PROGEDO presents: The Hanseatic City of Hamburg
Before relocating to Hamburg, the question arises: What can I expect there? The Hamburg Relocation Agency has compiled some facts about this beautiful Hanseatic city for you.
The Hanseatic City of Hamburg
With over 1.7 million inhabitants, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is the second-largest city and also a federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany. Hamburg is located in northern Germany at the confluence of the Alster and Bille rivers with the Elbe and is divided into seven districts with a total of 104 neighborhoods.
The total area is 755 km² (60 km² of water surface). The city stretches 40 km from north to south and from west to east.
Notable landmarks include the Harburg Mountains with the highest elevation (116 m above sea level), the Elbe River, which flows from east to west through the city center, and Fuhlsbüttel Airport in the north.
The A1 and A7 motorways run through the city. A special feature is the Alster, which has been dammed to form an artificial lake in the city center and is divided into the larger Outer Alster and the smaller Inner Alster, enclosed by the historic city center.
What about Hamburg’s “shitty weather”?
Hamburg's climate is influenced by its geographical proximity to the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and Scandinavia. A nearly constant light breeze provides fresh air and makes hot summer days more bearable. According to statistics, Hamburg's famous "dirty weather" with drizzle and cold winds isn't that common. What about Hamburg's "shitty weather?"
An average of 760 mm of precipitation falls throughout the year, which is not among the highest values compared to other regions in Germany.
The average temperature is approximately 1°C in January, 8.1°C in April, 17.4°C in July, and 10.4°C in October. With 1,522 hours of sunshine per year (34% of the possible sunshine duration), however, Hamburg residents aren't exactly blessed with sunshine.
Traditional Hanseatic city and modern metropolis
After the border was opened, Hamburg's importance as an international trade center and a connecting link to the Eastern European countries continued to grow. Hamburg holds a leading position in the fields of aviation, shipping, media, science, and research. Hamburg is one of the oldest republics in Europe and has a history spanning over 1,200 years. The Hanseatic city is one of Germany's most important economic and industrial centers and is a significant service and trade center.
Container ship cranes at Hamburg Harbor, Germany,,,
One of Hamburg's landmarks is the third-largest port in Europe (one of the most important transshipment zones worldwide). Hamburg is also the third-largest aviation hub in the world after Seattle and Toulouse. Together with New York, Hamburg is the largest diplomatic center in the world due to its large number of consulates.
Maritime life in the countryside
Hamburg offers a high standard of living. Numerous parks, green spaces, and water features make Hamburg a green city and enhance the attractiveness of individual neighborhoods. The proximity to the water and the availability of beautiful green spaces and parks contribute to the quality of life in this northern German metropolis.
Even the North Sea and Baltic Sea are easily accessible by car in an hour. The nearby Lüneburg Heath and the neighboring state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with their many lakes and nature reserves, are among the most beautiful and attractive recreational areas in Germany.
Leisure in Hamburg
Hamburg's cultural and art scene is world-renowned. Gourmets will also find their fill in the many first-class restaurants. Countless shopping opportunities and the lively party scene round out the leisure offerings.
Mönckebergstraße, a pedestrian zone that runs from the main train station to Rathausplatz, offers a great shopping opportunity. A bit more exclusive is the famous Jungfernstieg and its side streets, home to many exclusive boutiques.
beautiful night cityscape with mooving water
On the southwestern side of the Alster, you can enjoy wonderful shopping even in the rain at the small but magnificent "Alsterarkaden" shopping arcade. At Eppendorfer Baum, you can stroll in an architecturally pleasant setting. On Tuesdays and Fridays, don't miss a stroll through Hamburg's most beautiful weekly market on Isestraße.
It's difficult to describe the city's diverse bar and nightlife scene. When it comes to restaurants, the "Restaurant Report" is particularly recommended, as it's based on guest reviews.
Successful musicals, the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, and the Deichtorhallen offer entertainment for every taste. A true tourist attraction is the Reeperbahn – the central street in the St. Pauli entertainment and red-light district, with many well-known nightclubs and bars such as Schmidt's Tivoli and Thalia Theater.
Hamburg real estate market
The real estate market in Hamburg, like many other cities, should be viewed from a variety of perspectives. The following section primarily describes the location in popular neighborhoods that are of interest to PROGEDO clients.
Besides HafenCity, the best residential areas include the areas around the Outer Alster and the western districts. However, these are not exactly cheap. Hamburg is one of the cities with the highest rents in Germany. The supply of large, exclusive rental properties is much lower than demand, especially in the popular "Elbsuburbs" (Blankenese, Nienstedten, Klein- and Groß-Flottbek, and Othmarschen). Well-equipped properties are available for approximately €14-18 per square meter.2 Many foreign managers and their families would like to live near the international school live in Othmarschen, which increases demand enormously. Larger apartments are also a rare commodity – they are rented for around 13-15 euros per month.2 The rent is cold rented. Conclusion: anyone who wants to live with their family in a quiet, yet centrally located area should look in the aforementioned districts. Provided they have sufficient financial means. Those who want to save a bit on their budget will have to resort to the neighboring districts of Osdorf and Bahrenfeld to live in this corner of Hamburg. Rents are significantly lower there. This also applies to Lokstedt with the French school and Schenefeld, Halstenbek and Pinneberg. In Pinneberg, which is already part of Schleswig-Holstein, another international school, the International School Campus opened. Particularly due to the attractive tuition fees and significantly lower rents than in the Elbe suburbs, it is an alternative to the international school located there.
Blankenese, famous district, city of Hamburg, Germany
The districts around the Outer Alster truly have a special flair. They are popular with singles and young couples. Rotherbaum and Harvestehude are among the most beautiful but also most expensive areas, which, in contrast to lively Eppendorf and Winterhude, are rather quiet. Older buildings, in particular, are rare and very expensive. Well-equipped apartments here start at €12 per square meter.2 Many even cost 17 euros or more per m², depending on location and amenities.2Similar prices can be found in Eppendorf, which has developed from a trendy neighborhood into a desirable residential area for high earners. Numerous pubs, bars, and shops make the district particularly attractive and lively. Winterhude offers a similar atmosphere for slightly lower prices. Uhlenhorst is a somewhat quieter district. Prices there, as in St. Georg, depend heavily on the location. Due to its proximity to the main train station, St. Georg struggles with common underprivileged neighborhood crime, but it boasts a special flair and is becoming increasingly popular, especially among singles and young couples. Due to high demand, it's not easy to find a small apartment in any of the aforementioned locations around the Outer Alster. Larger apartments are rare, and houses for rent are almost impossible to find. Furthermore, there is an acute shortage of parking spaces in all the neighborhoods surrounding the Alster.
The trendy districts of Eimsbüttel, Schanze, Ottensen, St. Pauli, and parts of Altona are particularly popular with young people. Life is vibrant here. Apartments, and their associated leases, are practically snapped up from the hands of real estate agents and owners, regardless of their size. A good apartment with a rent below €12 per square meter is hard to find; €13-15 is the norm. And for a new apartment in a prime location, you can expect to pay €16.
For families, the northern districts such as Poppenbüttel, Hummelsbüttel, Sasel, and Volksdorf, as well as the so-called "Walddörfer" (Wohldorf-Ohlstedt, Duvenstedt, Lemsahl-Mellingstedt, and Bergstedt), are particularly recommended. Rents range from approximately €9 to €16 per square meter.2The downside is the long commute to the city center. Especially during rush hour, you should expect a 45-60 minute drive.
A completely new district, indeed an entire area, has been under construction for more than 10 years—and is still under construction—in Hafencity. Once one of the world's largest construction sites, Hafencity has now become an attractive, metropolitan residential area. Impressions:
Residential units for up to 12,000 people and workplaces for up to 40,000 people are expected to be built on the site by the mid-2020s. The location between the Elbe River and the city center, as well as the modern architectural style, make the apartments, especially those directly on the water, highly sought after and correspondingly expensive. Rents of over €20 per square meter are not uncommon here.
There are also quite attractive residential areas south of the Elbe River, many of them still at very reasonable prices. However, this cost savings is only partially worthwhile due to the relatively long and time-consuming commute to Hamburg's city center.
The most beautiful excursion destinations in Hamburg
Once you've taken the first steps toward relocating to Hamburg, it's time to explore the beautiful Hanseatic city and its sights. Thanks to its fascinating history as a Hanseatic city, Hamburg combines modern zeitgeist with time-honored tradition. >>>
The Hamburg Michel – the church of St. Michaelis
Hamburg’s landmark – the city’s main church, affectionately known as the “Hamburger Michel” – stretches over a height of 132 meters.
Built between 1750 and 1762, Germany's most important Protestant Baroque building experienced numerous setbacks during its lifetime. The faithful reconstruction following a fire in 1906 and the destruction in World War II made it possible for the St. Michael's Church to still be found and visited in Hamburg today.
On your own or with the help of a church guide, you can experience the altar, pulpit, organs, and the church's history up close. From May to October, the church can be visited from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and from November to April from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Elbphilharmonie
The Elbphilharmonie is Hamburg's cultural landmark. Three concert halls, a complete hotel, the Plaza—which offers a unique view of Hamburg from a height of 37 meters—and 45 residential units are built on approximately 1,700 reinforced concrete piles, embedded in the Elbe River.
Construction site of the new Elbphilharmonie in Harbor City in Hamburg
This Gesamtkunstwerk is currently one of Europe's most exciting architectural challenges, not least because of its fascinating location. Old and new combine to create a unique synthesis, characterized by the harbor, the classic brick architecture, and the urban ensemble.
Located in HafenCity, the concert hall, under construction since April 2007, rises to a remarkable height of 110 meters. Known as a scandalous project, this construction project is on everyone's lips, not least because of its resulting costs. Due to delays, the construction budget of €114 million set in 2007 has long been significantly exceeded. After numerous renegotiations, the client – the Hamburg Senate – and the construction company HOCHTIEF agreed on a net construction budget of €575 million in December 2012.
While completion was originally planned for 2010, the expected acceptance is expected to take place in October 2016. A visit to this unique building is still worthwhile.
The Hamburg Dom
Welcome to the largest and longest-running folk festival in the north! Three times a year, more than 260 showmen present stalls, rides, food and beverage outlets, carousels, and much more across an area of 160,000 square meters. Accompanied by regular fireworks displays and special themed events, this is a truly must-see.
amusement park dom in hamburg
Over the 30 days of the Spring, Summer, and Winter Festivals, more than 2.8 million visitors celebrate a magnificent festival that dates back to the 11th century. At that time, craftsmen, jugglers, merchants, and other traveling vendors sought shelter from the "shitty weather" beneath the then-existing St. Mary's Cathedral in Hamburg – wind and weather made traveling or working outdoors impossible.
This bothered the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bremen and Hamburg canon Burchard Gelle, who banned them from the cathedral in 1334. When he heard that all the city's churchgoers resented this, he permitted the merchants' presence in 1337 – the "Cathedral Season" was declared inaugurated. The condition: only during Hamburg's "shitty weather." Thus, the market remained in the cathedral until it was demolished in 1804 due to restoration work that could not be completed.
Without a fixed location, the traders and showmen spread out across the various districts, including Gänsemarkt, Pferdemarkt, Großneumarkt, and Zeughausmarkt. Due to this necessity, they were assigned a new location in 1893: Heiligengeistfeld—the site where the cathedral still stands today.
The Miniatur Wunderland
Looking for an experience for the whole family? In the heart of the Speicherstadt (Warehouse District), covering an area of 6,400 square meters, you'll find the world's largest digitally controlled model railway. Surrounded by snack bars, a cafeteria, play areas, and art tables for your little ones, this layout will delight young and old alike.
The daily routine, completely computer-controlled and simulated every 15 minutes, is magnificently staged by 160,000 figures, 5,000 cars, 9,000 meters of track, 3,000 houses and bridges, 1,000 signaling systems, 250,000 lamps and 165,000 trees.
Participation is expressly encouraged at Miniatur Wunderland! The switches installed at every corner allow you and your little ones to start a cable car, spin wind turbines, or simulate a goal-scoring shout in a football stadium.