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About Hamburg
The city took its name from the first permanent building on the site, castle Hammaburg, which was ordered to be built by Emperor Charlemagne in 808 AD. Centuries later, since 1842 the Elbe River has been navigable by commercial vessels and has provided important trade links as far inland as Prague. Its proximity to trade routes quickly made Hamburg a major port in northern Europe and Hamburg is now known to be the largest harbor city in Germany and the second largest in all of Europe. This cosmopolitan city has earned its title as Germany's Gateway to the World. Hamburg’s mercantile background is reflected in the city's architecture with exclusive houses and villas surrounded by greenery, which were once home to merchants and captains. The citizen's parliament and the senate are housed in the “Rathaus” (town hall), a neo-renaissance styled structure which showcases an eclectic mixture of various architectural styles and epochs in its interior. Known for giving the Beatles a start in their musical career in the early 1960s, Hamburg boasts 31 theatres, 6 music halls, 10 cabarets and 50 state and private museums, making it a cultural hub in Germany. The City of Hamburg offers something for everyone, from shopping, fine dining, music and cultural events to the famed Fish Market (since 1703), lively bars and a vibrant nightlife.
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Surrounded by scenic lakes, canals and the graceful Elbe River, Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany with a population of 1.74 million inhabitants which spans over 755 square kilometers. This lively city boasts over 64 km of canals and 2302 bridges, more than Venice and Amsterdam combined, and is an undeniable beauty situated on the North Sea.