Entertainment

Theatre, Opera & Literature
Hamburg has a diverse theater scene which is guaranteed to satisfy every taste. If you like light theater, head for Komödie Winterhuder Fährhaus or St.Pauli-Theater, while Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg and Ernst-Deutsch-Theater are top addresses for theater classics. Thalia Theater is well known for its innovative productions of modern pieces, such as the Black Rider by Burroughs, Waits and Wilson, or Lou Reed and Robert Wilson's Poetry. If you're in town with the kids, then they'll be spellbound by the performances at the Theater für Kinder, while the legendary Schmidt Theater on the Reeperbahn puts on brilliant variety shows for adults.

Although modern and unassuming on the outside, the interior of Hamburg's Staatsoper (State Opera House) is one of the most opulent in the country, and hosts performances by many of the world's greatest ballet and opera stars. The best place for classical music is undoubtedly the Musikhalle - Laeiszhalle. Hamburg also has a reputation as being Germany's musical capital. Although Cats has left town after thirteen years at the Operettenhaus, Phantom and other spectacular shows make this theater a firm favorite. If you are interested in readings and literary events, pop into Hamburger Literaturhaus, which features regular readings by world famous authors.

Concerts
As most people here will be keen to tell you, The Beatles' route to world stardom began in Kaiserkeller, which has now been turned into a disco. Nowadays, top live acts perform above the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg's most prominent club, Große Freiheit und Kaiserkeller. Freiheit's arch rival, Disco im Docks, is located just around the corner and attracts equally prominent bands. Markthalle puts on gigs by lesser-known bands, and its atmosphere is second to none. Other blues, jazz and rock concerts take place in Fabrik, a former factory in Altona.

Hamburg also has several great venues for open-air gigs. The Volksparkstadion (officially, the HSH Nordbank Arena) and Trabrennbahn Bahrenfeld regularly host top acts, but probably the best-known venue for open-air concerts is the Stadtpark. If all that's not enough for you, then head to Scheeßel for a whole weekend's worth of music at the annual Hurricane Festival.

Museums & Exhibitions
Admittedly, Hamburg isn't known for being a particularly artsy city, but it does offer a host of interesting museums. Hamburger Kunsthalle is home to one of Germany's best collections of ancient and modern art, while the architecturally charming Deichtorhallen puts on some great contemporary art exhibitions. If you're interested in seafaring, then Altonaer Museum is the place for you, featuring figureheads from ancient galleons, as well as an impressive collection of models and nautical instruments. The museum of Kunst und Gewerbe exhibits a thousand years worth of arts and crafts, while the Museum of Ethnology boasts an impressive collection of exotic items from faraway places. If you want to learn more about Hamburg, then be sure to visit the Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte (Museum of Local History), which contains a model of "Hammaburg," the medieval settlement from which Hamburg gets its name. If the weather is good, then it may be worth taking a trip along the river to the Museumshafen (Boat Museum) at Övelgönne, the final resting place of many an ancient vessel.

Cinema
Hamburg hankered after good cinemas for years, but there is now a multitude of fine film theaters in town. The Ufa-Palast on Gänsemarkt and the gigantic CinemaxX at Dammtor are the most centrally located, but if you prefer to avoid the rush that normally accompanies the latest Hollywood blockbuster, then head for the Zeise Kinos, located in an old factory in Altona. Other well-known cinemas include Grindel Filmtheater, Holi and Streit's on Jungfernstieg. The Abaton and Metropolis show director's cuts and art films.

Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife, the first place most people think of is the Reeperbahn. If you want to have fun, then there's no avoiding the district of St. Pauli, where you'll find the best nightclubs such as Mojo Club, Molotow, Panoptikum, Disco im Docks, Große Freiheit und Kaiserkeller, as well as plenty of theaters, like St. Pauli-Theater and Schmidts Tivoli, museums like Hans Albers Museum and Panoptikum, dance halls (Cafe Keese) and of course, Germany's most famous red-light strip! If you've spent a night on the town and need a hearty breakfast to sober you up, then there's no better place than the fish market.

Sports
Hamburg offers limitless sporting entertainment for both active sports people as well as spectators. Hamburg's main football team is HSV Hamburg, who play in Germany's premier division, the Bundesliga. Their home is the wonderful Volksparkstadion, which hosted some games of the 2006 World Cup. The city's other major soccer team, FC St. Pauli, play in the atmospheric Wilhelm Koch Stadium and are currently in the second division. HSV share the Volksparkstadion with Hamburg Blue Devils, an American football team that has become increasingly popular over the past few years.

The city marathon, the Hansaplast, attracts over a million spectators who turn out every year to cheer the runners along the 42km-long course. If you'd like to take part but need to get fit first, then Hamburg's parks (Volkspark Altona and Stadtpark) and the leafy area around Lake Alster are great jogging territory. Many young people now prefer to roller blade or cycle through the parks, although it is doubtful that they will ever be able to compete with German cycling legend Jan Ullrich, who visits the city regularly to take part in the Vattenfall Cyclassics race.

If you're more interested in water sports, then Hamburg, with its numerous lakes and canals, offers splendid conditions for rowers, sailors, water skiers and canoeists. Horse racing fans should also get their money's worth at the Trabrennbahn Bahrenfeld and Hamburger Derby-Woche in Hamburg Horn. Swimmers should visit Alster-Schwimmhalle, while tennis fans can watch the stars whack the ball around the court in the Rothenbaum Championships, which take place every spring.

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