Landungsbrücken

The Landungsbrücken are Hamburg's tourist epicenter and at the same time one of its most honest addresses – because here, since 1907, working shipping and city life have rubbed shoulders. 688 meters of floating pontoon in a U-shaped curve, nine bridge berths for harbor-tour barges, the tide-gauge tower with the harbor clock (synchronised since 1908), and the departure point for HADAG harbor ferries 61, 62, 72, 73 and 75. For a 4.00-euro single HVV ticket you can buy yourself a harbor tour that beats any 25-euro barge cruise: line 62 to Finkenwerder, past shipyards, container terminals and the old port, or line 72 to the Elphi. A classic at 7 euros are the official harbor tours run by Maritime Circle Line or Rainer Abicht – departing from Brücke 1. Alongside lies the museum ship Cap San Diego, a few meters further the Rickmer Rickmers, and between them the famous Brücke 10 with its fish-roll stalls (Bismarck herring, fried fish, brown shrimp roll – in that order). Best time of day: half past six in the morning, when the harbor wakes up and the light over the Elbe is given away for free, or shortly after sunset, when the lamps along the bridges come on. Getting there: S1/S3/U3 Landungsbrücken – arguably the most beautiful elevated railway station in Germany.