Trendy route

As you exit the Messehallen underground station (U2), you will spot the Church of St John of Kronstadt – Germany’s largest Russian Orthodox church. With its rounded shape and Romanesque and Gothic elements, the building is reminiscent of the architectural style of Byzantine churches, and this effect was further enhanced when five onion domes and Orthodox crosses were added at a later stage. Walking towards the northern edge of the square, you turn left into Marktstrasse – the very heart of the colourful Karolinenviertel. Formerly a socially deprived quarter, it has long developed into a vibrant, arty neighbourhood. As you explore the area, you will immediately notice the alternative, non-conformist spirit that is prevalent here.

The Karolinenviertel is shaped by the creative input of its residents and merchants. On Marktstrasse and the surrounding streets you will find a great choice of original, owner-operated shops offering clothing, music, design pieces, accessories and decorations. The local designers here make it a point to create and produce their goods locally, and thus many of the shops also serve as studios. Numerous creative brands and products have evolved in the Karolinenviertel, some of international standing, and the area is free of chain stores. Here you can find anything from timeless fashion and design to streetwear and sportswear as well as festive, vintage and rock ‘n roll clothing. Taking a leisurely stroll through Marktstrasse and its side streets, you can absorb the unique atmosphere.

The Karolinenviertel not only invites you to browse and shop, but also offers an excellent range of food and drink places. From your first morning coffee to your last order late at night, there are plenty opportunities; the diversity you experience while shopping in this trendy urban quarter also applies to it gastronomic scene. While the quarter is quite small in itself, the density of cafés, bars, clubs and restaurants of all kinds is all the greater – just explore for yourself. Should you come here on Saturday, we would definitely recommend that you check out the Flohschanze flea market, which takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm at the western end of Marktstrasse outside the Alte Rinderschlachthalle.

It used to be a small community flea market but has since grown immensely in size. On an area of 1,200 m², you can explore a great range of second-hand goods and vintage pieces. Prizes are mostly negotiable so feel free to haggle. As early as the 19th century, a market hall here was the location where up to 2,500 cattle and 5,000 sheep would be traded. If you now cross the street Neuer Kamp at the southern edge of the Karolinenviertel, you will find yourself directly at Heiligengeistfeld – Hamburg’s largest outdoor event space. Three times a year, this is where the Hamburg DOM takes place, Northern Germany's largest public festival. At the same location you can also find the Millerntor Stadium ­– home to the legendary FC St. Pauli football club.

Now that you’ve experienced the buzz of city life we have just the right thing for you: Planten un Blomen, the beautiful public park west of Heiligengeistfeld. The name is Low German and translates as “plants and flowers”, giving visitors a foretaste of the diverse flora that awaits you here on an area of 47 hectares. Lovely green spaces with winding paths, quiet watercourses and hidden seating areas make this park so appealing. One of the park’s highlights is the Japanese garden, at the centre of which you can find a Japanese tea house by a small landscaped lake, where tea ceremonies are held during the summer months.

Not far from here you will find the “Mediterranean terraces”: an area with layered slate slabs that help create a Mediterranean flair and store the heat of the sun, providing ideal conditions for Mediterranean plants such as hibiscus, fig trees and lime trees. On the north-western edge of the park you will find a rose garden with about 300 different varieties as well as an apothecary garden with numerous medicinal plants and herbs. In the evening hours, you can witness a very special experience at Planten un Blomen: between May and late September, spectacular water light concerts take place daily at 10 pm at the large park lake, during which water fountains are illuminated in bright colours to the sound of classical music.

From the lake in Planten un Blomen, a five minutes’ walk will take you to the nearby Messehallen U-Bahn station. Or else you can rent a StadtRad and cycle to your desired location.

As a route planner, we strive to put together particularly diverse routes through Hamburg's most beautiful areas. Did you like our Trendy route? We look forward to receiving your feedback. To discover even more unique corners of Hamburg, take a look at our city map.