Thanks to our gateway to the world, the third largest port in Europe and the world's leading one for coffee (13 kilos per second), Hamburg was a founding member of the so-called Hanseatic League and achieved a high level of prosperity that can still be admired throughout the city. Every year, almost 9,000 cargo ships - "dicke Pötte" as the Hamburger would say - and over 200 cruise ships dock here. You certainly wouldn't buy all the following recommendations if we declared the traditional harbour tours from Landungsbrücken to be an insider tip right at the start, but they are definitely the best way to experience Hamburg's pulsating heart. Of course, you can also stay on solid ground and enjoy one of the best fish rolls, complete with harbour scenery and surround sound, at Bridge 10 of the Landungsbrücken.