Hamburg's biggest public park is one of the city's favourite spots to head to on a summer's day for picnics, barbecues and a host of musical and cultural events.
Once the private hunting grounds of a local businessman in the northern district of Winterhude, Stadtpark was purchased by the city in 1902 and, in the intervening years, has become one of Hamburg's most popular recreational areas.
Set across 150 hectares of manicured lawns and fragrant flower gardens, the park attracts over 200,000 locals on a fine weekend, most of whom come to relax, exercise, picnic or make use of the plentiful leisure facilities on offer. During summer, the popular outdoor swimming pool is always chock-a-block with families and children and you can also rent paddle and row boats on the lake.
In the evenings you'll find groups of friends occupying the large purpose-built barbecue area and crowds gathered to catch one of the open-air concerts on the stage. The park usually offers a concert programme of local musicians interspersed with big-name acts, with the likes of Bryan Adams, Joe Cocker and Wu-Tang Clan having performed here in the past.
The park also houses a number of restaurants that fill up on weekends, each with an outdoor terrace. Why not drop by for a locally brewed beer and a wurst (sausage)? Other features of the park include a beautiful rose garden with over 80 different varieties and a collection of bronze statues, dozens of which can be found scattered throughout the park.
Every year, over 300,000 people flock to the park's planetarium – housed in a former water tower – for up-close views of the cosmos, movies and children's shows.
Stadtpark is a few minutes' walk from Borgweg U-bahn station and you'll find parking on nearby streets Linnenring or Hindenburgstrasse. The park is free to enter and is open all year round. Check the official website for information on concerts and special events during your visit.
