Reeperbahn - St. Pauli, Hamburg

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NEVER would I go to the Reeperbahn for any other reason than to search for some traces of the places, where the Beatles started their carrer...
Most of these places have disappeared and you may still see only the adresses like:
Grosse Freiheit 36 where the Beatles were introduced as newcomers in 1959
Grosse Freiheit 39 where the famous Star Club used to be - the Beatles had their first solo-concerts there--- --- --- --- --- ---
Reeperbahn got its name by the ropes (reep in the local dialect) that used to be produced in long halls. Today you have a lot of street-constructions going on, dividing Reeperbahn into the sinful north-side and the south-side that offers various good theatres and cabarets.

Reeperbahn has been centuries ago in its beginnings a place, where the ropes (Reep) were produced, which were used on the sailships. As it is not far from the port, it became the place where the sailors went to have a beer and find some amusement.

Today Reeperbahn is a lively mixture of bars, restaurants, small hotels and brothels. Earlier in the evenings tourists crowd the streets around Reeperbahn, later you'll see men looking for a short adventure. Homeless people are there as well as stylish young people or the theatregoer.

Well, we were here during the day and the night.

Its very quiet during the day - one can actually see how the shops look like ! But overall, it was pretty clean and orderly, with loads of bars and nightclubs and cafes about.

At night, its a totally different scene. Out of the taxi, we came upon a crazily busy place ~ packed with people walking about on a busy Friday night.

I recall having some caipis at a bar ~ al fresco style, at the fringe of Reeperbahn, observing people and their antics, and feeling darn cold !! Also had some turkish food from the imbiss around there ~ really nice hot meal on a cold chilly night.

Walking towards the Reeperbahn from the habour area, we came across this museum. No, we did not go but did have a browse through at their shop. LOADS of really nice stuff there ~ risque postcards, arty coffee table books about erotica, posters, keychains .. etc

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Davidwache is for sure the most famous and also best known policestation all over Germany. Davidwache is in Davistrasse, in the very centre of St.Pauli and Reeperbahn and so they have to deal with all of the problems there. There was a series of movies about this police-station many year ago and I think that even the building is worth to take a closer look !
Don't get too nosy though - they might ask you to come in & stay for a while !!

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Hamburg has long been seen as a 'sin city' where sailors could empty their wallets into the willing hands of local bar owners and whores.

These days the sailors have little time in port, so the whole tawdy show is aimed more at tourists and locals who are looking for a little spice.

The main 'Reeperbahn' is a broad street (Broad street, geddit ?) packed with pubs, strip joints, lap-dancing clubs, a casino, peep shows, sex shops and the like. If you have been to the Pigalle in Paris, then you will know what I mean. Rather oddly the street features more mundane shopping experiences - such a Lidl. They still stick to selling cheap cans of tuna and bog roll, rather than having 'specials' on Dildos and vibrators.

The word 'reeper' means 'Rope' and although no rope is manufactured here anymore, it would still seem to be in use for activities unrelated to seafaring.

Just off the main street lies 'Herbertstrasse'. This short street is closed at both ends by large red walls. I believe it was the Nazi's who originally erected then (these double entendres are coming just too easily) in order to curb the amount of prostitutes plying their trade. Many believe it is the law that women and under 18's cannot enter the street, although following a question on the misc forum, I am assured that it is a convention rather than an actual law. Either way, I didn't see any 'normal' women entering the street. I was also told that prostitues who occupy the windows lining the street (a la Amsterdam) would happily abuse or even throw condoms at any woman who dared to enter their territory.

Let off the leash for a few minutes, I though I'd better investigate Herbertstrasse for myself. I have to say that the thirty of so women plying their trade that freezing January night were some of the most stunningly attractive women I've ever seen.

Mrs SB claims that any old tart would look good in expensive lingerie, and bathed in a pink light that hides any blemish of the skin.

Hey, I was there, and beg to differ.

Reeperbahn / St. Pauli
So there is one party-location to the next..In the past many titled St. Pauli as 'Red Light Destrict', that´s it in trueth. But: lots of young people go there for gambling, drinking, eating, watching etc. and a dozend of important music-clubs has been settled there!
Be funny....

Reeperbahn this long boulevard is Hamburg's infamous center of
nightlife and lies at the heart of St. Pauli
Hamburg is a paradise for shopping, business and entertainment. Go shopping in the hundreds of stores located in Jungfernstieg; check out the city skyline, and, if you dare, do bungee jumping from the top of the Fernsehturm (TV tower); walk through the beautiful Planten un Blomen park; visit the fairytale houses and charming cafes of the elegant suburb of Blankenese; visit Altona; walk around the Aussenalster (the biggest of the two lakes in the city) on the sunset; checkout the busy port.
Hamburg is also know for its great cultural tradition: poets like Heine; composers like Haendel, and groups like the Beatles have been to the city and made history. People from all over Germany go to Hamburg to enjoy the theater plays in the Schauspielhaus or the Thaliatheater or many others. The Reperbahn is also famous for its casinos and sex shops, and the street for men only: 'Herbertstrasse'. At first you may think that Hamburg is just a big and busy port with nothing to do, but if you give yourself some time you'll discover that the city has a lot to offer and that boredom is practically non-existent.

if possible avoid the night clubs at Reeperbahn. If you are not careful with the girls, you could probably end up losing quite some money.
I happened to be at one of the night clubs and unluckily i agreed to buy the girl a drink. The people at the place were very clever in concealing the fact that i was ordering an expensive drink for them. (supposed to be paid for a pvt dance..). Caught in the grimy situation, i just had to pay the money and come out. Advise.. be extra careful before you buy something.. These are trained fraudsters and could leave a big hole in your pocket..

Checked with some friends and came to know that this has happened to quite some people. My feeling.. "Beware of pick pocketers and the night club girls at Reeperbahn"

I visited reeperbahn last year with some friends, we saw all the city. when we got back to sweden we agreed that Hamburg is Reeperbahn and Reeperbahn is Hamburg.

There is so much to see and do, ( talking about the nightlife). We didn´t have any problem anywhere. And ofcourse we walked through Herbertstrasse, very beutiful girls there.

In two weeks we are going back to Reeperbahn, love it.

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