When someone thinks of a city full of bridges, a few places usually come to mind – from Venice, Amsterdam to even London. But there’s one European city that beats all of them. It’s even believed to have more bridges than those three combined. According to travel experts at Barcelo, the city has more than 2,500 bridges, giving it the nickname “Venice of the North”.
The place in question is Hamburg, Germany’s second-biggest city. Hamburg’s unusual layout is shaped by the Elbe, Alster and Bille rivers, along with canals, lakes and small waterways. That network has helped create a city that is filled with crossing points, waterfront buildings and, of course, bridges. It’s also a place with a long and rich history.
Hamburg was once part of the powerful Hanseatic League (a medieval defensive network of market towns in Central and Northern Europe) and remains one of Germany’s 16 federal states.
It covers an area of around 750 square kilometres and is home to nearly two million people.
One of its most famous landmarks is the Town Hall, built in 1897.
The huge neo-Renaissance building is supported by 4,000 wooden stilts and houses Hamburg’s parliament and city government.
Nearby is the Speicherstadt, the world’s largest warehouse complex built on timber foundations.
It was constructed between 1883 and 1920 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today, the Speicherstadt is home to the Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s biggest model railway, as well as museums and exhibitions.
Another highlight is the Chilehaus, a 10-storey building shaped like the prow of a ship.
Built in the 1920s, it’s made from almost five million dark bricks and is one of the most iconic examples of Expressionist architecture in Germany.
For something more modern, there’s the Elbphilharmonie, or “Elphi,” a huge glass concert hall built on top of a former warehouse.
It opened in 2017 and now hosts world-class performances. The viewing platform at the top also offers panoramic views of the city and port.
Hamburg’s port is the second largest in Europe, after Rotterdam.
Visitors can explore it by boat or take in the view from the Elphi’s observation deck.
Hamburg is also a city perfect for slow walks that take tourists across its many bridges.
The most popular ones include: the Köhlbrand Bridge (Hamburg’s largest bridge), Kohlbrandbrucke, Kehrwiederfleet and Kibbelstegbrücke.
