Planning a Trip

Arriving

By Plane -- The Airport Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel is 8km (5 miles) north of the city center. It's served by many scheduled airlines and charter companies, with regular flights to major German airports and many European and intercontinental destinations. Lufthansa (tel. 01803/805805; www.lufthansa.com) offers flights to Hamburg from most major German cities, and many national carriers fly into Hamburg, including Air France from Paris and British Airways from London. United Airlines, Delta, and Lufthansa offer direct flights from the United States. For flight information in Hamburg, call tel. 040/50750 or visit www.ham.airport.de.

An ultramodern terminal and passenger pier at the airport has a roof shaped like an enormous aircraft wing. This terminal contains an array of shops and boutiques -- even a branch of Harrods of London -- as well as restaurants and other establishments.

During the day the S-Bahn (suburban rail network) line S1 operates every 10 minutes between Hamburg airport and the central railway station, Hauptbahnhof (trip time to the center: 25 min.). The Hamburg Airport (Flughafen) S-Bahn station is directly in front of the air terminals and is reached by elevator, escalator, or stairs. The one-way fare to the center is 3€, or 1.50€ for ages 11 and under.

By Train -- There are two major rail stations, the centrally located Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, Hachmannplatz 10 (tel. 040/39183046; www.bahn.de), and Hamburg-Altona (tel. 040/39182387; www.bahn.de), in the western part of the city. Most trains arrive at the Hauptbahnhof, although trains from the north of Germany, including Westerland and Schleswig, pull into Altona. The two stations are connected by train and S-Bahn. Hamburg has frequent train connections with all major German cities, as well as frequent continental connections. From Berlin, 15 trains arrive daily (trip time: 2 1/2 hr.), 37 from Bremen (trip time: 54 min. to 1 hr., 16 min.), and 33 from Hannover (trip time: 1 1/2 hr.). For information, call tel. 01805/996633 (www.bahn.de).

By Bus -- Because of Hamburg's location astride most of the rail lines of north Germany, the majority of passengers arrive by train. But if the bus appeals to you, call Central Omnibus (tel. 040/247576; www.zob-hamburg.de). From their headquarters across from the railway station, they'll supply information on fares and schedules for the buses that funnel passengers in from other cities. Information about short-haul buses from surrounding towns and villages is available from Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (tel. 040/19449; www.hvv.de).

By Car -- The A1 Autobahn reaches Hamburg from the south and west, the A7 from the north and south, the A23 from the northwest, and the A24 from the east. Road signs and directions to Hamburg are frequently posted.

Visitor Information

For visitors to Hamburg, information is offered at several centers. Tourist-Information, Hauptbahnhof, Kirchenallee exit (tel. 040/30051300), is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 9pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm (phone inquiries are accepted Mon-Sat 9am-7pm). Port Information, St. Pauli Landungsbrücken (tel. 040/30051300), is open April to October daily 8am to 6pm, and November to March daily 10am to 6pm. There is another tourist office at the airport, at terminals 1 and 2 (arrivals area), open daily 6am to 11pm. For tourist information in Hamburg contact the visitor information hot line at tel. 040/30051300 or see www.hamburg-tourism.de.

Getting Around

A word to the wise: Park your car and use public transportation in this busy city. Practically all public transportation services in the Hamburg area -- the U-Bahn (subway), S-Bahn (city rail), A-Bahn (commuter rail), buses, and harbor ferries -- are run by Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV), Steinstrasse 12. For information, call tel. 040/19449 (www.hvv.de). Tickets are sold at Automats and railroad ticket counters.

By Public Transportation -- Hamburg's U-Bahn, one of the best in Germany, serves the entire central area and connects with the S-Bahn surface trains in the suburbs. This network is the fastest means of getting around, but buses provide a good alternative. The advantage of surface travel, of course, is that you get to see more of the city. For information, call tel. 040/19449.

Fares for both U-Bahn and the bus are 1.85€ to 8€, depending on the distance. You buy your ticket from the driver or from vending machines at stops and stations.

For 2011 there will be a change in the price structure as follows: Most single tickets will cost 2.40€, although a very short trip will go for 1.20€. Otherwise you will be able to purchase a 1-day pass for the city center for 5.20€, or 7€ for a more extended area, or even 10.40€ for the entire MVV network.

By Taxi -- Taxis are available at all hours; call tel. 040/211211. www.taxi211211.de. Taxi meters begin at 2.70€ and charge 1.70€ per kilometer after that.

Have Card, Will Travel

The Hamburg Card offers unlimited travel on all public transport in Hamburg, as well as 50% discounts to several museums and a 20% discount on city tours. A 1-day card goes for 8.50€ for individuals (for one adult and up to three children 14 years old and under) or 14€ for families. A 3-day card costs 20€ for individuals and 32€ for families. You can get these cards at some hotels, major U-Bahn stations, and the tourist office, or call tel. 040/30051300.