Hamburg – a metropolis on the water
What would Hamburg be without water? Water is the elixir of life in this vibrant cosmopolitan city. The River Elbe is its lifeline, and the harbor is its heart and growth driver. Nowhere is the city's special character felt more than down at the harbor, whether among the historic warehouses of the Speicherstadt or in Altenwerder, the container terminal that sets the standard for the entire globe.
Nowhere can the cosmopolitan nature of this northern German city be felt better than here. Hamburg Harbor is the bridge to Europe, the gateway to oversees and to the Far East as well. It was the harbor that first transformed Hamburg into the international trading metropolis that it is today. It made it the most important trading hub in northeast Europe as well as the European center for trade with China. Most of Germany's top 500 companies have offices in Hamburg. They not only find an attractive environment for their businesses here, but also security and a high quality of life.
Where else is there so much fresh air and luxuriant green landscapes and foliage right in the city center? You can breathe freely here, and the beaches of the North Sea and the Baltic are but a mere hour away! Just about everywhere, there is a feeling of expanse and freedom. The ample cityscape stands out through its generously spaced buildings and few prominent skyscrapers. Elegant residential areas alternate with middle-class suburbs and lively and trendy quarters. There is plenty of variety on offer in stores too. Hamburg's glass arcades, tradition-steeped department stores and exclusive showrooms of prestigious designers invite you to partake in the luxury. Meanwhile, young fashion designers showcase their original and creative collections in the trendy quarters.
Hamburg is considered a bastion of creativity and a metropolis of knowledge. In addition to its public universities, it is also known for its excellent private colleges, which for many international students signify the gateway to the world. Fashion designers, media professionals and musicians – they are all drawn to Hamburg too.
The electrifying highbrow and subculture scenes offer an exciting arena and the best opportunities for creative artists of all stripes. There is splendid theater and ballet, as well as musicals that would not be out of place on Broadway, and a young and authentic music scene throbs in the many clubs around the Reeperbahn – day and night, the pulse is strong in the northern metropolis.
The red-light district of St. Pauli long ago mutated from a den of iniquity into an attractive venue for simply having fun. And even though the City of Hamburg takes fewer days off work than in the south of the country, there are always plenty of reasons to celebrate: Harbor Birthday, the Cherry Blossom Festival, the “Dom” funfair, the "Alstervergnügen," the city's Christmas markets - Hamburg's traditional and popular fêtes invite you to join in the celebrations the whole year round – alongside millions of visitors!
