Germany - day trips ex-Hamburg?

I friend of mine is visiting Hamburg for a few days in April and asked me for advice regarding day trips.

I´ve been to Hamburg a few times, but never really left the city, so any advice is appreciated!

He´ll probably rely on public transport, so if he can avoid hiring a car, that´s a plus.

Is the Airbus factory tour worthwhile?
Is Denmark doable as a day trip?

Thanks in advance!

I recall that the topic of day trips from Hamburg has come up here quite recently - probably buried in a thread about things to do IN Hamburg. I think that suggestions included Lübeck and Lüneburg - both very good suggestions, and both easy trips by public transport.

If you do a search you should hopefully find these recent threads!

As for Denmark... somewhere like Tønder (just north of the border) is probably just about do-able as day trip, but he'd be spending most of the day on the train (it's about three hours each way)

I am still looking at Hamburg's tourist link re city suggestions. The Maritime museum sounds awesome. Many people immigrated from Hamburg ... a pre-Ellis Island stop for those headed to America.

Within the city, I can strongly recommend the Miniatur Wunderland http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com

Cuxhaven for a taste of the North Sea tidelands: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/f86bd/111eb/

Schwerin: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/f86bd/4be8/

Wismar: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/f86bd/1921/

(Links lead to my own pages over on VT)

I recommend also to look into the related thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germany/1327733-hamburg-anyone.html

Airbus factory tours can be booked on http://www.globe-tours.de/en/visit-airbus/airbus/airbus-plant-tour-hamburg.html

You can also easyly reach the city of Lübeck within less then an hour by train http://www.luebeck.de/languages/eng/city_portrait/index.html

Hi,
Airbus is definitly worth a visist, however additionally a tour at the new container terminal is definitly worth a visit.

http://www.jasper.de/sightseeing-touren/hafentour/

757DUD

Within the city, I can strongly recommend the Miniatur Wunderland http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com

Toured this recently and it was not worth it at all. Beyond, beyond crowded inside. You could not see any of the exhibits at all. And don't think you can see over the little kids, because they have platforms for them to stand on. Absolute waste of time and money. :mad:

I recommend also to look into the related thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germany/1327733-hamburg-anyone.html

Airbus factory tours can be booked on http://www.globe-tours.de/en/visit-airbus/airbus/airbus-plant-tour-hamburg.html

You can also easyly reach the city of Lübeck within less then an hour by train http://www.luebeck.de/languages/eng/city_portrait/index.html

Also did this and it was amazing. It is a walking tour where you see so much up close. Easily one of the coolest things I have ever done ... close to 3hrs too. No photos allowed.

Toured this recently and it was not worth it at all. Beyond, beyond crowded inside. You could not see any of the exhibits at all. And don't think you can see over the little kids, because they have platforms for them to stand on. Absolute waste of time and money. :mad:

Did you go on the weekend? I will be visiting MW during the week and have booked a behind the scenes tour, hopefully I will have a better experience.

I think there's enough to do in Hamburg for a few days, but if they want to go a bit further afield it's a quick and lovely (~1 hr) trip on the ICE to Berlin. I get the impression there are a lot of people who do it daily to commute.

Denmark - at least, Copenhagen - is just far enough to not make it worth a day trip (4.5 hrs on the ICE). The ferry takes up a lot of time, although it's by far the most enjoyable way to get between the two cities. Legoland is also about a 3.5 hr train trip away. (There are buses that go from the train station to Legoland.)

I think there's enough to do in Hamburg for a few days, but if they want to go a bit further afield it's a quick and lovely (~1 hr) trip on the ICE to Berlin. I get the impression there are a lot of people who do it daily to commute.

It's 1:40 - which is nearer two hours than one. And I'd save Berlin for a longer trip - there is too much to do for a day, and it would be very rushed. (And there is nothing particularly lovely about the train journey, it's all rather flat and boring!)

Within the city, I can strongly recommend the Miniatur Wunderland http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com

Toured this recently and it was not worth it at all. Beyond, beyond crowded inside. You could not see any of the exhibits at all. And don't think you can see over the little kids, because they have platforms for them to stand on. Absolute waste of time and money. :mad:

Yes, it does get crowded. You can escape that if you avoid weekends and by purchasing the tickets online in advance and picking a time before noon.

It's 1:40 - which is nearer two hours than one. And I'd save Berlin for a longer trip - there is too much to do for a day, and it would be very rushed. (And there is nothing particularly lovely about the train journey, it's all rather flat and boring!)

It's still not that bad ... and for those of us from less civilised places without a decent rail system (sorry, Amtrak), a ride on the ICE is a treat. Agreed, though; if it's the first time in Germany/Berlin, there's so much to do in the Hauptstadt that it should really be saved for a longer visit.

Did you go on the weekend? I will be visiting MW during the week and have booked a behind the scenes tour, hopefully I will have a better experience.

It was during the week but to be fair, a school holiday. However, they claim to control crowds with timed tickets, no such thing .... just allow everyone in and don't plan on seeing anything. I will never return, not worth it.:mad:

We will be in Germany /Hamburg - June 1: any eateries worth dropping by when visiting the sights?

We will be in Germany /Hamburg - June 1: any eateries worth dropping by when visiting the sights?

This must be the right place for YOU: http://www.dimsumhaus.de/

LOL!!! I'll have DH take a look and translate the Chinese write-uos. I figured out the 1/2 or whole Peking duck special. Hmm, Chinatown might be near by. :D On another thread folks wrote about restos near Le Meridien.

I have spent lots of time in HAM. check out this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germany/1170893-best-restaurants-hamburg.html) for places to eat.

BER is do-able, if you don't mind getting up early, walking your butt off to see the sites, and taking a late train home again. DEN too far for a day.

Martime Museum is very interesting.

Miniatur Wunderland is certainly worth a trip. Am sorry others are so down on it ... it is a tourist destination and should not be avoided just because of that.

Cuxhaven is a great day trip for North Sea beach/air/walks. Plan a stop in Stade. Oldenburg -- from which the horses get their name.

Towards the Baltic, look for Lubeck and Timmdorf, Kiel is very interesting.

Luneburger Heide (the "heath") is a pretty drive.

Another vote for heading east -- Wismar, Rostock, Schwerin loop.

Lots of day trips in the area.