Alstervergnügen

Hamburg's late-summer city festival sets up stages on floating pontoons in the middle of the Binnenalster, lines the Jungfernstieg and the Colonnaden with street-food stalls and closes with a traditional grand fireworks display over the lake. It is one of the easiest events to drop into for an evening: simply walk down to the water, follow the crowd and find yourself a spot somewhere along the embankment.