Speicherstadt (Warehouse District)

Speicherstadt (Warehouse District) Review

This imposing cluster of massive brick buildings sits along canals near the Elbe and reveals yet another aspect of Hamburg's extraordinary architectural diversity. Once home to tons of cargo imported by Hamburg, today the area is a mix of offices, restaurants, amusements, and warehouses. These warehouses are still used to store and process every conceivable commodity, from coffee and spices to raw silks and handwoven Oriental carpets. An entire residential area was torn down (including many Renaissance and baroque buildings) to store the wares. Today, the area is home to Hamburg Dungeon, a haunted-house attraction; the Miniatur Wunderland, the site of the largest model railway in the world; and a few museums celebrating the area's shipping past.

Speicherstadtmuseum. Although you won't be able to tour the storage spaces, the nonstop comings and goings will give you a good sense of a port at work. If you want to learn about the history and architecture of the old warehouses, detour to the Speicherstadtmuseum St. Annenufer 2, 20457. 040/321-191. www.speicherstadtmuseum.de. €3.50. Apr.-Oct., weekdays 10-5, weekends 10-6; Nov.-Mar., Tues.-Sun. 10-5. U-bahn: Messberg (U-bahn).