Did you know Hamburg, a huge hub for international trade with the largest warehouse district in the world, is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage? That’s right the Speicherstadt, the warehouse district built on timber-pile foundations is a UNESCO site. Home to the Alster Lakes, the Elbphilharmonie (one of the most advanced concert halls in the world due to its acoustics), the city with the most bridges in all of Europe, and made up of nearly one-third parks, green spaces and gardens, you’ll be lucky to have Hamburg as a destination for your next business trip.
As Germany’s second largest city after Berlin, Hamburg is a major port and commercial center making it a likely destination for companies doing business in Germany or even internationally. It is also one of the largest coffee trading centers in the world! If you’re visiting the Gateway to the World on your next business trip, there are some things to keep in mind, so keep reading to find out everything you need to know.
Hamburg’s weather
Hamburg has cold winters with average temperatures being 34.2 °F (1.2 °C), cool summers with temperatures averaging around 62.4 °F (16.9 °C), high humidity and frequent fog. No matter when you head to Hamburg, make sure to pack a jacket and maybe a rain coat.
Getting around Hamburg
Hamburg’s airport is the fifth busiest of commercial airports in Germany. Most flights coming in and out of Hamburg are European metropolitan destinations and two long-haul routes to Dubai and Doha. While Hamburg has another airport, it is not open to commercial traffic, instead being home to the Airbus factory.
The harbor every year receives more than 15,000 ships from 100 countries and the city has a great system of buses and underground trains.
Transportation
Hamburg has an extensive network of public transportation that includes underground trains, a light-rail network, buses and ferries. There are also city bikes compliments of StadtRAD Hamburg city bike system, eclectic scooters, e-bike sharing, car sharing, and MOIA electric shuttles that collect travelers using similar routes and drop them off at their destinations.
Two helpful pointers for your Hamburg business trip transportation needs:
Hamburg city guide – business districts
Hamburg is without a doubt one of Germany’s strongest industrial cities and a major industrial region for Europe. With 600 industrial companies supplying jobs for 120,000 people. Hamburg-Mitte is the economic center of the city. Altstadt, Neustadt and HafenCity make up Hamburg’s Innenstadt (inner city), home to the city’s shopping and central business district. Hammerbrook’s City Süd is another important part of the city’s business district.
The city is also home to the CCH (Congress Center Hamburg) where many meetings and events, conventions, trade shows, concerts and exhibitions are hosted.
24 hours in Hamburg
If you have 24 hours to kill or decide to add on some bleisure time, start by checking out the largest warehouse district in the world, Speicherstadt where you can check out Neo-Gothic red-brick structures. Located within the port area within the HafenCity quarter, you won’t want to miss this area. From here try a Fischbrötchen sandwich for lunch, and then head to the Old Elbe Tunnel where you can take a spiraling staircase down 24 meters below the surface and wander along the 426 meter long tunnel, a popular thing to do for locals and visitors alike.
You may consider taking a boat tour of the Port, weather permitting to see some major city landmarks from the water. In the evening check out a concert at the Elbphilarmonie concert hall, and head up to the observation deck on the 8th floor for stunning 360 degree views of the city.
Accommodations in Hamburg
Business-friendly hotels
When it comes time to choose your hotel, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Do you want to be near the main sights, or closer to the main port? Do you want a quiet area or an area that’s close to the main convention center? For those attending a meeting at the CCH, it is recommended to stay in the Alstadt neighborhood, just a 17 minute ride or 25 minute walk away. Anywhere in the Inner City is quite central for business travelers.
Old Town and New Town are easy to reach via the city’s central station, and are also home to most of the city sights. Winterhude is another area that is easily accessible from the airport or the center by metro. When choosing the best hotels for business travelers, make sure to have your priorities clear.
Did you know? Hamburg’s HafenCity is Europe’s largest urban development city, helping to expand the downtown area by 40%.
Dining
As the city evolves, so does its culinary scene. Recently foodies have stormed the city where there is a thriving independent and multicultural food scene, making sense of its nickname as the “gateway to the world.” This is especially noticeable in areas like the Schanzenviertel district.
Don’t forget to try fischbrötchen, the famous fish sandwich eaten by dockworkers. A great place to try this if you have a break from meetings is the historic Fischmarkt, which dates back to 1703. The city is also known for its high-end dining establishments, many of which are Michelin-starred restaurants.
Hamburg city guide: wrap-up
Hamburg is a vibrant city where tradition and modernity seamlessly blend together with a great deal of maritime history and culture, which shows in the bustling harbor and historic Fish Market. Business travelers will find all the conveniences they look for on a business trip, including an easily accessible airport, easy to use public transportation, and great restaurants where to wine and dine with clients.
A city full of greenery, innovative architecture, history, art and culture, you will be lucky to have the pleasure of visiting Hamburg, Germany’s greatest economic center, and one of the best business cities in Europe.