In the Middle Ages, Lübeck was head of the Hanseatic League, which controlled the highly lucrative Baltic Sea routes, and developed into one of Europe's richest cities. Its Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, retains this legacy with beautiful architecture dating back to the 16th century. There are several small museums and boat trips, plus some very pleasant bars, cafes and restaurants.

Lübeck is 59km (37 miles) north east of Hamburg. Trains run every half hour or so from Hamburg Hbf and take around 50 minutes. From Lübeck Hbf it is a five-minute walk to the entrance of the Old Town where you will find the tourist office on Holstentorplatz (tel: (0451) 889 9700; website: www.luebeck-tourismus.de).

A popular closer excursion is to Hamburg's prettiest and most charming riverside village Blankenese, which is unusual for its hillside setting. Thread your way down the hill, through its famed ‘Staircase Quarter', past beautifully preserved former fishermen's cottages, and you will find a lovely little sandy beach and a couple of cafes. It's a perfect place to watch the big ships passing along the Elbe. It's a 35-minute ride on bus 36 from Mönckebergstrasse (recommended for the scenery) or by S-Bahn from Hamburg Hbf.