Thing to do
St. Pauli Landungsbrücken
Hamburg's floating harbour station, a listed 1900s pier complex with a tide-gauge clock tower, where harbour tours and public HADAG ferries set off along the Elbe.
Reeperbahn and St. Pauli
Hamburg's 930-metre entertainment mile in St. Pauli, packed with theatres, live music clubs and bars, and the stage where the Beatles played in the early 1960s.
At a glance
- Type
- Nightlife and entertainment district
- Area
- St. Pauli, Hamburg, Germany
- Official site
- hamburg-travel.com
Good to know
- Live music clubs
- Theatres and musicals
- Beatles-Platz
- Bars
Why we recommend it
The Reeperbahn is the main street of St. Pauli and the centre of Hamburg's nightlife. Its name comes from the ropemakers who worked here in the 17th and 18th centuries: a Reep is a rope in Low German, and the long straight street was once a ropewalk on the road to Altona, after ropemaking was moved out of the city. Today it runs for about 930 metres from Millerntorplatz to Nobistor and is lined with clubs, bars, theatres, snack bars and shops, with the red-light district that gave it the nickname the sinful mile.
There is far more to it than its reputation. Spielbudenplatz is home to theatres including Schmidts Tivoli, a dinner theatre with long-running musical revues, and the Operettenhaus has staged big musicals for decades. Live music is a core part of the district: venues such as the Molotow, Mojo Club and Docks are nearby, and each September the Reeperbahn Festival brings hundreds of concerts to dozens of venues over four days.
Music fans come for the Beatles. In the early 1960s the band, still unknown, played clubs here including the Indra, the Kaiserkeller, the Top Ten and the Star-Club, and Beatles-Platz, at the junction of the Reeperbahn and Große Freiheit, marks their time in Hamburg with silhouette figures. Other landmarks include the Davidwache, the district's famous police station, and Herbertstraße, a screened-off street that women and anyone under 18 may not enter.
The street changes character through the day: quieter by day, busy with theatre and gig audiences in the evening, and loud and crowded late on Friday and Saturday nights. A glass bottle ban applies at weekends from Friday 22:00 to Monday 06:00, a weapons ban zone is marked with yellow signs, and the tourism office advises keeping bags closed, ordering from the drinks menu in venues to avoid billing disputes, and saying a polite no thanks to pushy touts. If you want context, a guided neighbourhood tour is a good first step, and the theatres make an easy, mainstream way into the district for anyone who would rather not spend the night in bars.
The nearest station is Reeperbahn on the S-Bahn, and the Große Freiheit and Davidstraße are the main side streets to know.
Reeperbahn and St. Pauli FAQs
Is the Reeperbahn safe for tourists?
Take the usual care; the tourism office advises keeping bags closed, watching for pickpockets and ordering from drinks menus in bars.
Is there a glass ban?
Yes, carrying or selling glass bottles is banned from Friday 22:00 to Monday 06:00 and around public holidays, with heavy fines.
Where did the Beatles play?
In clubs including the Indra, Kaiserkeller, Top Ten and Star-Club in the early 1960s; Beatles-Platz marks their time here.
Can women visit Herbertstraße?
No, women and anyone under 18 are not allowed into Herbertstraße, which is screened off at both ends.
What is the Reeperbahn Festival?
A four-day music festival each September with hundreds of concerts in venues across the district.
What does the name mean?
It comes from the Low German Reep, rope, as the street was once a ropewalk.
How long is the Reeperbahn?
About 930 metres, from Millerntorplatz to Nobistor.
Are there shows other than nightlife?
Yes, theatres such as Schmidts Tivoli and the Operettenhaus stage musicals, comedy and revues.