Hamburg Special: 48 hours

Hamburg aka. the gateway to the world, welcomed merchants, sailors and travellers for centuries. The second largest city of Germany is best known for its nightlife, northern brick architecture and maritime flair. Whether you are in Hamburg for 48 hours, a week or indefinitely, here’s how to make the most of this exciting harbor city. As I am a Berliner, Paulina from Hot Yoga Norderstedt helped me finding the best of the best. Let's start with the first walk through Hamburg.

Walk through Hamburg

Wildes Fräulein

Sweet café with Tyrolean flair is located in the heart of Hamburg. Here you can enjoy a delicious breakfast or brunch. We especially recommend the alpine butter breads with hearty farmer's bread. Guten Appetit.

Überseeboulevard 2, 20457 Hamburg, +49 40 88 23 09 51, hafencity@wildes-fraeulein.de, www.wildes-fraeulein.de, Station: U4 Überseequartier, Mon–Fr 10:00–19:00, Sat–Sun 9:00–19:00

Dialog im Dunkeln

This museum is one of a kind. The Dialogue House opens the doors to the worlds of complete darkness, of total silence, and of ageing, enabling you to experience the rich potential within them. Broaden your horizons in their three fascinating exhibitions: Dialogue in the Dark, Dialogue in Silence, and Dialogue with Time. If you are looking for an even more intense experience, you may also want to try their dinner in the dark.

Alter Wandrahm 4, 20457 Hamburg, +49 40 30 96 340, info@dialog-im-dunkeln.de, www.dialog-in-hamburg.de, Station: U1 Meßberg, Mon–Fr 9:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun 10:00–17:00

Marco-Polo-Tower

It’s the flagship building of the Hafencity housing one of the most luxurious apartments in Hamburg. A good place to spot German celebrities.

Am Strandkai 3, 20457 Hamburg, www.hamburg.de/marco-polo-tower, Station: U4 Überseequartier, Mon-Sat 9:00–19:00

Hamburg – WALK 2

Gänge disctrict

It’s the flagship district against gentrification. Until the middle of the 20th century, this area extended from the port of Hamburg to the city centre and offered a home to thousands of working families. Only a few remnants of the districts were long forgotten along the Bäckerbreitergang and between Caffamacherreihe, Valentinskamp and Speckstraße - the birth street of the composer Johannes Brahms. And, hooray, they're still standing! Today, run by a companionship to create new cultural space for art and social movement. A lot of the houses have a history, which you can often read about on their walls. Definitely a must-see!

Every first Sunday of the month at 15:00 'Verein Gängeviertel e.V.' offers a guided walk through the district. You can participate without registration, they always meet at Fachwerkhaus, Valentinskamp 34 in Hamburg.

Valentinskamp 28A, 20355 Hamburg, +49 40 53 02 26 99, rundgaenge@das-gaengeviertel.info, www.das-gaengeviertel.info ,Station: U2 Gänsemarkt, Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00

Here you also find a wonderful tea store with tea from Tea Addicts called Teedeeler, where you can have a lovely break.

Karo district

In its narrow streets you will not only find hip boutiques, cafés and bars, but also the Hamburg Dom, the St. Pauli football stadium and the Planten un Blomen park are not fare! It‘s the biggest street art museum in Hamburg. Located between St. Pauli and Sternschanze it conceals the very special alternative charm of the city.

Karolinenviertel, 20357 Hamburg, Station: U3 Feldstraße, U2 Messehallen, 24 hours

Rote Flora

It‘s the symbol of Hamburg’s autonomous scene. A former theater now occupied by leftists is the landmark of the cities alternative movement.

Achidi-John-Platz 1, 20357 Hamburg, info@rote-flora.de, www.rote-flora.de, Station: S11, S21, S31 Sternschanze, 24 hours

Fräuleinwunder

Small and extra charming- named after the Fräulein miracle of the 60ies it offers Scandinavian fashion for women all age.

Susannenstraße 13, 20357 Hamburg, +49 40 36 19 33 29, www.fraeuleinwunder-hamburg.de, Station: S11, S21, S31 Sternschanze, daily 11:00–19:00

Monkey Mind Yoga

This studio offers (Hatha) Yoga in a quiet backyard in the heart of Hamburg's cloudy Schanzenviertel. The idea behind their name is the imagination of the restless mind, like a cheerful monkey swinging from branch to branch in a huge tree. So if you want to get out of your mind carousel for a while and do something good for your body, the Monkeys are the place to be for you. Namasté.

Oelkersallee 33, 22769 Hamburg, hello@monkeymindyoga.de, www.monkeymindyoga.de, Station: S11, S21, S31 Holstenstraße, check their schedule

Zoé Bar–Sofabar

Cosy sofas it’s all it is about! Zoé bar has been a part of St. Pauli for over 20 years. They offer good beer and a great atmosphere.

Neuer Pferdemarkt 17, 20359 Hamburg, info@zoebar.de, www.zoebar.de, Station: U3 Feldstraße, Mon-Fr 15:00–2:00, Sat 12:00–4:00

If you want to find hidden gems of Berlin, check out my folding maps BertaBerlin and QueerBerlin. They are available in well-chosen locations all over Charlottenburg, Neukölln, Kreuzberg, Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin and online. But for those of you, who want to stay up to date, feel free to follow me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK or register for my NEWSLETTER BertaNews.