Hamburg Dom, GERMANY
Airing Date: Apr 14th, 2003
The Hamburger Dom is a huge fun fair that runs three times a year in winter, summer and spring. Each fair runs for an entire month. Theres lots of fun, food and entertainment along three square kilometres of colourful stands, nostalgic merry-go-rounds, fairground rides and shows.
Since the 11th century, Hamburger Dom has been very much a part of this bustling citys tradition, attracting nine million visitors per year in recent times. Hamburgs Dom is Northern Europes biggest fun fair.
The food is typical carnival food with a German slant, along with international cuisine. Fairy floss is a favourite sweet, as well as lebkuchen, a traditional German spiced fruit cake with a sugar icing on top.
The festivities of the Hamburger Dom generally kick off with a parade, followed by a month of non-stop partying. Entry is completely free and partygoers are presented with an array of rides such as The Power Tower, one of the worlds biggest ferris wheels and the Booster. Rides cost between $6 and $8.
To have enough time to test the rides, stroll around the stalls and sample the cuisine, you'll need to free up at least six hours.
Everything at the Dom right down to the food is not only good but relatively cheap. For about $12 visitors can pick up a pizza and a glass of wine.
The facts
If you rush you can just catch the Spring Dom its got a week to go. Lufthansa in conjunction with Thai Airways flies daily to Hamburg. Return economy airfares start at $1818 from the east coast and $1751 from Perth. Includes taxes and subject to exchange rates. Conditions apply.
Lufthansa German Airlines
Tel: 1300 655 727
Rooms at the Steigenberger Hamburg Hotel, right in the heart of the city, start at $360 per double per night or $466 for a suite.
Steigenberger Hamburg Hotel
Tel: 0011 49 40 36 80 60
German National Tourist Office
Tel: 02 8296 0488
