The Port of Hamburg, established in 1189 by Frederick I, functions as Germany's largest seaport and Europe's third-largest container facility, handling 7.8 million TEU in 2024. Located 110 kilometers from the North Sea on the Elbe River, the port covers 73.99 square kilometers and maintains its designation as Germany's "Gateway to the World"
The Elbphilharmonie, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and completed in January 2017, rises 110 meters above the Elbe River from the 1963 Kaispeicher A warehouse foundation. Construction costs escalated from the original €77 million budget to €870 million over a 13-year development period, with multiple delays including an 18-month construction halt in 2011. The building features a curved glass facade atop the brick warehouse base, housing three concert halls including the 2,150-seat Grand Hall with vineyard-style seating designed by acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota. The public Plaza on the eighth floor opened in November 2016, providing 360-degree panoramic views and serving over 4.5 million visitors in the first year of operation.
The Altonaer Fischmarkt operates every Sunday since 1703, originally established to accommodate 18th-century church regulations requiring fishermen to complete sales before 8:30 AM Sunday mass. Located along the Elbe River in St. Pauli, the market operates seasonal hours: 5:00-9:30 AM April through October, and 7:00-9:30 AM November through March.
