I lived in many cities across the world and for the first time I felt at home. Yes, the city is cold and the city is grey but only makes you cherish the sunny days that much more.
Coming from a country with 9 month of summer per year, I feel in love with Hamburg. It has crime just as any city in the world but you do not feel unsafe. The police is very civilized and in my opinion the most relaxed in Germany.
Hamburg is a small city but it is an world metropolis. One day on the street and you will hear an average of 10 different languages.
In Hamburg you do not feel observed or judged based on how you dress or how you look.

Yes, we are constantly told in Hamburg that we live in the best city in the world but if not the best, it is on the top of the list. I have yet to meet someone that came to Hamburg and hated it.