24 HOURS IN HAMBURG

» 7AM Bask in the morning breeze at Sachsenwald, a sprawling, sunlit forest teeming with birds, a natural mineral water spring and a picturesque row of Linden trees. There are various hiking and cycling trails, some of which lead to Germany’s oldest butterfly garden, Garten der Schmetterlinge, that’s populated with the stunning metallic turquoise hue of the Blur Morpho species. Schleswig-holstein, Germany, Central Europe, Europe. » 10AM Rejuvenate with the many Ayurvedic therapies and herbal saunas at Meridianspa Am Michel. Tired muscles will find solace in the stateof-the-art eucalyptus hot air bath and the Finnish sauna. The latter includes the gentle lashings of aromatic silver birch bunches (vihta) for a relaxing effect. Schaarsteinweg 6, 20459 Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 40 658911000

» 1PM Walk over to the nearby Marley’s Restaurant for hearty European classics and a spectacular view of the Landungsbrücken piers. Pair their Wiener Schnitzel with a pint of Köstritzer Schwarzbier before whiling the afternoon admiring the cruise vessels, colourful shops and historical landmarks. THE MADISON Hotel Hamburg, Schaarsteinweg 4, 20459 Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 40 376660

» 3PM Make a beeline for St. Michael’s Church, a magnificent Hanseatic Protestant Baroque church dating to 1647. It boasts an awe-inspiring bronze statue of archangel Michael, a majestic gold-tinged Steinmeyer organ and a white marble altar flanked by murals illustrating Jesus Christ. The pièce de résistance is a 132m tall copper spire; within is a bell tower offering guests an uninterrupted panoramic view of the city and its harbour. Englische Planke 1, 20459 Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 40 376780

» 6PM Tuck into inventive Japanese cuisine at Henssler & Henssler. The no-frills joint serves a bevy of unique creations by chef Stefan Henssler. Expect grilled Loup de Mer (Mediterranean seabass) with nut butter or the T.B.K roll of grilled tuna with beans tempura and soy caramel. Head for the terrace during summer for dinner with a view. Große Elbstraße 160, 22767 Hamburg, Germany.

Tel: +49 40 38699000

» 9PM Dive into the vibrant music scene at one of the oldest jazz clubs in the city, Cotton Club. Dating to 1959, it has played host to local jazz, swing and blues musicians every night for over 50 years. The landmark even has its own beer – the Cotton Club Pilsner. Alter Steinweg 10, Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 40 343878