Any recommendations on how best to spend 4 hours in Hamburg in the next month or two?

Nancy

Come on give us some more information what you are looking for, etc... Than somebody will assist you. I am unfortunately not familiar with Hamburg. Sorry about that...

Are you looking to stay inside the airport or go into town? Do you have lounge access? Which airline will you be flying (HAM has 2 terminals)?

You may have just enough time to take the shuttle bus to the central train station (it runs every 20-30 minutes IIRC) and then jump on the double decker buses for a quick tour.

You may have just enough time to take the shuttle bus to the central train station (it runs every 20-30 minutes IIRC) and then jump on the double decker buses for a quick tour.

It runs every 15 minutes - journey time into town is 25 minutes.

Information in English:

http://www.jasper.de/index.php?id=18&L=1

Everybody here is assuming you are arriving and departing by air, but that may not necessarily be the case. You could be a train passenger. Or even a boat passenger. Do tell us more and I'm sure someone will be able to come up with some ideas.

Sorry for not being very clear. I am arriving by air either KLM or CO. Flying with CO will give me more time in Hamburg. Flying with KLM will give me time in the AMS which is favorite airport. Which airline I fly with will depend on what is available in Hamburg. In either case, I will have a few hours to spend before my return flight to the State side.

I will have a rental car but shuttle bus might be prefered because I hate driving in an unfamilar city.


Nancy

Aviatrix thank you very much for the link to the Airport Express.

Nancy

Aviatrix thank you very much for the link to the Airport Express.

Nancy

You're welcome! ^

As for driving in Hamburg... if you only have four hours to spare, and a flight to catch, then I would recommend NOT trying to find your way around town (and back to the airport) in a car. Hamburg is not the easiest place to drive in, and signposting is pretty poor in places. (I'm talking from recent experience)

The desire to go into town (maybe to take a quick walk around the Inner Alster) is complicated by the fact that the S-Bahn extension into the airport is STILL not finished.

Does anyone know what the ETA is for that oft-delayed project? (I've heard sometime in 2008)

The desire to go into town (maybe to take a quick walk around the Inner Alster) is complicated by the fact that the S-Bahn extension into the airport is STILL not finished.

Does anyone know what the ETA is for that oft-delayed project? (I've heard sometime in 2008)

Hamburg Airport is one of the few truly metropolitan airports in Europe. As from 2008, a new direct rail link, running every 10 minutes, will take passengers from the airport to the city centre in 23 minutes.

4 hours is not long. I would go by bus to the central station. Walk Spitaler Str., Moenckeberg Str. to the Alster (......damm). Then Junfernstieg (Alsterhaus, great shopping and food at the top floor!) , Neuer Wall, go in some of the Gallerias (shopping arcades), Grosse Bleichen, ABC Strasse, Collonaden, Gaensemarkt and take a taxi from there back to HAM.

Shopping arcade "Hanse Viertel" is nice. Nice shops, restaurant

http://www.hanseviertel.de/de/home/index.php

http://www.hamburg-tourism.de/Hanse-Viertel.454.0.html?&L=1

Thanks USAFAN. I will definitely do what you have suggested. Now have a link to the Airport Express, an awsome map program and a suggestion of what to do.

I have been following the airport, office, hotel, office, hotel, airport routine for way too long. This may be the first business trip I enjoy in a long time.

Nancy

Thanks USAFAN. I will definitely do what you have suggested. Now have a link to the Airport Express, an awsome map program and a suggestion of what to do.

I have been following the airport, office, hotel, office, hotel, airport routine for way too long. This may be the first business trip I enjoy in a long time.

Nancy

(.....damm) should read b a l l i n damm ... I can't edit it?!?

Note: The drive from the city center to HAM can be much longer than the quoted 23 min., especially in the afternoon rush hours.
The bus also used to stop at Dammtor-Bahnhof, next to Radisson-SAS hotel, that would be near the Gaensemarkt, which I mentioned, however, I don't know, if this is still the case.

(.....damm) should read b a l l i n damm ... I can't edit it?!?

Note: The drive from the city center to HAM can be much longer than the quoted 23 min., especially in the afternoon rush hours.

I've managed to do plane to Hbf in 30 mins before, in the evening rush, it can be done. The taxis there are pretty on it and they don't charge a fortune. I have to say though, Hamburg isn't the best place for only 4 hours, it might just be worth just grabbing a bite on the Alster and heading back to the lounge.

Hamburg is not the easiest place to drive in, and signposting is pretty poor in places. That's an understatement!

I have one full day in Hamburg on Friday.

I've read about the usual sights and actually visited 20 years ago. Can anyone recommend some interesting non-touristy things near the Crowne Plaza as well? Favorite parks, gardens, etc. Thanks.

Speicherstadt and a Curry Wurst at Mönckeberg Grill (Mönckebergstrasse, inner City, near the main station).

Sounds good, DTS. Thanks.

Anyone else have an off-the-beaten path suggestion?

Depending on what you consider touristy.

If the weather is nice (not much of that this summer), stay outside. Walking around the Alster is quite nice. Taking a boat ride around the Alster and the canals. Harbor tour. Walk along the Elbe thru Blankenese.

Americans find this strange....but European cemetaries are park-like. Take a stroll thru Ohlsdorf.

Have you visited the City Hall. Very admirable. From there.....Jungfernsteig and Alster Arkaden (shopping and food).

Can't remember the name of the restaurant. Stand in front of city hall. Look at the canals to your left. At the furthest bridge (on the left side of the canal), there are some stone steps going down to a restaurant at the water level. Super German food.

Many cities have a distinctive skyline. Hamburg has 5 well-known churches. Take a look at these. Go to the bombed-out church -- they never renovated it after the war, to remind current generations of the horrors of war. Underneath is an awesome wine shop. Can taste and buy. Last time we were there, he had 3 bottles of wine from the last Czar. For the set, simply Euro 1 million!

Contact Airbus and see if they give tours.

Those ought to keep you busy.

Thanks, kevinsac. I'm printing both posts now to take with me. BTW, did you have all of that on the tip of your brain?