Activities | JT-Wedding2023

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Activities

We have put together a selection in Hamburg and around Freiburg an der Elbe for everyone who would like to take part in a few more activities around the wedding weekend.

Click on the desired recommendations:

Water all around

Green oases & parks

Fun for kids and explorers

FURTHER INFORMATION

Hamburg City Pass & helpful links

FREIBURG & VICINITY

Discover the area around the wedding location

BLUE HAMBURG

A beach day
in the city

It doesn't always have to be a trip to the North Sea or the Baltic Sea: if you're longing for sand under your feet and a cool breeze, you're in good hands on Hamburg's Elbe beach. Along the banks of the Elbe you will also meet an "Old Swede", beautifully designed parks and stroll from Blankenese to the last natural beach in Hamburg. A special feature of Hamburg is that, despite the big city, you have the beach right on your doorstep. And not only the people of Hamburg love it the Elbe beach, but also the contrast between recreation and industry inspires internationally: The newspaper "New York Times" named the Elbe beach one of the ten favorite places in Europe by the water in 2017.

The beach sections can be reached by public transport such as the harbor ferries (HVV information) and walk or bike across the 6km long Elbe hiking trail. The Elbe beach stretches for around 13 kilometers downstream towards the mouth of the Elbe with a view of the harbour. In many sections you can relax in the sand and let the large container ships pass by. In general: The Elbe is no designated bathing water. The strong currents are treacherous in many sections and are intensified by shipping traffic. Therefore, you should leave it at sunbathing.

The most used
Ferry of Hamburg

The HADAG line 62 of the Hamburg harbor ferries is not only an important part of the hvv (public transport system), but also a cheap alternative to the classic harbor tour. The scenic route leads from Bridge 3 at Landungsbrücken at the Elbe, stopping at many popular sights along the way. After the Landungsbrücken, the first stop is at the famous fish market, then leads further downstream to the Cruise Center Altona and the Dockland. Next, the ferry stops at Museum harbor Övelgönne, from where the Elbe beach invites to sunbathe, go for a stroll and watch ships.

The ferry then crosses the Elbe and stops on the other side in Finkenwerder where she begins her return journey upstream. Small harbor tour for little money. All you need is a valid HVV ticket. Of course, a ferry cannot offer the same as a professionally accompanied harbor tour, but a tour with line 62 is still worthwhile. From the water, passengers can not only see big container ships or watch giant cruisers on the Elbe, but, for example, be dropped off at the Övelgönne museum harbor and relax a little on the Elbe beach or treat yourself to a little refreshment in the "Strandperle" beach bar.

Alster: river or lake?
The heart of Hamburg

Next to the Elbe, most formative body of water in Hamburg is the Alster and consists of several sections. The source of the Alster rises in Henstedt-Rhen outside of Hamburg. In the north of the city area, the course of the river reaches the Hanseatic city before it rises at the Krugkupplung Bridge in the Outer Alster. After the Kennedy and Lombardsbrücke, the river finally presents itself as the Binnenalster and flows into the Elbe as the Kleine Alster and Alsterfleet. In general usage, the Outer Alster in particular is often referred to as a lake or Alstersee. In terms of definition, however, that is not entirely correct, because the Alster is also a river there – albeit dammed up.

If you don't like being on the Alster but prefer to be out and about on the Alster, you'll find at hamburg-travel.com more information about what else this body of water has to offer. The Alster tourism offers many opportunities to explore the pearl of the city center from the water. Whether it's a short (60 minutes) cruise for €20/adult or a longer twilight cruise through the many canals (120 minutes for €26/adult), the choice of tours on offer is varied.

Hamburg,
the gate to the world

A stiff breeze, fish sandwiches and lots to discover await you at the Landungsbrücken. From here you have one of the most famous view of the port of Hamburg. To your left the masts of the museum ships Rickmer Rickmers and Cap San Diego soar into the air. On your right there is a hustle and bustle at the piers, from which most harbor tours, but also larger ships, start. The musical ferries also leave here and take you to the south side of the Elbe, where two of the city's four musical theaters are located. Breathe in the salty Hamburg sea air while strolling along the harbor promenade.

Under no circumstances should you miss a walk through the old Elbe tunnel. The Old Elbe Tunnel connects the Landungsbrücken on Sankt Pauli with the port area in the Steinwerder district. When it opened in 1911, this underpass at the Fischmarkt served more of a practical purpose. At least since the construction of the new Elbe tunnel in the 1970s, the tunnel at the Landungsbrücken has become a sight for tourists and locals alike. An elevator takes you down to the depths on foot, by bike or even by car. The 426 meter long tunnel is elaborately designed and thus ensures a special, extremely comfortable atmosphere.

GREEN HAMBURG

Water Art & Serenity
in the mid of the centre

Planten un Blomen is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by shopping streets, the congress center, the exhibition center and St. Pauli. The diversity and the central location make the park equally attractive for locals and guests of the Hanseatic city. The 45 hectare park area lives up to its name: Magnificent plant borders and flower beds are pleasing to the eye and invite you to linger. Wide lawns, idyllic streams and small lakes as well as uniquely designed themed gardens promise rest and relaxation.

A special highlight in summer are the water light shows. From May 1st to September 30th every year, sessions taking place every day 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. (without light and music), as well as a version with an atmospheric light show and music at 10 p.m. Grab a picnic blanket, snacks and a bottle of wine/water and enjoy a Hamburg tradition. The water light shows are free and can be visited spontaneously and without registration. Download the flyer.

Hamburg Cemetery superlatives

With its 400 hectares, the Hamburg Cemetery is not just Hamburg's largest green space, but also the largest cemetery in Europe and the largest park cemetery in the world.

It not only serves as a burial place, but is also a cultural monument and natural area that is valued beyond the borders of Hamburg. 450 species of deciduous and coniferous trees thrive here, the ponds and streams are from waterfowl invigorated. Even the rare kingfisher breeds in the cemetery, as well as the brown owl and the long-eared owl.

Explore the hiking trails and other sights of the Ohlsdorf Cemetery in the north of Hamburg with the App "Cemetery Ohlsdorf". The app includes 800 POIs and 700 famous people. There are 560 short biographies and links to Wikipedia. There is further information on many POIs. You can use integrated routing to show you the way to the POIs on the map.

Hamburg city park
Janine's old children's room

Even as a child, Janine used to go nuts at the paddling pool in the Stadtpark Hamburg with her cousin, with her grandmother she visited the penguin fountain regularly and, as youngsters, met up with friends "to chill". And even today, this green oasis is visited again and again for open-air concerts.

The city park offers a variety of leisure activities: You can get active at miniature golf, jog, swim in Stadtparksee natural pool or just relax with a leisurely walk, sunbathe, play outdoor chess or enjoy a communal barbecue.

Next to the six playgrounds, among other things, with a paddling pool and cable car, the park offers a lot to discover. At the model boat pond at the former main entrance of Hamburg's Stadtpark, you have the chance to see a variety of model boats, in example sailing boats, steamships, yachts, speedboats, warships, barges, freighters, ... From here you also have a good view of the planetarium, which offers a variety of events and 3D shows.

Botanical Garden &
Location of the 1st date

The New Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg is just a few minutes' walk from the Klein Flottbek S-Bahn station. Once relocated to Osdorf from downtown Hamburg due to lack of space, the garden is not far from the Elbe, a popular place for nature lovers. The area takes the visitor to different continents: Asia, America (the flora is divided into North and South America) and the European forest can be found on the site. Thorben and Janine strolled through the Garden on their first date.

With a circular route of around two and a half kilometers, a journey through the botanical and geographical diversity of our planet can be traced in our botanical garden. Branching off, small beaten paths or branched intermediate paths make exploring the site diverse and varied, lead the visitor right into the middle of the different areas and their flora and always allow new perspectives and direct views.

FUN FOR YOUNG & OLD

Hug goats once
and be happy

In the "Wildpark Schwarze Berge", just outside of Hamburg, you can experience the local animal and plant world with all your senses: feed pot-bellied pigs, hug goats, climb the Elbe Tower or conquer the playground. But be careful: If Janine visits this animal paradise with you, she will be the first in the goat enclosure, even if she was very afraid of these cheeky animals as a small child. Experience around one hundred animal species in lifelike enclosures, embedded in a beautiful park landscape. The pot-bellied pigs and deer that can be fed and stroked are particularly popular.

The Elbe Tower, the arts and crafts hall, the huge playground and daily air shows round off the day trip. There is a lot to discover and a visit promises a wonderful day for big and small animal lovers. Unfortunately the website only has a German version.

You can reach the wildlife park by car or by public transport (S3 to Harburg Rathaus; 340 bus).

Games, play
fun & snacks

The children romp around on the playground and the parents catch their breath with a delicious coffee: everyone is happy. Hamburg has a large number of exciting playgrounds to offer, which can also be easily accessed during a breather from sightseeing. Of course, a refreshment should not be missing here.

One of the best playgrounds is the "Playground Bullerberge" in Planten un Blomen. The children can train their dexterity and coordination in a playful way on various hanging and balancing elements. There are also a few water games in the immediate vicinity. And of course, various slides, swings and climbing equipment are not allowed miss.

In Hamburg, the gateway to the world, a pirate playground should not be missing. On the Grasbrook Park playground Playground designers could let off steam in Hafencity: Lots of wood and little plastic. The pirate ship "Wellenkrone" is anchored in the middle of the playground in Grasbrookpark. From the bow, the little pirates have a great view of the enchanted palm island with the viewing platforms and tree houses. The different levels between the palm trees can be reached via ropes and nets.

When visiting the trendy district of Sternschanze, the little ones will also get their money's worth. Right in front of Cafe Winklers is the Playground Winkler's place. Here the slide, sand play, hammock swing and gymnastic bars inspire the little hearts of the raging children.

Elphi: Modern
landmark of Hamburg

The Elbphilharmonie (also called Elphi for short) is a concert hall, that was completed in November 2016. She was planned with the aim of creating a new landmark of the city and to create a "cultural monument for everyone". The 110 meter high building in the distric tHafenCity lies on the right bank of the Elbe at the top of Great Grasbrooks

between the mouths of theharbor basin Sandtorhafen and Grasbrookhafen. It was incorporating the shell of the earlier Kaispeichers A (built in 1963). A modern structure with a glass facade was placed on this base and reminds of a sail,water waves,icebergs.

In fact, the concerts are often fully booked, but a visit to the Elphi and its viewing platform, which is accessible to all visitors free of charge, is still worthwhile. The public viewing platform between the brick base and the glass new building of the Elbphilharmonie is a crowd puller. Up to 17,000 guests flock to HafenCity every day to enjoy the view of the city and harbor from a height of 37 metres. This means that the Elbphilharmonie is now in line with the most popular sights in Europe, such as the Sistine Chapel in Rome, which has a comparable annual number of visitors. If you want to secure access beforehand, you can also reserve a Plaza ticket in advance for €2 per person.

Legendary trip around the world in one day

More than 1,100 trains with over 10,000 wagons as well as 137,000 trees, 289,000 figures, 10,250 cars, 47 airplanes in the air, 16,138 meters of track, 4,340 buildings and bridges were set up by more than 300 employees in over 990,000 hours of loving detail work. In this superlative model construction landscape, you will see realistic train operations completely controlled by computer. It even becomes day and night in the railroad world - and that every 15 minutes. Recently, the Miniatur Wunderland presents the HafenCity Hamburg and the Elbphilharmonie in miniature.

The Miniatur Wunderland is difficult to describe in words. Immerse yourself in the world of the largest model railway in the world and let yourself be enchanted. This Hamburg sight is a must-see not only for railway enthusiasts, but also for world explorers, families and every Hamburg visitor! It is advisable to book online tickets to avoid long lines.

FREIBURG & SURROUNDING

Traditional old town
from the times of the Hanseatic League

Where Hanseatic ships used to be unloaded, you will now find inviting cafés right on the water. Right next door, small shops in the old town streets tempt you to take a relaxed stroll. The best way to discover the charm of the enchanting Hanseatic city in the middle of the holiday region Altes Land am Elbstrom is to do it yourself. Let yourself be enchanted by the picturesque half-timbered houses and discover the most beautiful places in the city center surrounded by water. The architecture is something very special, especially for international guests, and yet very characteristic of the old cities of the Hanseatic League.

The fish market at the historic Hanseatic port is rightly referred to as "Stade's living room". A variety of restaurants and cafes have settled in this homely spot. Cozy seats directly on the quay wall quickly let maritime longings flare up. Especially in summer you can unwind here. A large selection of traditional and modern, regional and exotic, sweet or hearty, small and large dishes offers the right dish for every taste and hunger.

Elbe island Krautsand
the magical landscape

Typical for Krautsand are the houses on Wurten, the thatched roof houses, the orchards, the cattle pastures, the small nature reserves, the harbors and the beautiful sandy beach, which is about 7 km long with the adjoining mudflats. Welcome to Krautsand - Caribbean feeling on the Elbe. Anything but palm trees. Between the dyke and the beach, trees and willows offer shelter from wind, rain and sun. Here you can lie on the beautiful sandy beach, watch the large and small ships in the nearby shipping channel (up to 80,000 ship movements a year) or hike safely through the mudflats at low tide.

Visit the sights of Krautsand and let your soul dangle, far away from the hustle and bustle of Hamburg. There are two lighthouses on the island. The upper fire is visible from afar as a red and white steel lattice tower. It is a listed building and is one of the most striking lighthouses on the Elbe. The small romantic church "To the Good Shepherd" was built in 1845. The church is often used for weddings and baptisms.

Maritime flair &
UNESCO World Natural Heritage

The northernmost city of Lower Saxony is located directly on the North Sea. The Kugelbake, an old sea mark and at the same time the symbol of the city of Cuxhaven, mark the point at which inland shipping ends and the "great journey into the wide world" begins. The variety of landscapes ranges from the fascination of the Wadden Sea to the sand adventure zone - or Grünstrand, the passing ships on the horizon, over the dyke and the vastness of the marshes to still waters and moors, criss-crossed by windswept bends, fields and pastures.

With the Horse-drawn carriages across the seabed to become that is a "must" for every holiday guest and a unique experience in Cuxhaven. Enjoy the ride on the high-legged mud flat wagon and the unique landscape of the Wadden Sea. Such an excursion lasts about four hours and includes a one-hour stop at Neuwerk, an island which belongs to Hamburg. The timetable is determined by the tides. Get to know the Watt in a very special way. Surrounded by sun, wind, water and endless expanse, you can rediscover the mudflats in a whole new way. Alternatively, you can take the Ship, or walk.

apples & cherries & pots
at the gates of Hamburg

The largest fruit-growing area in Northern Europe is right outside the gates of Hamburg. In this way, the idyll of country life can be easily combined with the exciting activities in the metropolis of Hamburg. It is a man-made cultural landscape that is unique in Germany. More than 800 years ago, under the guidance of Dutch colonist leaders, settlers wrested this land from the water with great diligence and great deprivation and created a flourishing landscape.

In addition to large orchards, Picnic among the apple trees (only German information), also get impressed by the large container ships, which are best seen from the Lühe pier. There are also a few snack stands where you can grab a fish sandwich while you admire the pots.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For a longer visit to Hamburg, we definitely recommend the Hamburg Card. It offers free travel on local transport and discounts on tourist offers.

Information & tickets of local transport HVV.

More recommendations & ideas for things to do in Hamburg.

The Hamburg app with digital map and travel guide.

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