HafenCity
HafenCity, Hamburg, Northern Germany
A hundred years ago, Hamburg’s port dominated the city, a maze of waterways bustling with industry. But trade has now taken to the skies, and the port’s been redesigned into the largest inner-city development project in Europe: HafenCity (which translates to “Port City”). Today, in place of shipyards, you’ll find restaurants, hotels and shops, office and apartment buildings—even the Elbphilharmonie.
The basics
HafenCity marks a 388-acre urban redevelopment plan, an old port being reenvisioned as a hub for arts, culture, and amenities. Planning was approved in 2000, and the project is still incomplete—estimates put the ribbon-cutting between 2025 and 2030.
But that doesn’t mean you should wait till 2030 to explore this new district. Within HafenCity lies the Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the world (and a UNESCO site); the striking Elbphilarmonie Concert Hall; the Hamburg Dungeon; and numerous parks, restaurants, and more.
How to get there
Most travelers will get to Hafencity via public transportation, either on Hamburg’s U-Bahn (subway) or S-Bahn (light rail) systems. The closest U-Bahn/S-Bahn station to Hafencity is Überseequartier. Buses or taxis are also valid options to reach Hafencity, as is driving your own vehicle—there are multiple parking garages in the area.
When to get there
There’s no real “bad time” to visit HafenCity. That being said, many travelers come here to taste Hamburg’s culture on the River Elbe, and summer's warm, sunny days make that easiest. Of course, in winter, you’ll find a different kind of magic: holiday markets, ice-skating rinks, and streets lit up in twinkling lights.
The crossroads of time
As you tour HafenCity, you’ll see both old and New Hamburg. For the “old,” Speicherstadt is the obvious stop, as is the International Maritime Museum and its 3000 years of maritime history. As for the new, look to the Spiegel building, designed to look like a ship's bow; the 54-story Marco Polo Tower, the city’s tallest residential building; and the aforementioned Elbphilharmonie, built on top of an old warehouse.
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