Hamburg: Germany's Second‑Largest City & Major Port

The City That Gives the Hamburger Its Name

Hamburg is a city‑state in northern Germany.

• Population: ~1.9 million (city), ~5.1 million (metro)
• Rank in Germany: 2nd (after Berlin)
• Rank in EU: 8th largest city proper
• Port of Hamburg: "Gateway to the World" – 3rd largest in Europe (Rotterdam, Antwerp), 15th globally.

Key Facts

• Official name: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg) – reflects its medieval Hanseatic League heritage.
• More bridges than Venice, Amsterdam, and London combined (~2,500).
• Home to Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, Airbus assembly, and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall.
• Not to be confused with Hamburg, NY (Erie County), Hamburg, PA, Hamburg, IA, etc.—small US towns named after the German city.

Hamburg = Germany. The original, the big one, the Hanseatic powerhouse.