Introducing Hamburg

Outward looking, hospitable, and ultra modern, Hamburg is Germany’s second largest city. One of Europe’s greenest cities, more than 1,000 parks and gardens are woven between an extensive network of tree-lined canals crisscrossed by some 2,500 bridges; it’s not for nothing that the city is lauded as the ‘Venice of the North.’

Over the centuries, the city’s trading prowess drew waves of immigrants, including many Turkish and Portuguese citizens. The port district of HafenCity symbolizes the city’s relentless ambition and architectural vision. A mammoth construction project has transformed the port into a fashionable enclave of restaurants, bars, and desirable apartments. HafenCity’s showstopper is the Elbphilharmonie, a shimmering glass concert hall designed by the preeminent Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron.

Clustered around Alster Lake, the thrusting glass and steel facades of Hamburg’s elite corporations are artfully juxtaposed against the Baroque church of Hauptkirche St. Michaelis. The city’s evolution from trading post to Alpha city is revealed along the Kunsmiele (art mile). In the impressive galleries of the Kuntshalle, Germany’s Old Masters share the glory with icons of contemporary pop culture. The Deichtorhallen is one of Europe’s largest exhibition spaces, dedicated to contemporary art and photography.

Like most port cities, Hamburg retains a seedy undertow. The brothels of Reeperbahn, the city’s red-light district, gave the city the dubious status of ‘Sin City Europe.’ The city’s alternative culture has lured many artists, musicians, and actors. In the 1960s, the Beatles played to riotous Hamburgers no less than 281 times. The Liverpool lads found affinity with the city’s drug-fueled counter culture and the raw power of a great seafaring city.

Airports within a 50-mile radius of Hamburg:

  • Hamburg Airport (HAM)
    • Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport (XFW)

Popular aircraft charters* in the area of Hamburg include:

  • Citation Excel (super light)
  • Learjet 45 XR (super light)
  • Citation CJ3 (light)
  • Learjet 31ER 400A (light)
  • Learjet 60 XR (midsize)
  • Citation III (midsize)
  • Gulfstream G200 (super midsize)
  • Citation Sovereign (super midsize)

*This is just a sample. Zephyr provides access to aircraft at every end of the spectrum, from luxurious VIP airliners, to ultra long range business jet, helicopters, and economical turboprops.