Start your tour in front of one of Hamburg’s most beautiful architectural marvels, the neo-renaissance town hall. From there, trace the path of the Great Fire of 1842 to see where it all started in the picturesque Deichstrasse, one of the oldest parts of Hamburg to survive the firebombing of the Second World War. Along the way, your expert guide will show you how disaster has shaped the city on the Elbe, from fires to floods, and war to cholera. The fact that Hamburg is still standing might be the most surprising fact you learn on this tour! But don't just focus on doom and gloom. Learn how the great ambitions of Hamburg’s titans of industry, Salomon Heine and Albert Ballin, gave Hamburg the progressive traditions that have seen it thrive not only economically, but socially as well. Finish your tour by the gleaming new Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg’s stunning new Philharmonic. Visit the building for free after the tour, or continue your Hamburg adventure in any number of cafes and restaurants with a view over the harbor.