Free sightseeing: Alster lakes

Innenalster, Binnenalster in the middle of the inner city of Hamburg with Alster swans and restaurants

Alster with a view of the inner city of Hamburg City, Hamburg Town hall and St. Nikolai church

Highlights

Promenades and recreation area in the centre of Hamburg
Visit some of the most expensive residential areas in Hamburg on a trip with the Alster steamer
Pedal boats, rowing boats and sailing boats on the Outer Alster
Some of Hamburg’s most exclusive hotels are located on the Alster
Take a lap around one of the most popular jogging trails in Europe
The Jungfernstieg is the starting point of the arcade quarter – home to the city’s shopping paradise

A local recreation and water sports area in the middle of the city: the Alster Lakes

What is there to see here?

The Elbe is not the only large body of water in Hamburg. A little further north, right in the city centre, is the Alster – which is actually a river, not a lake. The Alster flows from southern Holstein through Hamburg and empties into the Elbe. However, the people of Hamburg dammed up the Elbe as early as 1190 to operate a large corn mill. The lake that was created is now 184 hectares in size and divided into the Inner and Outer Alster.

The Alsterpark was created for the International Garden Show in 1953, opening up the banks of the Alster to the public and making it a popular destination for outings. Until the 1970s, the Alster was an important transport route for freight within Hamburg and to the northern suburbs. And public transport also used Alster boats on scheduled services as a waterway until 1984.

Right in the city centre, you will find a wonderful recreational area in the form of the Alster Lakes. The Outer and Inner Alster are almost completely lined with public paths, the route around the Outer Alster is 7.33 km long (with the Inner Alster about 10 km) and is one of the most popular running circuits in Europe. The Outer Alster is also a popular water sports area – you can go rowing, sailing or simply take a pedalo or kayak.

And where do we go from there?

At the Jungfernstieg, at the southern end of the Binnenalster, you are in the middle of the city and just a stone’s throw from the town hall. Besides sightseeing, the Jungfernstieg is also the perfect starting point for your shopping trip. The shopping and strolling district of Passagenviertel offers everything your heart desires, and the traffic-calmed shopping street of Mönckebergstraße is just around the corner. Of course, the hop-on hop-off buses also stop at the Jungfernstieg and at the Rathaus. And the Planten un Blomen park is just a stone’s throw away.