Hamburg is known as Germany’s capital of sports. The wide range of athletic games and competitions make the city a pure delight for sports lovers.
Football / Soccer
One of Germany’s most historic (and best) soccer teams is the Hamburger SV. Apart from playing continuously from the end of World War One to the present day, they have garnered their fair share of trophies. They were three-time winners of the German Cup and the 1983 champions of the European Cup.
You can go to one of their wildly popular games (usually averaging at least 50,000 fans) at the HSH Nordbank Arena (Sylvesterallee 7).
Hockey
The Hamburg Freezers are the local hockey team here, but that wasn’t always the case. They actually were once the Munich Barons but were relocated to Hamburg in 2002. Their home games are played at the 12,000-seater Color Line Arena (Sylvesterallee 10), which you’ll find just down the street from the soccer stadium, HSH Nordbank.
Handball
The Color Line Arena also plays host to Hamburg’s local handball team, the HSV Hamburg. Like their hockey counterparts, they were also relocated to the Hamburg sports scene in 2002. They won the National Supercup in 2004 and 2006.
Marathon
The annual Hamburg Marathon is another important event on the Hamburg sports calendar. It is the second biggest in Germany (only after Berlin) and can attract up to 23,000 participants.
Cycling
Amateurs and professionals are invited to the annual Hamburg cycling event, the Vattenfall Cyclassics. But be sure to get your reservation in advance as the spots are limited. This challenging race is usually about 250 km (155 mi) for pros and between 55 and 155 km (34 to 96 mi) for non-pros. It features many uphill climbs so the casual biker may want to sit on the sidelines and watch.
Equestrian
On your visit to Hamburg, try not to miss its exciting equestrian events. The Deutsches Derby is held in July with horse races and jumping. It has been run since 1869 and is considered the German counterpart to the UK’s prestigious Epsom Derby.
