The Reeperbahn — the half-kilometre strip through St. Pauli — is Germany's most famous red-light district and the spine of Hamburg's nightlife. It is loud, neon-lit, occasionally sleazy and almost always entertaining. By day it is shabby and surprisingly quiet; by night the bars, sex shops, music venues, theatres and döner joints all light up together.
The street takes its name from the rope-makers (Reepschläger) who once worked in long open sheds here. Today the music venues are the main draw — the Mojo Club, the Indra, the Grosse Freiheit 36, the Molotow — and the annual Reeperbahn Festival every September is one of Europe's biggest live-music industry showcases. Stick to the main strips at night and the area is safer than its reputation suggests.