hella Hamburg half-marathon

CITY AREA PORTRAIT St. Pauli, the Harbour & the Reeperbahn

At Hamburg’s city coast, the Elbe and the harbour, you can just sit down and watch as ships, ferries and tugs pass by and enjoy the strong sea breeze. A few hundred meters away you can experience Hamburg’s world-famous “sinful mile” – the Reeperbahn.
More

Local and international cultural diversity altonale

Diversity, tolerance and openness are the core values of the annual altonale. The festival offers a varied programme of music, film, theatre, art, dance, literature and street art. The events take place both indoors and outdoors at numerous unusual locations throughout Altona on an area of almost 30,000 square metres. A central element is the festival centre on Platz der Republik, which presents a colourful and diverse programme throughout the entire duration of the festival.

The festival concept

The unique combination of active participation, the strengthening of togetherness and the promotion of basic democratic values, combined with an extraordinary cultural programme, is what makes the altonale so special. This unique cultural festival has been delighting guests for over 25 years. Every year, the team develops new ideas and formats for the multifaceted festival.

The highlights

One highlight is the STAMP Festival (‘Street Arts Melting Pot’), which will form the finale of the altonale from 19 to 21 June 2026. International artists will transform the streets and squares of Altona into lively stages for performative art in public spaces.
The altonale flea market, one of Hamburg's largest flea markets, and the art market on the Christianswiese, where artists exhibit their latest works, are always part of the event. Another crowd-puller is the information mile Buntes Altona, where the diverse cultural and leisure landscape of the Hanseatic city is presented. The young altonale encourages children and young people to get involved and offers a diverse programme of workshops, readings and art.

Unique weekly market in Eppendorf Isemarkt

Those who want to do their weekly groceries at the market usually should better be morning persons. But the Hamburger Isemarkt even gets the late risers out of bed to buy fresh and regional products. 

Every Tuesday and Friday at dawn the Isestraße turns into a paradise of market stalls. The highlight of this market is not only its spectacular range of stalls but also its special location: The Isemarkt runs along one kilometer underneath the bridge of the Hochbahn of the line U3 from Hoheluftbrücke to Eppendorfer Baum.  

There is nothing that you can’t purchase

Among the more or less 200 retailers there is nothing that you can’t purchase. From fish to juicy apples from the old land, colorful flowers, aromatic cheese and exotic tee up to sweet herbs and delicious vegetables locals can get everything they need for their daily life as well as what brings little joy to life. Even lyric from Hamburg is offered to the customers – if you’re lucky presented in a live performance.  

Strolling around and drinking coffee

Even if you don’t have anything urgent on your shopping list, it’s always a pleasure to visit the market just for strolling around and drinking coffee. In between the numerous retailors and visitors a very special atmosphere arises, one that can’t be found at the 100 other markets in the city.  

Literature and Culture at the Port of Hamburg Harbour Front Literaturfestival

From 19 September to 11 October 2026, Hamburg's harbour will be transformed into a stage for literary discoveries. International stars and new voices will present their works in extraordinary locations against the backdrop of harbour cranes and overseas containers.
More