Hamburg, Germany is divided in seven boroughs, so it is very important that you choose the right borough that will put you close to the attractions you would like to see. There are times in the past that the boroughs have changed, but at this time, there are only seven.
Hamburg-Mitte is mainly the hub of Hamburg as well as the island of Neuwerk that is known as the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park. This very large borough consists of cities, quarters along with the historical area of Hamburg. The quarters you will find in Hamburg-Mitte include Neustadt and Hamburg Alstadt. The cities include Whilhelmsburg, Waltershof, Veddel, Steinwerder St. Pauli, St. Georg, Rothenburgsort, Neuwerk, Hammerbrook, Kleiner Grasbrook, Billstedt, Hamm, Finkenwerder, and HafenCity. Therefore, if you want to be in the center of Hamburg you will need to look for a hotel in one of these cities or quarters.
If you would like to visit sights around the right bank of the Elbe River, then you will want to look for quarters in Altona. The quarters you will find here include Rissen, Groß Flottbek, Sternschanze, Ottensen, Osdorf, Othmarschen, Lurup, Altona-Altstadt, Iserbrook, Nienstedten, Blankenese, Altona-Nord, Sülldorf, and Bahrenfeld.
In the borough of Bergedorf you will find Spadenland, Neuengamme, Billwerder, Kirchwerder, and Curslack, to name a few.
Eimsbuttel is a bit different as it is divided into nine quarters and at one time was the home to Jewish neighborhood Grindel. Today the quarters are Rotherbaum, Eidelstedt, Niendort, Eimsbuttel, Stellingen, Schnelsen, Lokstedt, Hoheluft-West and Harvestehude.
Hamburg borough is home on the southern coast of Elbe River and is home to both rural and residential areas. Hamburg is home to 18 quarters including Eißendorf, Altenwerder, Neugraben-Fischbek, and Wilstorf among others.
Hamburg-Nord is home to quarters including Hohenfelde, Winterhude, Hoheluft-Ost, Ohlsdorf with Ohlsdorf cemetery, and Barmbek-Nord, to name a few.
Wandsbek is home to 18 quarters such as Wellingsbuttel, Mellingstedt, Farmsen-Berne and Eppendorf and more.