Reeperbahn (Rope Street), Hamburg

The name Reeperbahn means “ropewalk.” Beginning in the 17th century, rope makers worked in long lanes in this area, stretching out hemp strands for hundreds of meters before twisting them into the heavy ropes needed by Hamburg’s sailing ships.

Near the eastern end of the street, look for Mojo Club at number 1. You could easily walk straight past it, because much of the club is underground. Look down at the pavement for two large metal entrance gates marked with an “M.” These open to reveal stairs leading below street level. Mojo is especially known for jazz, soul, and electronic music.

Continue west beside Spielbudenplatz. On your left, at number 3, find the entrance to the Panoptikum, Germany’s oldest wax museum. Inside are more than 120 wax figures, ranging from historical personalities to musicians and film stars.

As you keep walking, take a moment to look around. The bright signs, theaters, bars, cabarets, clubs and adult entertainment venues give the Reeperbahn its unmistakable character. During the day, it can feel surprisingly relaxed, but after dark the whole street becomes louder, brighter and much busier.

Farther west, watch on your right for Große Freiheit. Turn right here to enter one of the most important streets in Hamburg’s music history.

Near the entrance, look for Beatles-Platz, a circular square designed like a giant vinyl record. Metal silhouettes around the edge commemorate the Beatles, who played in several nearby clubs during their early years in Hamburg.

Continue a short distance along Große Freiheit and look for number 36, which is easy to spot by its large sign. This is one of St. Pauli’s best-known live music venues.

The Beatles first performed nearby, at the Indra Club, back in 1960. The long nights they spent playing in St. Pauli became an important part of their early development as a live band.

Several smaller music bars lie in the streets around the Reeperbahn as well. Gun Club, on Hopfenstraße, offers a more intimate bar setting, while Komet, at Erichstraße 11, south of the main strip, is known for its jukebox, DJs, dancing, and a musical mix that can range from soul and rockabilly to garage punk.

Today, the Reeperbahn remains as much a music and entertainment district as a red-light area. Each September, the Reeperbahn Festival spreads concerts and events across clubs throughout St. Pauli, continuing a musical tradition that made this part of Hamburg internationally famous.