Hey everyone!
Over the Easter break, my family and I went on a 10-day trip to Hamburg, Germany. After a long drive from Devon to Essex, we hopped on the ferry that took us to The Netherlands, and from there we continued the drive over the border into Germany. It was certainly longer than just hopping on a flight, but my family does enjoy the odd road trip and the ferry was cheaper than some flights, so it worked for us!
This was my first trip to Hamburg, and my first trip back to Germany in about 12 years. Previously, I’d visited Munich, Dresden and some other towns in that area of the country. This time around, it was all about Hamburg and its surrounding area, as that’s where a lot of my ancestors came from.
We stayed in a very bougie hotel, Adina Apartment Hotel, which as you can probably guess… is a hotel with apartments. If you’re wanting the luxury of hotel service, with the option of catering for your self… this is the perfect option for you! However, I can imagine it won’t be for everyone’s taste, and I’m sure it would make for a very special occasion. With a hotel bar, restaurant, sauna and pool, there really was something for everyone here.
For those who are perhaps more active, and enjoy getting some exercise around the city, there are plenty of parks in Hamburg to enjoy. My my and I are avid Parkrunners, so of course I did some research before we left, and low and behold, Hamburg Parkrun exists. We trekked the route the day before the Parkrun, to locate the start point, and as we wandered around the Alster Lake, it was hard not to notice the amount of other walkers, joggers and cyclists making the most of this gorgeous park.
If you’re ever in Hamburg, the Spice District is definitely a must. Whether you’re aimlessly wandering, or have a specific museum in mind, there’s so much to see here. First of all, for any tea and coffee lovers out there, there’s a tea and coffee shop/museum. Although we spent less time in the tea shop, the vibes were immaculate, and they are part of the coffee shop and museum just down the road. Again, we didn’t visit the actual museum but we spent a couple of mornings drinking their coffees (teas for me!) and enjoying their sweet treats.
There’s also the maritime museum, which is a type of museum you will always find me at! Maybe it’s my own family’s history and connection with all things Navy based, but it’s a big interest of mine. Luckily for us, it was just down the road from our hotel, so made for a nice short walk! They also accepted student cards from the UK, so if you’re a university student then make sure to bring your ID with you!
Hamburg is definitely one of those cities that’s got a lot of hidden gems so it’s definitely worth taking a visit! It was easy to navigate with bus, metro and tram systems in place, or if you’re like my family and enjoy walking a city flat… well, it’s very flat so that’s also easily done!
– Janet
Janet's Journeys 