©
From the North Sea to the Baltic Sea
3 stops
4 nights
242 miles
This Route du Bonheur could be called ‘Moonrise over the Sea,’ in homage to the painting by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich, as your journey crosses the landscapes of northern Germany beneath beautiful skies. Starting in the port city of Hamburg, a ‘gateway to the world,’ it heads towards Weissenhaus, the Baltic Sea and the island of Sylt. Following the water's edge, this journey offers a peaceful, idyllic escape.
01
Departure
Recommended duration : 1 night
Hamburg
©
Hamburg, a charmed life by the river
What’s not to like about Hamburg? Despite the Great Fire of 1842 and the bombings of World War II, Germany's second-largest city has reinvented itself again and again. With its cobblestone streets and skyline of bricks and glass, modern Hamburg is a surprisingly charming setting on the banks of the Elbe, where many former warehouses and industrial sites have been transformed into cultural venues that host exhibitions or concerts. Known as the ‘gateway to the world,’ this is a vibrant city where cafes, bars and nightclubs abound.
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
©
The Elbphilharmonie, symbol of a city
Inaugurated in 2017, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall is much more than an architectural feat: facing the sprawling port, it stands as a symbol of the city. Perched atop a former cocoa bean warehouse built entirely of red brick, this astonishing contemporary glass construction–designed by Swiss architect Herzog & de Meuron, winner of the Pritzker Prize–dominates the building, rising to 110 meters or 29 stories high. Today, city residents gather here to enjoy a concert or simply to admire the panoramic views of the city it affords.
During your stay
©
A ferry trip past the industrial port
Facing the city, the industrial port seems endless. On the left bank of the Elbe, the shipyards and docks constantly draw the eye. To get a closer look, simply jump on the public ferry–number 62, from pontoon 3 at Landungsbrücken. It will take you downstream, passing by giant cranes and container ships the size of several football fields. The trip takes about an hour to Finkenwerder. On the way there, or the way back, you can stop to explore the Elbstrand beach.
02
80 milesCar
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Weissenhaus
03
162 milesCar
Recommended duration : 1 night
Sylt/ Tinnum
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
©
Excursion to the Halligen archipelago
A sign of the times, of the fifty islands which make up the Halligen archipelago, today only nine are left. High tides have engulfed these bits of land where, for a long time, the inhabitants ‘preserved' themselves from civilisation. There was no electricity until 1950 and no drinking water until 1960. However, this isolation allowed them to keep a certain extreme charm, as if you were at ‘the end of the world'.
During your stay
©
In the footsteps of Gunter Sachs and BB, Sylt
The most secret and chic of the northern Frisian Isles, Sylt for a long time served as a landmark for the billionaire Gunter Sachs and his wife, the legendary Brigitte Bardot. During the 1960s, Sylt was the St. Tropez of the north, where you could go from party to party, your feet in the sands of Buhne. Since then, other stars have taken up the mantle, enjoying the great beauty and discretion of this place.
Itinerary suggestions