From highly acclaimed local brands such as Jil Sander, Nivea and Mont Blanc to offbeat shops and upscale boutiques, Hamburg offers a whirlwind shopping experience for everyone from the novice shopper to the true die-hard trendsetter. No matter the taste, style or pocketbook size, shopping is an integral part of a visit to Hamburg, so we’ve put together a variety of experiences that we’re sure will have your clients buying an extra suitcase for their trip back home.
The heart of Hamburg’s shopping area is Spitalerstrasse, a pedestrianized street that’s home to everything from H&M to a Lego store. Running parallel to this pedestrian-friendly avenue is Moenckebergstrasse, or “Mo,” the city’s main shopping street and home to the exclusive Levantehaus shopping arcade, with more than 40 shops, including the Sansibar Store. In the side streets off Mo, visitors will find antique shops, bookshops and record stores.
For exclusive merchandise, shopping divas should march their Brian Atwood heels over to Neuer Wall, the Champs-Elysees of Hamburg where it’s all about luxury and high-end goodies. This is the city’s premier designer street, with fabulous items from Armani, JOOP!, and Bulgari, to Hermes and Cartier, not to mention Jil Sander, Hamburg’s very own “home girl.” In fact, it’s here where your clients can visit the local designer’s 3-story flagship store to take their pick of chic women’s clothing.
If your clients prefer to make their mark wearing more original fashion, then it’s a detour over to Karolinenviertel they should take, as it’s here where they’ll find young designers producing their own collections.
And word around the water cooler is that Hamburg is probably Europe’s best place for vintage clothing fans, with a bevy of second hand shops sprinkled throughout the city.
For spa lovers, the 3-story Nivea Haus on Jungfernstieg is a must. It’s an 8,600-sq.-ft. haven offering pampering treatments as well as merchandise not available in the States.
Hamburg also offers a network of shopping arcades, including one of the smallest and high-end, Mellin-Passage, which provides a link to Neuer Wall, and one of the newest, Europa-Passage, offering a plethora of shopping opportunities.
Top City Tours
Whether it’s a city tour, a lake tour, a bike tour or a Beatles tour, in Hamburg there’s a tour that will fit any traveler’s style. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store for your clients:
- Harbor Tour: Water, water everywhere. Your clients can see and experience this maritime city from the water on this 1- or 2-hour boat ride that sails right along container ships and cruise liners. Part of the ride is a launch tour around the historic Warehouse City, Speicherstadt, and the Port to then journey down the Elbe.
- Alster Boat Trip: Another boat ride alternative is sailing on the Alster on a steamer, where visitors will get to know Hamburg from her best side. From this unique perspective, they’ll discover close-up all the beauty, charm and flair that the city of Hamburg has on display. They’ll see a city boasting a dizzying number of bridges as well as a metropolis that is one of the greenest in Europe.
- Beatles Tour: Stefanie Hempel is the originator of the musical Beatles-Tour in Hamburg. Clients can follow her on the tracks of the “Fab Four” across St. Pauli, the city’s famous red light district.
- Guided cycle tours: With Hamburg being one of Europe’s greenest cities, it makes sense to recommend clients explore the city in an eco-friendly way—on a bike. Guided cycle tours for groups of two to 20 are available and bike and map are provided, so clients can explore the suburbs, the harbor or the Alster. Individual tours are available upon request. Or, visitors can opt for a Segway tour.
- Eat-the-world tours: Taking visitors off the beaten paths, Eat-the-world presents a unique cultural experience by sampling the flavors of Hamburg’s diverse culinary scene. From street food to local staples to delicatessen, the 3-hour tours include seven food stops, and plenty of information on the city and its culinary scene along the way. Guests can choose between different neighborhoods, including the St. Pauli district and the trendy Ottensen quarter.
