Where to Stay

Visitors to Hamburg can't complain about lack of accommodation. The city contains practically every kind of lodging, from exclusive hotels with every imaginable luxury to budget-sensitive youth hostels. Over 250 hotels and boarding houses offer a total of 30,000 beds, all of which are badly needed, as over four million tourists, trade fair visitors and business people stay in Hamburg every year.

Many hotels are strategically situated near airports, railway stations and main roads. The Airport Hotel Hamburg, for example, offers banqueting facilities, an art gallery and a fine restaurant, but at 130 EUR (at the cheapest) for a single room, it is firmly fixed in the upper price bracket. Kock's Hotel Garni and the Mercure Hotel Hamburg Airport Nord are also located close to the airport, while Best Western Premier Alsterkrug Hotel is just a few minutes drive along the road into town. Hotel Rex and Hotel Helgoland are good bets if you are travelling along the A7 motorway in the North, as too are Hotel Restaurant Engel and Hotel Restaurant Ausspann. In the South, establishments like Quality Hotel Ambassador or the Forum Hotel Hamburg, Hamburg's second largest hotel, offer a comfortable night's rest. If you are heading east, then Hotel Berlin or Hotel Eggers near the A24 motorway are good choices.

The Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is, as you would expect, surrounded by hotels. Examples include the Hotel Europäischer Hof, Hotel Terminus Garni, Maritim Hotel Reichshof Hamburg, Hotel Fürst Bismarck and Steen's Hotel. Minotel Metro Merkur is a good and inexpensive alternative. Many other establishments are located within walking distance of the station, such as Hotel Alte Wache, an old town house with a classic atmosphere.

Many visitors prefer to stay in the picturesque hotels and guest houses near Lake Alster. The luxurious Kempinski Hotel Atlantic is one of the finest examples and has been a fixture in Hamburg's hotel scene for over 90 years. Other excellent places in this part of town include the tiny Aussen Alster Hotel, the modern Wedina Hotel, the charming Relexa Hotel Bellevue Hamburg and the traditional Prem with its lovely garden and first class restaurant. The comfortable Crowne Plaza Hotel is also nearby.

The district of Rotherbaum on the western bank of Lake Alster contains the exclusive Hotel Inter-Continental Hamburg, which is home to the Spielbank Hamburg casino and offers wonderful views of the lake. Upmarket Eppendorf is home to the Abtei, a fantastic villa with beautiful gardens. Other recommended places in the area are Hotel-Pension Am Nonnenstieg, the Japanese-style Nippon Hotel Hamburg, and the apartments on Klosterallee or Oberstrasse. The Grand Elysee Hamburg, Hotel Amsterdam-Garni and Hotel Vorbach are located slightly further south, near the university and exhibition centre.

Many trade fair visitors choose to stay at the Radisson SAS Hotel Hamburg, which is home to "Hamburg's highest nightclub" ("Top of the Town Bar and Lounge," located on their 27th floor), and which offers direct access to the Congress Centrum CCH and the Planten un Blomen park. Other decent alternatives are Hotel Baseler Hof on the Esplanade, Hotel Oper and NH Hamburg Norge.

Big names in the city centre include the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten and Park Hotel Hyatt. The latter boasts its own nightclub ("The Shark Club"), a large health and fitness centre and two restaurants. Other quality lodgings include the Renaissance Hotel Hamburg and the Steigenberger, located on an island in the Neustadt which hosts the Fleetinsel Festival every summer.

Hotel Hafen Hamburg towers high above the Landungsbrücken, close to the River Elbe and Reeperbahn. The nearby district of Altona is home to Hotel St. Annen and Best Western Raphael Hotel Altona. Hotel Imperial (also home to the "Imperial Theater") faces the Operettenhaus and is an ideal starting point for night-owls. The same is true of Hotel Ibis Hamburg Altona near the Altona railway station. Entertainment is also guaranteed at Hotel am Holstenwall. Situated near the city centre, the hotel has two excellent restaurants and its own theatre, the "Neues Theater am Holstenwall." Across the street, you can go for a walk around the historic city fortifications, the Wallanlagen, or visit the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte.

The picturesque district of Blankenese is known for its beautiful villas, leafy parks and exclusive hotels and restaurants. Places like Hotel Louis C. Jacob and Hotel Blankenese are also popular.

Several international hotel chains have branches in Hamburg: Ibis, for example, has hotels in Altona (Hotel Ibis Hamburg Alster) and Hotel Ibis Hamburg Wandsbek. You'll also find the 3-star Novotels Novotel Hamburg Airport, Mercure Hotel Hamburg City and Novotel Hamburg Arena. There are also several motels in town. The wacky sixties Motel 21 in Horn has provided the backdrop for many a German TV show, while Motel Hamburg on Hoheluftchaussee caters to an international clientele.

Among the city's youth hostels, mention should be made of Jugendherberge auf dem Stintfang. Located on a hill near Landungsbrücken, the hostel offers lovely views of the river and is extremely close to the city centre. The Jugendherberge Hamburg - Horner Rennbahn has an open fireplace (great on Hamburg's cold winter evenings!) and is ideally located for horse-lovers and punters with the race-track next door. The independently-run Hamburger Jugendpark Langenhorn e.V. offers great sports facilities, while many backpackers head for Instant Sleep Backpacker Hostel in Schanzenviertel, which has its own laundrette and internet cafe.

Whichever place you choose, it is always advisable to inquire beforehand about reduced weekend rates or special offers, which include tickets for the theatre, or access to trade fairs. You should also bear in mind that many hotels boost their rates at peak times, such as during the holidays and major trade fairs.