Day 15: Hamburg

Date	16 Dec 2025
Total Spain 2025	245 miles.
Total Germany 2025	97 miles.
Total This Camino:	255 miles.
Total All Caminos:	2450miles
Lodging:	Jugendherberge Hamburg auf dem Stintfang @ € 47
Total Lodging:	$ 1034
Total Airplane(s):	$ 1020 / $ 132
Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides:	€ 8
Total Transportation:	$ 160
Food:	€ 24 @ Dreich ( Labsksus & Sußkartoffel suppe ) € 4 Schmalzkuchen
Total Food:	$ 412

Seeing Hamburg

Experienced so far in Hamburg

• Auf dem Stintfang: Panoramic city and harbor views
• HafenCity: Saw the historic red-brick warehouse district and modern harbor area.
• Port of Hamburg Boat Tour: Ride the #62 ferry twice ( Once when I arrived and once when I was leaving ). Ride the #72 to the Elbphilharmonie. Saw the massive port from the water.
• St. Michael's Church: Hamburg's most famous church. Went to the top of the Bell Tower.
• Reeperbahn: Walked around the vibrant nightlife district in the evening.
• St Pauli district: Walked around the entertainment district at night. Visited the Christmas Market.
• Alster Lakes: Stroll around the Inner (Binnenalster) or Outer (Außenalster) lakes.
• Landungsbrücken: See the bustling piers and historic ships.
• Rathaus: Explore the vibrant nightlife district in the evening.
• St Nikolai Church
• Inner (Binnenalster) and Outer (Außenalster) lakes
• Immersive dinosaur experience 
• 5 star dinner of Labskaus
• Weihnachtsmarkt at the Rathaus
• Weihnachtsmarkt at Jungfernstieg

It is exciting to visit these new places, but I'm also ready to come home. 

So I have another day in Hamburg tomorrow ( Wednesday ), but the morning after I'll be getting up very early Thursday at 3:45 a.m. in order to catch the 4:30 a.m. rapid transit train to the airport. I have a 7:00 takeoff from Hamburg to Madrid.

Day Trips

Visit to the Jewish Community Center

I wanted to continue an expiration of Jewish history in Germany. 

I took the subway line out to the neighborhood of the Jewish Community Center here in Hamburg. 

But when I got there, I found out that it is not like a museum or historical site. 

Therefore, as a result, it was not open random visitors. In other words, one was expected to be a member to come inside. 

On a side note, because of the recent attack in Australia on a Hanukkah celebration, I did observe how security was significantly stepped up at the community center. 

As I approached there was a German police woman standing guide just to the side of the center with an assault rifle. 

While I was on the gate intercom talking to somebody in the office, she slowly made her away in my direction until she was standing right behind me. 

She clearly was paying attention to what I was doing at the gate, talking over the intercom. I can only imagine that the police woman thought how odd it is for a foreigner to want entry to the Jewish Community Center. Therefore, it was worthy of Investigation on her part.

To be clear, there was no interaction between her and me except for her seemingly casual stroll from her watch position to standing right behind me. No conversation was exchanged.

Hamburg free walking tour

From there, I went directly to the Rathaus - City Hall for my free walking tour. 

I must say that it was excellent, as Leo - the guide - was informative, humorous, personable and very very good in his presentation.

Heinrich Heine was born into a Jewish family but converted to Lutheran Christianity in 1825. He famously called his conversion "an entry ticket to European civilization," suggesting it was for professional and social reasons, and his connection to his Jewish heritage remained complex.

Hamburg's City Hall

Binnenalster - the Inner Harbor

In addition to the harbour, the Alster forms the maritime face of the city of Hamburg. The Alster, divided in to Binnenalster and Außenalster by the Lombardsbrücke, is a meeting point and attraction for tourists and Hamburgers alike.

One of the original trading houses of Hamburg, the ships in each corner, portray its maritime tradition. 

Adolf III (12th and 13th century), who is noted for establishing trading guilds on the banks of the Alster river

St Nikolai Kirche

The church was used as the aiming point for an Allied bombing campaign during world war II due to the height of its steeple. The church was never rebuilt to remain as a memorial to the savagery of war.

While everything around it has been rebuilt since world war II, obviously, the church itself remains in post-bombing condition in order to symbolize the cruelty of war.

St Michaelis Kirche

Because of the steeple height, and the location of the church, this landmark was always the first thing that sailors would see of Hamburg when returning from months of being on the water.

From the steeple of Saint Michael

Port Des Lumières Dinosaurs feature

Went to a 360 fully immersive life-sized documentary on the dinosaurs. Pretty amazing to see them at full scale.

Dreich Restaurant

I don't usually dine at five star places.

Planning to treat myself to something special tonight. 

Labskaus is a northern German's dish. 

I can't think of anything it compares to as regards American food.

And sweet potato spicy soup

The Rathaus Weihnachtsmarkt and the Jungfernstieg Weihnachtsmarkts

These were much bigger in scale than the St Pauli district Christmas market the other night.

And the tone was more in line with the family oriented

German practice

This whole next sequence of seven images is about using the ATM to get money out. 

Identification is being performed

Withdraw cash 

Withdraw cash in specific denominations

The amount

Please enter the amount

With or without receipt

Enter the PIN and select confirmation 

Be sure the pin is not seen by others

Cancel or abort or stop

The transaction is being processed 

Please take your card out

The payment in the amount of €100 is being processed

Elevator warning. A " Paternoster " uses a constantly moving assembly. One enters the elevator by stepping onto a plate that is continuously moving up, and is therefore dangerous if one takes one's time stepping into the contraption.

The use of the paternoster is at one's own risk.

It is forbidden for school classes, unaccompanied children, city tours, and carriers with bulky goods.

Ersatzhaltestelle - a bus stop that has been temporarily moved to a new destination, some distance away from its original posting, due to construction or some other obstruction.

The bus is stopping 

Passenger requested 

To open the door

Visitor information at St. Michael's Church