Hamburg Hotels

From below, on the pedestrian pier across from Landsbrücken Port, an imposing elevated site and classical-modern architecture, gives the Hafen Hamburg the look of a five-star hotel. Once inside, the impression remains. The hotel has gracious public rooms in a lovely art-deco style, with period chandeliers, stairways ornamented with spidery ironwork, and graceful hallways.

Many guest rooms have spectacular views of the port and the Elbe River. Though imposing, the Hafen Hamburg's location is not perfect, particularly if one is without a car. The nearest transit station to downtown is a five to 10-minute downhill walk from the hotel (through a park with a prominent statue of the statesman Bismarck) and the city center is another 10-minute ride on an elevated S-Bahn train. Nonetheless, this is the best hotel for the money we saw in Hamburg.