Start your journey in Hamburg. This article refers to the city of Hamburg. For the island of Neuwerk that is part of the state of Hamburg but not the city see there The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg) is Germany's second-largest city and, at the same time, one of Germany's 16 federal states or Bundesländer. Prior to the formation of the modern German state, Hamburg for centuries enjoyed a status as de facto independent city state and regional power and trade hub in the North Sea. Although situated over 100 km (62 mi) upriver from the North Sea on the Elbe, Hamburg has been one of Europe's most important ports for centuries, as reflected in its full name referencing the Hanseatic League. The city was built upon a number of islands formed by the wide river and its larger and smaller tributaries, and a huge part of its southern half is occupied by the massive port. With a tumultuous history preserved in more than just the ancient name, Hamburg grew to become one of Germany's most affluent cities, today hosting almost 1.8 million inhabitants and forming a metropolitan centre for many smaller cities and towns in neighbouring federal states. Its riverine location allows it to compete with Amsterdam or Venice with the number of canals, most of which (called "Fleet" or "Brook") are actually former small rivers and streams regulated to allow the sprawling city to expand over their banks. And on top of that, Hamburg has more bridges (over 2,300) than Amsterdam, Venice and London combined. There is plenty to enjoy in Hamburg, both in terms of views, culture and the general high standard of living Hamburg has come to be known for.

Starting in Hamburg, you can enjoy low fares and a comfortable trip in a modern, well-equipped coach. easyBus.com.. Horsens is a city in eastern Jutland with a population of around 55,000. Horsens is a port town at the end of a beautiful long shallow-water inlet. Such inlets are known as fjords in Denmark and there are several of them on the East Jutland coast. Horsens fjord is typical, with rolling hills and forests stretching all the way down to the water and making the city feel less like a coastal town. The larger city of Vejle south of Horsens also sits at the bottom of a Danish fjord. Horsens has a pedestrianised center with historic buildings, cafés, restaurants and opportunities for specialty shopping, and the inner city is dotted with art installations. The local tourist office is at Søndergade 28. Horsens is an old town. Already during the Viking age it was a settlement called Horsens. The name probably referred to the breeding of a large numbers of horses in the area.