Altstadt

city district, Hamburg, Germany

Also known as: Old Town

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

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The Altstadt is the historic nucleus of Hamburg, Germany, and was the city's original medieval settlement. It is bordered by the harbor and roads that once marked old fortifications. While fires have destroyed many older structures, the Altstadt's layout is still discernible through ancient street names and the canals, known as Fleete, that connect the Alster lake to the Elbe River docks. The Altstadt is home to five principal churches, though none remain in their original condition. The city's heart features the Binnenalster and Aussenalster lakes, surrounded by elegant suburbs.1

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Hamburg
The city layout
…of the city is the Altstadt (Old Town), the former medieval settlement, bounded by the harbour and by a string of roads that follow the line of the old fortifications. Within this core there are few great buildings to remind the visitor of the city’s thousand-year history apart from the…
Read More
…of the city is the Altstadt (Old Town), the former medieval settlement, bounded by the harbour and by a string of roads that follow the line of the old fortifications. Within this core there are few great buildings to remind the visitor of the city’s thousand-year history apart from the…
Read More