With its rough Hanseatic charm and a cosmopolitan atmosphere, Hamburg is a rich blend of diversity. Germany's second largest city is not only one of the country's most important business centers but also home to many students from all over the world. A key landmark in Hamburg, the "Pearl of the North", is its harbor, which has roots dating back to the ninth century. No less famous is the adjacent "Speicherstadt" warehouse neighborhood, in which coffee, tea and valuable spices were once stored. But that is not all that Hamburg has to offer. Residents and tourists alike value the city's rich cultural life with more than 60 theaters, the State Opera as well as countless museums and galleries. If you prefer to spend your leisure time shopping, Hamburg is the right place for you. Visit the Jungfernstieg and Mönckebergstraße shopping streets or any one of the hip stores in the Schanzenviertel neighborhood and you are sure to find what you are looking for. Sports fans, meanwhile, can watch the Hamburger SV and St. Pauli soccer teams or the German handball champions HSV Hamburg. Hamburg's nightlife also has plenty to offer, particularly St. Pauli's Reeperbahn, probably Germany's most famous entertainment district. There are countless bars, pubs, nightclubs and discos to party in. And if you fancy a savory snack after a long night out, why not pass by the traditional Fish Market in the early hours before heading off home? Hamburg is an attractive city so rented accommodation does not always come cheap, particularly in downtown apartments. That is why students usually prefer to stay in residence halls or rooms in one of the many communal apartments in St. Pauli or the outer suburbs. AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE (WINTER): -2 ᵒC AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE (SUMMER): +22 ᵒC