So much history here. Imagine this is where all the German greats have played. You are transported…read moreback to when classical music was king. Sophisticated and structured. Pure and clean. When you book a ticket through the Elbphilharmonie website make sure to pay attention to the location. They don't make it clear if the location is at the Elbphilharmonie opera house or the Laeiszhalle. Luckily it's only a 5 minute taxi ride if you make the same mistake that I did. Free concerts on the second Tuesday of the month. At noon but get there early as people scramble for the limited seats.

Here I am "watching" a concert by one of my favourite bands in a seat that cost EUR42 and I'm…read morewriting a review. Why is that? Well, I can't see 50% of the band for one. I can see the bassist, drummer and third guitarist. I can't see the singer, lead guitarist or keyboard player. I'm on the 3rd row in the first balcony. I'd say that perhaps 20% of the audience get a good view. A further 30% can see the entire stage, but from a far distance. 50% will get a very impaired-to-non-existent view (some seats are behind columns/walls). I just don't think that's acceptable for the prices. The sound is admittedly good and the place looks quite nice, but those are the only good points. Other negatives include a lack of atmosphere (due to it being all seated). It's uncomfortably hot as there is seemingly no ventilation if the doors are closed (which they always are during the performance). There's also just one choice of beer, so if you don't like König Pils you're out of luck. I'd say it's the worst concert venue in Hamburg - especially for watching rock concerts. Unfortunately, if the band you want to see is booked here there's not much you can do. I can give them a bad review though.

We were asked to leave this night club as no foreigners are allowed! My friend is from the United…read moreArab Emirates. We didn't make any trouble nor were we drunk. We walked in and 2 minutes later we were asked to leave. I am deeply ashamed that this kind of discrimination is still happening in Germany!!! A complaint letter to the management will be send. My friends and I will never go back to this night club and we will make sure to let others know as well. Shame on you!!!

Party boat!…read more Yes it's a little harbour boat tour boat that's had all of the seats ripped out and a bar and soundsystem put in, leaving most of the space for the dance floor. Catch it from the far west end of Landungsbrucken. EUR8 on, and then beers are EUR2.50. It docks once an hour so people can get on and off, but once you've paid your EUR8 then you can stay on all night. One point worth noting: go to the toilet before you get on as there's only one toilet aboard and the queue moves pretty slow!

Visiting the Elbphilharmonie Plaza and viewing platform was definitely the highlight of our visit…read moreto Hamburg. The architecture of this building attracted our attention from the moment we were cruising past the observation tower of the Seemannshöft Pilot Station on the Elbe River. It's stunning! It's even more amazing on the sailaway from the port. It looks like the glass structure is floating on top of the old red brick warehouse. It resembles and mimics a giant ocean wave that reflects it surroundings in the sunlight. How fabulous is that? It was designed by Swiss architects, Herzog and de Meuron. It's such a unique & innovative design that breathes the sun and the sea into the harbor and surrounding warehouses. We arrived on a rainy Tuesday morning. The ticket office is in this small black cube of a building located in front of the entrance. This is where you'll get your free admission ticket to the plaza. It was a very short line that moved quickly as soon as they opened at 10:00 am. It's such a cool experience as you're taking the curved escalator up to the plaza. The "Tube" is illuminated with refective discs that sparkle like pieces of glass in white sand. It's a nice visual before reaching the 2nd set of escalators that take you to the foot of the steps leading up to the plaza. This is where everything comes together. A large & spacious floor of the building with a gift shop, wine bar, café, and even a hotel. The Westin Hotel is part of the property. A stay here would be the icing on the cake. The plaza opens up to the panoramic platform with views of the Elbe and Hamburg. It's a great way to familiarize yourself with HafenCity and the Speicherstadt as well. We also used the Smart Table which gives you excellent drone views of the Grand Concert Hall. Dr. Yasuhisa Toyota designed it with an emphasis on acoustics and intimacy. A design that gives everyone seated inside it a crystal-clear sound of the performance. The concert halls were roped off to plaza visitors. There are optional tours that can be booked to see it for a fee. It's a great rain or shine experience. It's within walking distance from the cruise terminal. You can walk along the harbor to get there. It's a visit that shouldn't missed, and especially if you're a lover of the musical arts. It's called a "cultural music hub" for a reason. Take in a performance while you're there, or just relax in the plaza and take in the views. Either way, it's an enjoyable experience while visiting Hamburg.

What a way to kickoff a week in Hamburg. This venue is quite remarkable from an architectural…read moreviewpoint. The evening's performance was outstanding, the conductor was passionate and entertaining. Sound system in this hall and the design down to the fabric of the seating took into consideration the full experience. Intimate yet truly magnificent. If you have an opportunity to visit, make time to attend. You will fall in love with the French horn all over again and the wind instruments!