Maybe we just got off on the wrong foot…read more Whenever we meet you're usually grumpy. People say you're lovely but to me, you're just grumpy. This crisp Winter morning though you smile. You manage to brighten up my day. And for the first time I can see why people speak so fondly of you. A narrow city beach. Blue skies. Large container ships passing by and merging with the dockyards' silhouettes for a moment. A beach bar, a hot drink. People chilling, sunbathing, walking their dogs. Or kids. Hamburg, you showed me your pretty side. I can stay here for a while.

It seems kinda weird that I'm writing the first (English) review of the main Hamburg beach. But I…read moreguess there's not all that much to say: It's a sandy beach on the banks of the Elbe in Hamburg. A few notes: - A nice way to get here is to take the ferry from Landungsbrucken. - Be careful when you're near the water's edge. See that container ship going past in the distance? It moves a lot of water, and can cause some surprising waves - There are permanent barbeques on the beach. - There are public toilets - There are restaurants nearby

A bit more of a pain to get to than the normal Elbstrand, but it's much nicer. To get there you…read morehave to go through a forest, and there's trees surrounding the beach, so it feels more secluded than it actually is. The easiest way to get there would be by car, but it'd be a nice bike ride. There's also a bus that passes nearby, but I don't know where it goes from

A nice escape in Hamburg. Near enough to not be far but secluded enough to give you the feeling of…read moregetting away. Fairly easy to find, usually enough parking and there's a place nearby where you can stop in for a coffee, ice cream or beer. What more do you want when the weather is right. I live right in town so I enjoy a nice bike read out there and back to truly take advantage of a full day with beach involved.

This place is just great. Had a stressful week before coming - and all that stress is gone now…read moreafter walking along the beach and just enjoying the view. People are really friendly here, even to foreigner like me. Hotels and restaurants are good. It's a great place to rent a bike. You can ride the bike and visit all near by towns :) From here to Neustadt is about 17km which is a good half day trip with bike. You will pass small beach towns before reaching Neustadt. The ride is chill but with good distance, so dedenitiy some calories will be burned ! Just come - and I'm sure you will find some relaxation !

Timmendorfer Strand was a lovely surprise on a warm sunny early Autumn weekend…read more We fancied a day out, stuck a pin in a map and went off in the car up the A1 towards Lubeck. We kept driving until we arrived at any sea, so that is how we arrived at the Neindorf end of the beach. When we arrived we found the kind of seaside resort that English towns should aspire to be. A lovely curved bay with a wide sandy beach and the whole stretch strewn with beautifully unique German steamer booths that I have only seen in this part of Europe. Part beach hut and part sun-lounger they offer a perfect base for a day by the sea. The car nearby in a free car park, the cafes and restaurants all clean, good value and well kept. The children had an amazing time and keep asking to return. At just an hour away from central Hamburg we will return here many times. The only weak spot was bad traffic on the motorway home, however we pulled off from the Autobahn and drive the back road home which opened up an even more interesting journey through lovely villages of Schleswig Holstein.