Even if it rains more in Munich than in Hamburg, the northern metropolis still has the most and biggest shopping arcades than anywhere in Germany. Almost all of them are in the heart of Hamburg city center, and all of them within walking distance of each other. The biggest city-center shopping mall in Europe is the newly opened Europa Passage. This modern shopping palace with its bold glass dome roof has everything the heart could wish for on five generously proportioned levels. This is where shopping has been refined to a fine art – and free into the bargain is the unique panorama overlooking the Inner Alster lake and Jungfernstieg.

Whether the Gänsemarktpassage, Rathauspassage, Hanse Viertel, Kaufmannshaus, Hamburger Hof, Galleria Bleichenhof, Landesbank Passage, Mellin Passage or Levantehaus – and no matter if it's raining – Hamburg's ten covered arcades have it all with the chance to stroll, browse and enjoy the cosmopolitan flair in complete peace. Each arcade has its very own character just waiting to be discovered. The noble Galleria, for example, combines marble, chrome and glass to create a harmonious art deco effect, while in Hamburg's oldest and smallest arcade, the Mellin Passage, you can not only marvel at the store windows of its exclusive emporia but also the fine art nouveau paintings on the walls and ceiling.