Live like a local: Hamburg

Saturday morning

Enjoy brunch in one of the little cafes in Ottensen; a mix of multicultural shops make it an interesting area to stroll.

Saturday afternoon/evening

From Ottensen, it is a scenic walk down to Övelgönne, a beach on the river Elbe. There are bars/cafes on the river bank – the perfect place to grab a coffee or an Alsterwasser. Watch ships float by.
Take the ferry from Övelgönne towards the city centre for breathtaking views of the skyline. Get off at Landungsbrücken, in the St Pauli district (above) and venture into the Portuguese Quarter for dinner.

Saturday night

Hit the red light district around the Reeperbahn. Find big nightclubs on the main strip and Grosse Freiheit. Casual drinks and bar-hopping is best done on Hans-Albers-Platz or Hamburger Berg. A classier option with stunning views is the cocktail bar 20up, in the Empire Riverside Hotel, empire-riverside.de.

Sunday morning

Start at the fish market where vendors pitch loudly for fish and produce. Try Fischbrötchen (fish sandwich) in the old auction hall, where bands blast out rock and pop to wake the sleepy visitors. Elise Missall took culture studies in Trinity and Luneburg. She divides her time between Dublin and Hamburg

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