If you’re planning to visit Hamburg (and you can see all the delicious reasons to do so in my foodie guide to this north German city), then you’re going to need somewhere to stay. The most attractive part of the city is undoubtedly the Speicherstadt – now a World Heritage Site, these historic warehouses were built on timber-pile foundations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But accommodation here comes at premium prices, and with Hamburg’s extremely quick and efficient metro system it’s really not necessary to sleep so centrally.
Instead, save your pennies and stay north of the Alster Lakes near the leafy Stadspark (city park). The Heikotel (whose sub-title – Hotel Am Stadtpark – provides the clue) is excellently located and costs from €80 a night for a double room. Situated in the Winterhude neighbourhood, it’s a five-minute walk from the U-bahn (metro) station, with trains taking you to the centre in 15 minutes, departing every few minutes.
