There are a couple differences between Berlin and Hamburg besides the fact that Berlin's symbol is a bear and Hamburg's is a castle with two six-pointed stars and a cross. The Spree River runs through Berlin, but Hamburg is built with a major harbor on the Elbe River. Hamburg is home to a wealthier population than Berlin. Hamburg is dotted with old churches and other old buildings, while Berlin is full of buildings from Prussian times, Eastern and Western architecture, and new monuments. The people in Hamburg tend to keep distance while those in Berlin were generally willing to talk if approached. And finally, everything in Hamburg is more expensive from bread to souvenirs. I also heard that the Hamburg hookers are the best, but that I really can't confirm from personal experience.
Unfortunately I don't know German well enough to be able to pick up differences in accent or pronunciation although I did notice that in several cases "danke" or "bitte schön" turned into only "schön".
If I had to choose only one city to visit, I would be hard-pressed to decide. All of Berlin seems to be a museum of German history - ancient and modern, but Hamburg, built on the river, is full of life, wind, and modernity. If I was choosing a place to stay for a summer, I would choose Berlin because there is no end of things to see, but for a visit of a day or two, Hamburg is an exciting way to experience Germany.
There are a couple differences between Berlin and Hamburg besides the fact that Berlin's symbol is a bear and Hamburg's is a castle with two six-pointed stars and a cross. The Spree River runs through Berlin, but Hamburg is built with a major harbor on the Elbe River. Hamburg is home to a wealthier population than Berlin. Hamburg is dotted with old churches and other old buildings, while Berlin is full of buildings from Prussian times, Eastern and Western architecture, and new monuments. The people in Hamburg tend to keep distance while those in Berlin were generally willing to talk if approached. And finally, everything in Hamburg is more expensive from bread to souvenirs. I also heard that the Hamburg hookers are the best, but that I really can't confirm from personal experience. 
Unfortunately I don't know German well enough to be able to pick up differences in accent or pronunciation although I did notice that in several cases "danke" or "bitte schön" turned into only "schön". 
If I had to choose only one city to visit, I would be hard-pressed to decide. All of Berlin seems to be a museum of German history - ancient and modern, but Hamburg, built on the river, is full of life, wind, and modernity. If I was choosing a place to stay for a summer, I would choose Berlin because there is no end of things to see, but for a visit of a day or two, Hamburg is an exciting way to experience Germany.
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