Welcome! The Hamburg Metropolitan Region is at home both in the city and in the countryside. Distances are short and bonds are strong. Come on a journey of discovery from the North Sea to the Wendland, from the Baltic island of Fehmarn to Lüneburg Heath. Admire picturesque towns and cities such as Lübeck, Lüneburg, Wismar and Stade, which has a history dating back more than a thousand years. Hamburg, the vibrant capital, is equally attractive. Water is within reach almost everywhere you go. It has a fascinating presence at the Wadden Sea, a World Natural Heritage site, in Cuxhaven and Büsum. It surrounds lively port operations in Hamburg, and it runs its natural course through the Elbe River Landscape, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Areas such as the Lüneburg Heath, the Altes Land and the Lauenburgische Seen nature reserve are simply unique.