Best areas to stay in Hamburg

For Hamburg holidays that send you to the heart of the action, choose Altstadt. This is one of the best areas to stay in Hamburg for a riveting array of cultural attractions, from the 19th-century Town Hall to the many restored buildings that were bombed during World War II. Even more pleasantly, the Altstadt (or ‘Old Town’) runs along the Elbe river, so there’s plenty of picturesque walks to take along the canals. In need of more impressive buildings? Don’t miss the UNESCO-listed office buildings of the Chilehaus area.

Looking for LGBTQ-friendly places to stay in Hamburg? St Georg is home to a hub of gay-friendly establishments, from brunch spots to bars to cafes. This is also the neighbourhood where the annual Pride parade takes place. Better still, it’s one of the most diverse neighbourhoods Hamburg has to offer; make the most of this by staying here and venture out to feast on the likes of Irani, Turkish and Indian grub!

St Pauli is a great area to stay in Hamburg if you’re looking for a night out on the tiles but don’t want the journey home to take too long. Okay, it has a pretty seedy rep, but if you can deal with the sex shops, strip joints and neon-lit streets, you’re in store for a decent night out. But it’s more than just a red light district; there’s also plenty of chilled-out coffee shops, intriguing art galleries and more on offer.

Otherwise known as Sternschanze, the area generally referred to as Schanzenviertel is a hipster hub, with a laidback, bohemian atmosphere. Once a working-class neighbourhood, gentrification has slowly taken over, so while there’s a few crumbling buildings that tell the story of this neighbourhood’s past, you will also have the chance to flick through the stacks at record stores, people-watch from a streetside cafe or get chatting to local hipsters at one of the pubs or bars.

Eimsbüttel may not be a very big area, but it’s an ideal place for families to stay. There are plentiful cocktail bars, delicatessen shops and tempting restaurants to choose from, while the main action centres around the Osterstrasse shopping street. But what really makes it an ideal spot for families is its number of green areas, from tree-lined streets and wide-set avenues of nouveau buildings to the spacious Eimsbüttel Park. Not much further away is Hagenbeck’s Zoo; if you’re looking for things to do with kids in Hamburg, you couldn’t choose a more perfect place to stay.

HafenCity is a little different to the other areas on this list; for one, it hasn’t finished being built yet, but when it is, you can bet your bottom dollar that this will be the ultimate place to stay in Hamburg. Nearby is the historic warehouse district of Speicherstadt, while contemporary buildings and cultural gems are cropping up, perfectly combining striking modern architecture while regaining the city’s historical charm. It’s a chance to escape the swathes of tourists while discovering a totally new, totally different area for yourself; it undoubtedly makes for one of the most stylish stays in Hamburg.While construction is due to be completed by 2025 (if not sooner), you can get a feel for the area – or let your imagination run wild with what new developments will crop up – with a stroll around the nearby Kontorhausviertel, Chilehaus and Speicherstadt districts and buildings, all of which are UNESCO-listed.