There are so many cities in Germany, all of which have their own individual characteristics. Visiting Hamburg had been on my list for years, not just for the city's history, but because there is so much to see and do. My main focus on visiting any city is always the history and Hamburg wasn't going to disappoint me. I've never been that interested in modern history, always favouring medieval history across Europe. However, in recent years I've delved more into World War two, investigating the stories behind the main events. Hamburg has a great deal to offer from this period.

Getting there was easy, with direct flight from London Stansted with Ryanair and not overly expensive either, compared to flying with a major airline. On arrival getting into the city center was quite simple by train (S-bahn) which only cost €3.20 straight to Jungfernsteig. The exit was at Rathausplatz where the impressive city hall is located. There are also numerous cafés and shops by the waterways. Breakfast wasn't expensive either, only costing €8.90 for two croissants and a frothy cappuccino by one of the waterside cafes.

My time on this trip was limited, as I was only there for two days and did have an itinerary which I did adhere to. I visited the ruins of St. Nikolas Church, which was bombed during the was during WW2 as part of Operation Gomorrah, reading about what happened from the little museum that was there. Unlike other churches, it wasn't rebuilt or the location built over, with the site standing as a memorial to Hamburg's past. The museum told the story of the church, which was very interesting and all about Operation Gomorrah. All the information boards were in both English and German, which made understanding the history easier. There was a small charge of €5.00 which covered both the museum entrance and the tower visit, which was money well spent.

My accommodation for the night was the Hamburger Alm Hotel, located on the Reeperbahn, Hamburg's infamous red-light district. The hotel itself was certainly not the best I've stayed in, it's decor basic and facilities functional.  However, it suited my budget, especially, as I always travel on  budget. The following day was cloudy and overcast with spots of rain at times, but that didn't stop me from doing everything which I had planned to do. 

I headed down to the river, looking at the free vista attractions on the way. I try and do as many free outdoor activities as possible as this does help with budgeting. Besides I enjoy discovering their history. My main objectives for the day, were the Elbe Tunnel and the former Soviet submarine which was labelled as U434. I enjoyed both, but the submarine was very cramped and claustrophobic for my liking. The tunnel was free to walk along and using the stairs added to the enjoyment. The submarine cost €9.00 which was again money well spent. I plan to return to Hamburg again very soon.

The cities of Cologne and Bonn both share the same airport, which is Cologne/Bonn Airport or Köln/Bonn flughafen in Germany. There are several flights a day from Stansted especially during the summer months, which makes doing a day trip very feasible. The airport itself is rather large but very easy to find your way around due to the prominent signage. Upon arrival the best way to get to either city is by public transport which is fast an efficient.  

Getting to Cologne is very easy and the U-bahn or underground/metro is the best option, by following the signs going down stairs. The ticket machines are located outside the entrance to the platforms with the fare costing a reasonable €3.50 each way. The trains are very frequent with the journey taking about 15 minutes to the hauptbahnhof which is next to Cologne cathedral.  

Getting to Bonn does take a little longer and the better option is by train from Cologne hauptbahnhof. The other option is a local train to Siegburg, which connects to the straßenbahn line 66 to several stops on the city centre. There is so much to see and do in either city depending upon your interests. 

The cities of Cologne and Bonn both share the same airport, which is Cologne/Bonn Airport or Köln/Bonn flughafen in Germany. There are several flights a day from Stansted especially during the summer months, which makes doing a day trip very feasible. The airport itself is rather large but very easy to find your way around due to the prominent signage. Upon arrival the best way to get to either city is by public transport which is fast an efficient.  

Getting to Cologne is very easy and the U-bahn or underground/metro is the best option, by following the signs going down stairs. The ticket machines are located outside the entrance to the platforms with the fare costing a reasonable €3.50 each way. The trains are very frequent with the journey taking about 15 minutes to the hauptbahnhof which is next to Cologne cathedral.  

Getting to Bonn does take a little longer and the better option is by train from Cologne hauptbahnhof. The other option is a local train to Siegburg, which connects to the straßenbahn line 66 to several stops on the city centre. There is so much to see and do in either city depending upon your interests. 

When we think of Nuremberg, most of us will associate the town with the Second World War. Firstly, in connection with the Nazi Party who held huge rallies in the town, but perhaps more for the Nuremberg Trials following the defeat of Germany at the end of the war.  

Even though the town was largely destroyed by the bombing raids, it's been rebuilt in its former footprint and has retained its Bavarian characteristics and old-world charm. The town has all that a visitor could wish from a single German town in terms of tourist attractions, shops, cafés and restaurants.  

Nuremberg is situated on the Pegnitz River, which adds to the appeal of the town, offering riverside walks through the town and to the numerous cafés which line the river. There is also a large wall around the town, which as town walls go is very impressive indeed. Walking around the walls and along the river are free, and so are the town's churches, of which St. Lorenz and St. Sebaldus are the two largest. Both these churches are architecturally different, with cast interiors with fascinating histories. The church of St. Sebaldus also contains the tomb of Sebaldus who died in the year 770 and is the patron saint of Nuremberg.  

The town contains numerous museums. These include a railway museum and the Fembo House Museum, which in my opinion should be high on every visitors to do list. There nominal entrance fee charge of around €5 to get in which, wasn’t expensive given the time I spent in the museums. All the locations relating to the war are also freely available to the public including the courtroom where the Nuremberg trials took place, the rally grounds and the Dokuzentrum where the documents relating to the war are stored. This is also a museum and well worth a visit. Albrecht Durer was a local artist who lived between 1471 - 1528 and his former house is also a museum. Another notable house is the Henker Haus or hangman's house which was home to Nuremberg's hangman Franz Schmidt 1555 - 1634 who was once the town's executioner. He left a diary in which he detailed the 361 executions that he performed during his 45year career. Although the museum is interesting, there is nothing to see apart from information boards which are mainly written in German. Purchasing a copy of the book will enlighten you as to his interesting career choice.  

By far the two popular attractions are the town's castle which sits high on the hill overlooking the town. The grounds and walkways are free to walk around but there is a small charge to go into the courtyard and castle museum. Make sure that you pay the extra to do the well room tour.  

The zoo or Tiergarten is located just outside the town and easily reached by tram from the hauptbahnhof. The zoo is situated in parkland with all the animals in huge enclosures and there are numerous restaurants and food kiosks around the park as well. They have an array of animals including gorillas, polar bears, seals, manatees and dolphins. I spent around eight hours there and could easily have stayed for longer.  

The town's cafés and restaurants are numerous and varied serving local dishes and German cuisine including international cuisine and fast food. Nuremberg is also famous for making bratwurst and there are numerous places where you can enjoy them with a beer. I had several meals at the Bratwurst Röslein Restaurant and the Bratwursthausel with the prices being very reasonable even when purchased along with some German beers.  

The best way to get into town from the airport is by underground train or u-bahn to the hauptbahnhof and then by bus or tram to your accommodation. Walking is another option, as nowhere is too far, but check on the map before you travel as other u-bahn stations might be better for you.  

I rented a small apartment through Airbnb, spending eight days in Nuremberg, looking at the sights and sampling as much of the local cuisine as I could. I felt so at home here, and although I was traveling alone, I was made very welcome wherever I went. I'm looking forward to visiting Nuremberg again and venturing out into the suburbs to see what other delights Bavarian towns and villages have to offer.