Germany’s second-largest city, the northern port city of Hamburg, feels more accessible and welcoming than you might expect, with its relatively low and very attractive skyline and its picturesque position on the Elbe River. The city of 1.8 million (5 million meter) is surrounded by canals and bridges, dotted with elegant parks, and known for its considerable trove of modern and contemporary architecture. Hamburg has a stellar live music and performing arts scene, and a love for coffee and beer garden culture during the mild and warm months, and an appreciation for festivals, including one of the largest LGBT celebrations in Germany, Hamburg Gay Pride, also known as Christopher Street Day (CSD) Hamburg.
The Hamburg Pride, which comprises a full week of summer events and culminates with a long weekend of street festivals and a parade, takes place this year from July 30 to August 7, 2016, with the main purpose week of activities from 5 to 7 August.
This year marks the 35th observation of Hamburg Gay Pride, which takes place later in the year than the other largest Pride events in the country, such as Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Frankfurt. Hamburg’s location in north-central Germany, near the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, makes it a popular LGBT destination, especially during the Pride (which is attended by approximately 180,000), with travelers from Copenhagen and Amsterdam; However, keep in mind that the Amsterdam Gay Pride festival takes place at the same time.
The vibrant and extensive Hamburg Pride Week begins on July 30, beginning with an Opening Night ceremony and continuing with various parties, cultural events and other gatherings. A good starting point if you come to town during the week is the Hamburg Pride House at An der Alster 40, which is close to the heart of the city’s Gay Village, has a cafe, staff able to provide information on the local scene. , and a space that hosts various events. It is open from July 31 to August 4.
The Hamburg Pride Festival runs for three days, from Friday August 5 to Sunday August 7. It takes place on the beautiful Jungfernstieg and Ballindamm boardwalks in the city’s bustling Neustadt district, overlooking Lake Binnenalster. The hours are from 3 pm until midnight on Friday, Saturday 11 am until midnight and Sunday 11 am until 10 pm. The stage ranks among the most beautiful Pride festival venues anywhere in Europe. Bands and DJs perform on stages organized at the festival, which also includes arts and crafts, food stalls, community and political organizations, and more.
On Saturday August 6, the Hamburg Gay Pride Parade kicks off with more than 15,000 protesters near the city’s main train station at the corner of Lange Reihe and Schmilinskystraße, about a 20-minute walk northeast of the grounds of the festival.
The holidays are of course a big part of the Hamburg celebration – you can see a full list of the Hamburg Pride Parties here.
Are you planning to visit Hamburg by train? Here’s the scoop on buying a Eurail Pass.
The gay scene in Frankfurt is detailed in English in various online sources, notably the helpful Hamburg Gay Guide Patroc.com and the Hamburg Gay Guide Nighttours.com.
The Hamburg Tourist Office also has an excellent and comprehensive site offering plenty of advice and assistance with vacation planning, and the German Tourist Office’s site on GLBT travel has an enlightening section on Hamburg and Northern Germany.
