World of fun for Hamburg's World Cup

There are a dozen cities in Germany currently gearing up to welcome thousands of football fans for the 2006 World Cup – and there is one that is making special preparations for those who are not interested in the beautiful game.

Hamburg is laying down all the usual World Cup trimmings for the influx of fans arriving for the tournament - which starts on June 9th – including extra accommodation, improved transport to the stadium for those with tickets, and the Fanfest for those without.

At the Fanfest in the happening Reeperbahn, fans can lounge in the specially-constructed World Cup village, which has beer stalls, food stands and, of course, an enormous screen on which to enjoy the football.

But those who are not interested in matches between the likes of Italy and the Czech Republic will not be left begging in Hamburg, as the city is putting on a number of events to entertain those un-wooed by the World Cup.

Tourists arriving in Hamburg on June 3rd will be treated to the opening of the exhibition, The Hamburg Sound - Beatles, Beat and the Grosse Freiheit.

An examination and celebration of Hamburg's vibrant music scene of 40 years ago, focussing especially on the Fab Four, it will feature performances, films, documentary material and original artefacts used by the Beatles during their visits to the German city.

Hamburg is famed for helping kickstart the Beatles' budding career in the early 60s, so it is a fitting venue for this multimedia showcase.

Music fans will be spoilt for choice even further later in Hamburg's summer of sounds, with open-air concerts from Canadian jazz singer Michael Bublé, the oakened-voiced Tracey Chapman and Scottish prog-rockers, Simple Minds.

Finally, for those who prefer their sounds to have more grunt than grace, there is the Harley Davidson festival between July 14th and 16th.

Best avoided if you want a quiet break in Hamburg, but if it is thrills, the smell of motor oil and the roar of 50,000 motorbike engines you seek, then this is for you.

For holiday advice about taking a break in Hamburg during the World Cup, visit travelbite's guide to Hamburg.
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