No visit to Hamburg is complete without hitting the Reeperbahn, Hamburg’s legendary mile of nightlife. Located within the rebellious district of St. Pauli , it is home to one of the largest red light districts in Europe and is a neon theme park. It houses the city’s seedy (but largely safe) underbelly and is a must-see attraction in Hamburg.
What to Expect at the Reeperbahn
The Reeperbahn is the most famous street in Hamburg. The name “Reeperbahn” comes from the old German word Reep which means “heavy rope”. In the 18th century, heavy hemp ropes for sailboats were produced here in the port of Hamburg.
Today the area is known for its many bars, restaurants, theaters like the Operettenhaus and clubs… along with sex shops, erotic theaters and strip clubs. The venue is also overrun by fervent St. Pauli soccer ( Fussball ) fans during local games at Millerntorstadion.
This eclectic mix makes the Reeperbahn a fascinating place to visit for travelers and locals alike. The district is Hamburg’s second most popular attraction (after the port) and attracts all kinds of visitors, from night owls and students to theatergoers and families.
Reeperbahn highlights
The lively Reeperbahn is the main thoroughfare of Hamburg’s entertainment district, but there are some interesting side streets that are worth visiting to learn more about the history and attractions of the St. Pauli district.
Lot of freedom
In the early 1960s, the Beatles, soon to be famous around the world, wooed their German audiences and rose to international stardom. They performed in various music clubs along the street “Große Freiheit” (literally “Great Freedom”) and some of these clubs still exist.
If you like the Beatles, tour and shout at the Indra Club where the band first played. They also had regular concerts at the Kaiserkeller in the 1960s. Fans should also visit the recently built Beatles-Platz at the corner of Reeperbahn and Große Freiheit. John Lennon allegedly said, “I was born in Liverpool, but grew up in Hamburg.”
Spielbudenplatz
Spielbudenplatz is the historic core of Hamburg’s entertainment district. It began in the 17th century with acrobats, jugglers, magicians, and wooden stalls selling soft drinks to sailors.
Today this street is home to many great theaters and you can visit one of the oldest wax figure museums in Germany at Panoptikum.
Davidstrasse
Prostitution is legal at certain times of the day on Davidstraße, so you can see the ‘ladies of the night’ waiting for their clients here. Be polite and don’t take photos.
Perhaps not surprisingly, at the corner of Reeperbahn and Davidstraße , you can find the most famous police station in Germany. The Davidwache offers highly visible 24-hour police protection and makes the area one of the safest in Hamburg.
Herbertstrasse
The most famous and exclusive street in the Hamburg red light district is Herbertstraße . Like the Red Light District in Amsterdam, prostitutes sit in dimly lit windows and show off their charms to clients.
If you are concerned about her tender eyes (or those of your family), know that Herbertstraße is closed by a wall and minors and females are generally verboten (forbidden) to enter. Although they can officially enter this street, the police advise against it. The prostitutes here can be hostile to visitors who just want to watch.
The trade is actually below what it once was. Most business occurs in many strip clubs with fewer than 400 working women still on Herbertstraße (50% less than a decade ago).
Tips for your visit to the Reeperbahn
- The Reeperbahn does not come to life before the evening hours. A good time to visit is on the weekends, begging at 20:00 and continuing until the morning hours.
- The Reeperbahn gets very crowded on the weekends. The area is quite safe thanks to the high police presence, but you still need to be cautious and watch out for pickpockets. Violent crime is rare, but misdemeanor is quite common.
- Most strip clubs charge a € 30 cap. Be clear about what you expect to spend and know your limits.
- If you’re lured into a strip club with a free admission, expect to pay at least € 20 for your first drink. Drinks generally come with a hefty premium.
- For the services of a prostitute, the prices are negotiable, but they are expected to pay around € 50 for 15 minutes.
- How to get there : Underground station »Reeperbahn» or »St. Pauli«
