prefer to fly, AirBerlin or German
Wings will do the trick, or rent a car and get your kicks on the no-limit
autobahn. © Bargain
Travel Europe
Find best travel deals in Berlin or Hamburg on TripAdvisor
Web Info
Hamburg Tourism
Visit
Berlin
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See Also:
DRIVING WITH NO LIMITS - THE AUTOBAHN
