St. Pauli’s proximity to Hamburg’s port made it a draw for sailors for centuries. The district is still full of strip clubs, but today many visitors head to the historic area, and the neon-lit Reeperbahn, not only to see the city’s seedier side but also to learn about its history. Take a daytime walking or biking tour, see where the Beatles played in the early 1960s, or take in a show at a comedy club.
The area is notorious for pickpockets; leave your jewelry and watches in the hotel, and don’t put your wallet in your back pocket.
The Reeperbahn hosts a music festival every September.
The pedestrian street is mostly wheelchair accessible.
The Reeperbahn and the St. Pauli District are located just north of the port, on the western edge of Hamburg. The pedestrian street heads west from the St. Pauli underground station and stretches all the way to the fish market at Altona. To reach the area, you can take the S-Bahn train to the Reeperbahn station or the U-Bahn to the St. Pauli station. Alternatively, visit the area on a guided tour that includes transportation. Parking in the area is limited.
One of the most popular times of year to visit the neighborhood is during the annual Reeperbahn Festival, a music festival held every September. In general, summer is the busiest tourist season in Hamburg.
In the early 1960s, before the Beatles became world famous, they played at several clubs along the Reeperbahn, including the Star-Club and Top Ten. John Lennon once joked that he “grew up” in Hamburg. Visit Beatles Square, located at the corner of the Reeperbahn and the Grosse Freiheit, to see statues dedicated to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best (who were the members of the band at the time).