Your HAVENS LIVING apartment is located in Altona, a borough in the west of Hamburg that has a lot to offer. In addition to a great city beach, this district has a number of highlights. You could for example watch the hustle and bustle of the docks from Altona’s largest balcony (Altonaer Balkon) or stroll through the fish market. Another place for a walk is the Alter Elbtunnel, a subterranean crossing of the Elbe river. We hope you’ll have a lot of fun discovering this part of your new hometown!
Beach in the city
The Elbstrand (Elbe beach) in Altona is a true rarity. A beach in a city? Although Hamburg is not located at the seaside, it is something Altona has to offer. The long sandy beach with a view of the Elbe river is the ideal place to take a break and relax. Every now and then you might see one of the big ships or joggers exercising on the beach. There’s also a natural monument: Germany’s oldest large glacial erratic called “Alter Schwede” (a single very large stone). At some sections of the beach you’re allowed to have a barbecue and of course you can try out the cafés and restaurants there.
Hamburg’s largest balcony
If you’re looking for the best panoramic view of the city, you’ll find it at the Altonaer Balkon. It is situated at the Geesthang area in Altona. With a view from approximately 27 metres above the river Elbe you can see the container harbor, the passing ships or the Köhlbrandbrücke (Köhlbrand Bridge). The unique balcony above the Elbe is part of the greenway extending westwards along the northern shore of the Elbe from Hamburg-Altona over Neumühlen. With the town hall of Altona on the opposite side this place is also great for taking wedding pictures. And the best thing is that this place is never too crowded, so you can enjoy nature in peace.
Fresh fish
Those looking for a place to buy fresh fish should check out Altona’s fish market. There you’ll get your favourite fish every Sunday morning (from April to October: 5:00 a.m. till 9:30 a.m. and from November to March: 7:00 a.m. till 9:30 a.m.). Those who are not into fish might still find it interesting to visit the fish market because of the timeless traditions you can experience there, such as the street cries of the vendors, and the never changing appearance of the place.
A stroll through a part of history
The Alte Elbtunnel in Hamburg was built more than 100 years ago and connects the quarter St. Pauli and the island Steinwerder on the river Elbe. You can get there quickly by taking the S1 to Landungsbrücken – although the fastest way to get there is by bike. Since the tunnel is closed to cars, you can cross it by foot or cover the distance of 426 meters by bike. Thanks to the historical construction with a lot of attention to detail, the Alter Elbtunnel is also a great backdrop for a photo session.
