The second largest city in Germany Hamburg is hemmed in by two lakes (the Binnenalster and Aussenalster) and the Elbe River. Hamburg is a major port city situated on the Elbe River. The harbor ranks second in Europe and sixth to seventh world-wide.  The mercantile background reflects in the city's, mostly red-brick architecture. Hamburg is sometimes referred  to as "The Gate to the World". It is a international city of trade and the city hall has in fact three more rooms than Buckingham palace.

Hamburg is also a Media hub with half of the nation's newspapers and magazines having their roots here. Newspapers and magazines such as Der Spiegel and Die Zeit are produced in Hamburg. Interestingly for any James Bond fans
Hamburg was one of the locations for the film Tomorrow Never Dies.

Offering more than 40 theatres, 60 museums and 100 music venues and clubs. People come from all over for concerts, exhibitions, theatres, cinemas, museums, and other performances of cultural achievement. It is no wonder that Hamburg has one of the fastest-growing tourism industries in Germany.

A typical Hamburg visit includes a tour of the city hall and the grand church St. Michaelis , and visiting the old warehouse district Speicherstadt and the harbour promenade. The more adventurous also take a walk down to  Reeperbahn in the quarter St.Pauli, considered Europe's largest red light district