Built in 1189, Hamburg Port celebrates its birthday at the beginning of May. What started out as a small fair, has since become the largest port festival in the world. Around one million people flock to the event every year.

The world's biggest port festival
The biggest port festival in the world boasts a comprehensive programme of events, with numerous activities on water, on land or in the air. There's fun and entertainment for all the family, with music, food and drink, fairground rides and a host of special events, including a gathering of the finest and largest tall ships in the world.

The port is the second-largest container terminal in Europe and Hafencity is Europe's largest urban construction project. The river Elbe, where the port is located, has been vital in shaping the city's development throughout history. The Alster lake is a recreational area in the heart of the city. Blankenese is an exclusive residential suburb; the baroque church of St. Michael is Hamburg's most famous landmark. The Speicherstadt warehouse district is the world's largest former warehouse complex – and last but not least there is the Reeperbahn, the renowned "red light district”.

The Hamburg Kunsthalle art gallery houses the city's largest art collection. Great entertainment is provided by world-famous musicals and at theatres such as Schmidt's TIVOLI (music and variety) and the St. Pauli Theatre (comedy and cabaret). The Hamburg State Opera House (opera and ballet), the National Theatre (Deutsches Schauspielhaus) and the Thalia theatre are all venues for world-class performances.