Hamburg, Germany
Part historic port, part modern urban powerhouse, and with its famous Speicherstadt Warehouse District recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hamburg makes an enticing prospect for any discerning family. From learning about the city’s rich maritime history to celebrating at one of the many festivals, there are plenty of fun things to do in Hamburg with kids – here are a few ideas.
1. Discover Hamburg’s maritime history
As Germany’s biggest port, Hamburg has a long and rich maritime history, and older kids will enjoy learning about its unique heritage at the International Maritime Museum and the Hamburg Emigration Museum. For younger kids, opt for a sightseeing cruise around the harbor or the Alster Lake, or explore Hamburg’s Museum Ships, which include a Russian submarine, a lightship, a 19th-century trade-ship and a 1960s freighter.
2. Hit the beach
Hamburg’s parks, gardens and lakes are ideal for a family picnic and when the weather heats up there are a number of spots to cool off too. Head to the lakeside beaches of Oejendorfer Park or Hohendeicher See, or make the most of Hamburg’s summer beach bars, like Strand Pauli, Hamburg City Beach Club, Hamburg del Mar or Lago Bay, where you can sip cocktails while the kids build sand castles.
3. Enjoy family friendly attractions
Hamburg has plenty of fun choices for a day out and sights like the waterfront HafenCity, the Altona Fish Market and the Old Elbe Tunnel are good choices if you have kids in tow. Alternatively, the huge Planten un Blomen park has a botanical garden and Japanese garden, as well as free open-air entertainment during the summer months. Hamburg Zoo lets visitors feed the elephants, and Hamburg Planetarium has shows in English. The Miniatur Wonderland also makes a unique day trip, where you can check out miniature replicas of some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, as well as the world’s largest model railway.
4. Make the most of free entertainment
The Hamburg Port Anniversary in May features boat processions, firework displays, live music and plenty of free family entertainment. There’s also the Alster Fair and the Hamburger Dom funfair, which are the biggest events of the summer. The festive season is another fun time to visit Hamburg with kids, with a huge Christmas Parade and the opening of the city’s famous Fairy Tale Ships, along with open-air ice rinks, Christmas markets and Santa’s Grottos dotted around the city.
- Contributed by Zoe Smith