Travelling the world is a liberty so many of us long for, but barriers to such freedoms are often everyday commitments like jobs. Luckily for cruise ship captains, both go hand in hand — and one former explorer fell in love with a certain European destination during his travels.
Cruise and cargo ship captain Nico Berg has travelled the seas for more than 20 years and has seen just about every corner of the world, but it’s safe to say Hamburg in Germany has left a lasting impression. He thinks the city is a must-see and an underrated cultural beauty compared to more popular beauties like Rome or Paris.
The former AIDA Cruises captain conducted an interview with Wine Traveller and told them there’s no feeling quite like making your way up the Elbe River in the morning and entering the German city through the Hamburg Port.
At 680 miles long, the river — which flows through the Czech Republic and Germany before reaching the North Sea — winds past various mountain ranges and countryside, before making the ‘unforgettable’ journey right into the heart of Hamburg.
Berg described the “amazing” views while docking in front of the curve at the harbour piers as the sun rises behind the historic Hamburg Michel church.
He added: “Although I’m at home all over the world as a seafarer, Hamburg always gives me a feeling of coming home. When our ship leaves Hamburg Port, tourists stand along the Elbe and excitedly wave at us.”
For first-time visitors, Berg recommends the Speicherstadt, known as the City of Warehouses, which is a bustling area sprawling with canals and red-brick warehouses that was once a customs-free trading zone, but is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is the largest warehouse complex in the entire world, coming in at a whopping 260,000 square metres, and all you need to do to get a good view of it is take control of a small barge and cruise your way through the maze of narrow waterways.
The captain also pinpoints St. Pauli Elbe Tunnel as another must-see attraction in the city. Opened in 1911, this historic landmark runs beneath the river and is open to both pedestrians and cyclists.
Next, there’s the Fish Market which has been running every Sunday morning for hundreds of years, boasting exciting live music and of course tasty fresh seafood.
