Hamburg. Germany Vibrant City. Frequently described as "the gateway to the world" by its proud citizens, the handsome port city of Hamburg has for centuries welcomed merchants, traders, and sailors to a rich assortment of grand hotels, fine restaurants, and, yes, seedy bars and brothels. This vibrant, affluent city's success began with its role as a founding member of the Hanseatic League, a medieval alliance of northern European cities that once dominated the shipping trade in the North and Baltic Seas. To this day, the city is known as "the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg," reflecting both its association with the league and its status as an independent city-state. As the second largest city in Germany and the country's main port, the city of Hamburg has embodied the terms "worldly" and "cosmopolitan" for centuries long before many of its contemporary European counterparts. These long-standing international influences are evident in its food, its music and more. And the city is ever evolving. Travel to Hamburg to see even the neighborhoods with the seediest reputations, including its red-light district, take on new and increasingly welcoming character.