Jungfernstieg (Alster Lake Promenade), Hamburg

The Alster Lake Promenade is one of Hamburg’s most prominent urban waterfronts. Stretching for roughly 600 meters, it follows the southern edge of the Inner Alster. From here, pedestrian routes connect easily with areas such as Gänsemarkt Market.

The origins of the area date back to 1235, when Count Adolf IV of Holstein ordered the construction of a mill dam on the Alster River, creating the lake that still defines the city center today. Over the following centuries, the shoreline evolved from a functional zone into a prestigious promenade. By the 17th and 18th centuries, the promenade had become a place for public gatherings and informal social encounters among the city’s merchant elite.

In 1838, it became the site of Germany’s first asphalt-paved street, and it later accommodated horse-drawn trams, followed by electric tram services. Today, the promenade functions as both a public terrace and a transit hub. Its broad lakeside platform offers views across the Inner Alster and its central fountain. Two notable structures mark the waterfront: on the southern edge stands the Alster Pavilion, now used as a cafe and restaurant, while a smaller pavilion on the northern edge provides access to the rapid transit station below. Nearby landing stages also serve as departure points for Alster ferry services.

While the Alster Lake Promenade itself is not primarily a shopping street, it provides direct access to major retail areas such as New Wall Street and Great Bleaching Street if you head west from the Alster Pavilion, as well as to nearby shopping centers, galleries, and cultural venues.