Discover Hamburg's best neighborhoods
The different districts of Hamburg and their characteristics
In order to find the right property in Hamburg, it makes sense to know the different districts and to know which locations are available in the individual neighborhoods. Hamburg is varied and colorful. Depending on where you stay, the city has both a metropolitan character and quiet, nature-oriented residential areas. In the districts in Hamburg and the associated neighborhoods, almost every potential real estate buyer will find a property in an optimal location.
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Hamburg's districts and neighborhoods at a glance
Hamburg is divided into a total of seven districts. They are administered and managed by the district offices. The districts comprise 104 neighborhoods, which in turn contain one or more micro-neighborhoods.
1. Eimsbüttel
Eimsbüttel is the smallest of Hamburg's districts in terms of area, covering just under 50 km². It borders Schleswig-Holstein, is home to the University of Hamburg and is one of the most important locations for the German creative and media industries. Eimsbüttel is divided into nine neighborhoods. Rotherbaum and Harvestehude are characterized by their villa districts, while Höheluft-West and Eimsbüttel have a more urban flair due to their proximity to the city center. The districts of Stellingen and Lokstedt have a suburban character.
2. Hamburg-Nord
The second smallest district of the Elbe metropolis is Hamburg-Nord, which covers about 58 km². The 13 districts in Hamburg-Nord are in turn broken down into 32 local areas. These include neighborhoods close to the city center, such as Uhlenhorst or Hohenfelde, as well as more sparsely populated outlying areas, such as Fuhlsbüttel, Langenhorn and Alsterdorf.
3. Wandsbek
Wandsbek, covering an area of 147.5 km², is considered Hamburg's most populous district with its 18 neighborhoods. It marks the northernmost border of the city and is home to many cultural monuments.
4. Bergedorf
Bergedorf, which borders Lower Saxony, functions as the largest district with an area of 154.8 km². Since comparatively few inhabitants are spread over this large area, Bergedorf has a rather suburban ambience with many green and farmland areas. Single-family and two-family houses are mainly found here, built in the picturesque tree-lined streets and avenues.
5. Harburg
The most southwestern of all the boroughs in Hamburg is Harburg. It used to form an independent city before being assigned to Hamburg. Harburg is home to educational institutions such as the Technical University and the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services, as well as renowned companies such as Beiersdorf, Daimler, Shell and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. In addition, Harburg is home to Hamburg's inland port and numerous city parks and green spaces.
6. Hamburg-Mitte
The Hamburg-Mitte district runs right through the city and is home, among other things, to Hamburg's popular new neighborhood on the Elbe: HafenCity. Together with 18 other districts such as St. Pauli, Steinwerder, Neustadt and others, HafenCity forms the most central district of Hamburg.
7. Altona
The westernmost of all districts of Hamburg emerged from the former independent city, whose division and boundaries have hardly changed since its incorporation in 1938. Popular and well-known neighborhoods of Hamburg in the district of Altona include the renowned areas of Blankenese, Othmarschen, Ottensen and the new district of Sternschanze, which was created in 2008.
Worthwhile districts for purchasing real estate
The districts and neighborhoods in Hamburg are extremely diverse when it comes to locations and architectural design. In order to identify good residential areas in Hamburg, it is worthwhile to take a close look at the district profiles and get to know their characteristics and special features. Popular, but with higher real estate prices, are inner-city and urban residential areas around the Alster, for example in HafenCity, but also in the exclusive neighborhoods of Blankenese or Ottensen. Districts in Hamburg where you can find properties with a good price-performance ratio are mostly found in the outskirts of Eimsbüttel, Altona or Harburg. In general, it is advisable to focus on the quiet locations in the districts of Hamburg.
District offices of Hamburg
All city districts are administered by the district offices in Hamburg. These authorities include various specialized offices, departments and service centers, which include, for example, the customer centers that perform tasks of the residents' registration office. Their area of operation covers the respective entire boroughs of Hamburg up to the district boundaries. The district offices in Hamburg have existed since the district reform in 1945; a district administration reform in 2008 also resulted in some of the districts being assigned to other districts, and new districts such as Sternschanze or HafenCity were created.
Even more Hamburg - Read the whole series
- Part 1: Typical Hamburg: High quality of life, maritime flair
- Part 2: Guten Appetit: The 15 best restaurants in Hamburg
- Part 3: Culture in Hamburg: A city you have to see
- Part 4: Sightseeing in Hamburg: Our insider tips
- Part 5: Walking through Hamburg: The 7 districts at a glance