When it comes to variety, few cities can match Hamburg, Germany's second largest city. More and more British visitors are enjoying this cultural hotspot for its music, opera, ballet and ART. In the heart of the city, five of Germany's most vibrant art centers are all within walking distance of each other on the Kunstmeile Hamburg, the Art Mile. Together they display a vibrant selection of contemporary and historic art, from paintings and sculpture to photography, applied arts and design. Best of all, the special Kunstmeile Pass (www.kunstmeile-hamburg.de/en/) saves time and money on entry to all five museums, as well as special exhibitions.

• The star attraction is the Hamburger Kunsthalle (www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de). One of Germany's most important collections, it covers seven centuries of art history. Highlights include 17th-century Dutch paintings (Rembrandt, Ruisdael) and contemporary art from around the world (Max Beckmann, Edvard Munch). One upcoming exhibition (see below) features two of the 20th-century's outstanding women artists.

• Close to Hamburg's monumental town hall, the Bucerius Kunst Forum (www.buceriuskunstforum.de/en/) hosts small exhibits year-round, with the focus on quality: perfect for a short but "concentrated look" at art.

• Set in two century-old glass and steel industrial buildings, the Deichtorhallen Hamburg (www.deichtorhallen.de) specialises in contemporary art and photography.

• In a former market hall, the Kunstverein Hamburg (www.kunstverein.de) is an art club, known for its edgy contemporary displays that change regularly. Over the past 200 years, these have included artists such as Caspar David Friedrich and Britain's Francis Bacon.

• Among Europe's leading museums for art and design is the "MKG", the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (www.mkg-hamburg.de/en/). Its world-class collection of 500,000 objects is drawn from the past 4,000 years of world history.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

• Bucerius Kunst Forum  
  Dionysus: Intoxication and Ecstasy, October 3 to January 12, 2014
  This exhibit explores artists' long fascination for the lively, boisterous world of the sensuous Greek god, Dionysus (Bacchus to the Romans) and Ariadne, his beautiful bride. Alongside sculptures from classical times are paintings by Caravaggio, Ribera and Mantegna. A high quality, classic exhibition. 

• Deichtorhallen Hamburg 
  Guy Bourdin Retrospective, November 1 to January 26, 2014
  For 40 years, Guy Bourdin was one of the world's most innovative fashion photographers, creating images with narratives and witty stories. With the eye of a painter, Bourdin showed that the image is more important than the product. A must see exhibition for fashionistas and photographers alike.

• Hamburger Kunsthalle 
  2 influential women: Gego and Eva Hesse, November 29 to March 2, 2014
  Gego: Line as Object. Born in Hamburg a century ago, Gertrud Goldschmidt went on to be one of the leading artists in Latin America. Known as Gego, she created large-scale spatial installations, made of wire, rope or delicate strands of aluminium. A unique show that is quite magical!
  Eva Hesse: One more than one. Another Hamburg native, Eva Hesse also found fame abroad. She lived in New York, where she produced fragile sculptures made of polyester, fibreglass and latex. This is her first retrospective in her native city.

• Kunstverein Hamburg 
  Contemporary Society: Olaf Metzel, September 28, 2013 - January 5, 2014
  Dealing with German themes and aspects of German history, German artist Olaf Metzel's installations puzzle, provoke and shock. Using materials such as corrugated iron, camouflage fabric and old shopping trollies, the underlying violence is often menacing.

• Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe  
  Small Worlds: Microsculptures by Willard Wigan, December 8 to March 16, 2014
  Englishman Willard Wigan makes sculptures that are invisible to the naked eye: skyscrapers, trees and fairy-tale scenes less than 0.005 millimetres in size. Inspired by the Biblical quote: "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven", he made nine camels out of carpet fibres. And they can go through a needle's eye!

The Kunstmeile Pass

Buy the KUNSTMEILE PASS (www.kunstmeile-hamburg.de/en/) for 29 € at any of the 5 museums and use it straight away. Concessions, 15 €; free admission for under 18s; with the Hamburg Card 24.50 € (www.hamburg-travel.com/search-booking/hamburg-card); with the Art Card 25 €.

Packages

"Dionysus: Intoxication and Ecstasy" - includes one overnight stay incl. breakfast, admission to the exhibition, an exhibition catalogue, and a Hamburg Card for just 89 € per person. More information: http://www.hamburg-travel.com/search-booking/packages/overview-packages/details/dionysus-intoxication-and-ecstasy-1/ 

The Hamburg Tourist Board also offers tickets to the Bucerius Kunst Forum, the Hamburger Kunsthalle, and the Kunstmeile Pass for just 29 € per person (savings of 15 €). For booking or further information on these packages, please contact Hamburg Tourist Board at +49 (0) 40-300 51 720 or www.hamburg-tourismus.de/kunstmeile. 

Travel: 

It's quick and easy to fly from the United Kingdom to Hamburg Airport. Lufthansa, British Airways, easyJet, and bmi offer daily flights from airports in and near London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Bristol.


Useful links:

Hamburg Tourism: www.hamburg-tourism.de/en
Copyright-free images: http://marketing.hamburg.de/UEberblick.63.0.html?L=1

Media contact:
Sarah Bitz
TourComm Germany GmbH & Co. KG
on behalf of Hamburg Tourismus GmbH
Tel: 0049 6201 60 20 8 17
Email: sarah.bitz@tourcomm-germany.com

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