Willy-Brandt-Straße 60

Head to the banks of the Alster River to find Mahnmal St-Nikolai, a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. Originally built in the 1100s, the wooden church received many updates and additions over the years until its destruction during the 1943 air raids of World War II. Today, only the original spire remains intact. Also known as St. Nikolai Memorial, the church ruins serve as an important war memorial, while the crypt acts as a museum that features interactive image, audio and video displays. 

For outstanding views of the Alster lakes, the harbor and the city center, ride the glass elevator to the viewing platform at the top of the church tower, which is the fifth-highest tower of its kind in the world. The Crowne Plaza Hamburg - City Alster, located a short drive from the Mahnmal St-Nikolau, makes a great home base for your visit to Hamburg.

Bei den St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken

If you want to go for a stroll under the Elbe River, check out the 1,500-foot-long Alter Elbtunnel, or Old Elbe Tunnel, located southwest of Hamburg's city center. Officially known as St. Pauli Elbtunnel, the historic site features specially designed elevators that carry you 80 feet underground, where well-lit boreholes light the cozy space. Enjoy the artwork that lines the tunnel's brick walls as you cross between the Steinwerder in the Port of Hamburg and the Landungsbrücken piers in St. Pauli. 

Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1

Do you love live music? If so, be sure to take in a performance at the remarkable Elbphilharmonie in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg. With its curved window panels and wave-like rooftop, the Elbphilharmonie is an architectural work of art. Rising up from the former Kaispeicher warehouse building to tower high above the Elbe, the Elbphilharmonie is a landmark residential and cultural complex that boasts a fitness center, restaurants, luxury apartments, conference facilities and a five-star hotel. To make the most of your time here, consider staying at the Holiday Inn Hamburg - HafenCity.

Fischertwiete 2A

For a picture-perfect backdrop, make your way to Chilehaus in the heart of the Kontorhaus district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the expressionist style in the 1920s, the massive 10-story office building features staggered balconies and curved walls that meet in a pointed tip at one end to mimic the shape of an ocean liner. At night, lights illuminate the impressive brick building, giving the Chilehaus a majestic glow that you don't want to miss.

20095 Hamburg

Would you like to learn about local politics on your trip to Hamburg? Take a guided tour of the Rathaus Hamburg, or City Hall, for a sneak peek into the daily work of Hamburg's parliament, senate and mayor. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the ornate Neo-Renaissance building is a beautiful example of the baroque style. From the elaborate statues on the exterior to the stunning marble staircase and sandstone pillars inside the building, the Rathaus Hamburg is well worth adding to your must-see list.

Koreastraße 1

Have you ever wished you had a time machine? The Internationales Maritimes Museum is the next-best thing. The museum's many displays and exhibits take you on a journey through 3,000 years of maritime history. Home to more than 40,000 artifacts, including model ships, uniforms, paintings and more, the museum gives you a glimpse at what life was like for Hamburg's earliest mariners.

Englische Planke 1

No visit to Hamburg is complete without a visit to one of the city's most iconic sites. St. Michaelis Church is the most important baroque church in northern Germany. With its copper rooftop and monumental tower, which houses the largest church clock in the country, the church is one of the best-known symbols of Hamburg. Inside, the magnificent marble altar, pulpit and baptismal font, as well as five handcrafted organs and spectacular senate pew, will take your breath away.