beatles tour in hamburg germany

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City Tours Beatles Tour

A musical journey to the original sites where the Beatles took their first steps into stardom.​​​​​​

The Beatles Tour

Stefanie Hempel’s Beatles-Tour is a musical journey to the original sites where the Beatles took their first steps into stardom. Armed with a little ukulele, Stefanie guides you around the infamous old red light district of St. Pauli, stopping here and there to sing the songs that the Beatles performed night after night in the smoky clubs of Reeperbahn and Große Freiheit. The tour also includes a closing concert where Stefanie performs the Beatles’ big hits.

Follow this link to get further information.

Sights Beatles-Platz Square

Five life-sized silhouettes pose proudly in front of the Große Freiheit street. The Beatles got their first taste of stardom here in the 1960s. 

Explore Reeperbahn Nightlife District

The famous street in the heart of St. Pauli offers everything from theatres and galleries to trendy nightclubs and smoky sailor bars.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Explore Music and Nightlife

Explore Hamburg's vibrant nightlife and music scene. Read all about concert venues, music-themed tours and the best bars for live music.​​​​​​​

Neighbourhoods St. Pauli

Known around the world for its football club and the Reeperbahn, St. Pauli has even more to explore than you'd think.

About Hamburg Culture

Get an insider's view on the Hanseatic mentality and find out what distinguishes Hamburg from the rest of Germany.

Copyright owners of the images

• Visitors : © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Andreas Vallbracht
• Stefanie Hempel: © Martina Drignat
• Beatles Square: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Martin Brinckmann
• Reeperbahn: © imago stock & people / Lars Berg
• Music and Nightlife: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Christian Spahrbier
• St. Pauli: © imago stock&people / Lars Berg
• Culture: © www.mediaserver.hamburg.de / Sven Schwarze

Beatles-Tour Hamburg

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Beatles-Tour Hamburg - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Dank Stefanie Hempel wirkt die Magie der ersten Beatles-Jahre noch heute.

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

The greatest Beatles tour of all time.

Accept no copy cat: die beatles-tour, nur echt mit steffi hempel.

SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG

Die Beatles in Hamburg - sie weiß ALLES darüber.

She’s like a beatles-reincarnate., it’s a labor of love through ten stops in the hippest section of the city..

ARCHITECTS & ARTISANS

Die Beatles-Expertin Hamburgs.

HAMBURGER MORGENPOST

Ein Fest, bei dem alle zusammen singend ihre Liebe zu den Beatles zelebrieren – All you need is Love, All together now!

WELT AM SONNTAG

… eine Institution.

Eine kleine ukulele reicht, um die beatles lebendig zu machen., stefanie hempel begeistert menschen aus aller welt., book a tour led by the charismatic, beatles-besotted, ukulele-playing historian stefanie hempel..

EVENING STANDARD

A magical musical tour!

Stefanie’s business and her heart are interchangeable., auf st. pauli ist diese frau ein popstar..

ELBPHILHARMONIE MAGAZIN

You’ll not spend a better three hours in St. Pauli than on Stefanie’s Beatles tour.

IRISH DAILY MAIL

Dear guests of Hempel's Beatles tour!

20 years of Hempel's Beatles Tour!!! 2004-2024... Hallelujah!!! This year will be a very special one! We start in March and April with three Hempel's Beatles shows at St. Pauli Theater with wonderful guests. Tickets, see link.  The tour season starts on April 6. And of course there will be a big anniversary show with my favourite guests from the last few years. We'll celebrate in autumn. Stay tuned!

https://www.st-pauli-theater.de/programm/hempels-beatles-show/

Why don’t we do it in the road?

Stefanie Hempel is the originator of the musical Beatles-Tour in Hamburg. Follow her on the tracks of John, Paul, George, Ringo, Pete & Stuart across the famous red light district of St. Pauli!   

I hope you will enjoy the show!

THERE ARE PLACES I REMEMBER

From indra to star-club.

“No Hamburg, no Beatles,” says the great Beatles author Mark Lewisohn. And they can still be seen, all those places where the Fab Four grew up to become the band that would conquer the world. Countless stories are set in the streets and backyards of Hamburg-St. Pauli. The tour takes you to all those sites that breathe Beatles history: Indra, Kaiserkeller, Top Ten, Star-Club, Bambi Kino, Lennon’s “Rock’n’Roll” Cover and more…

JUST LET ME HEAR SOME OF THAT…

Rock’n’roll the street.

Hempel’s Beatles-Tour is a musical journey to the original sites. Armed with a little ukulele Stefanie guides you around the notorious old red light district and it is there that Stefanie sings the songs that the Beatles performed night after night in the smoky clubs of Reeperbahn and Grosse Freiheit. The tour also includes a closing concert where Stefanie performs the big hits.

Celebrating George!

George Harrison Birthday Show LIVESTREAM FABRIK Hamburg, 9 April 20:00 CET Stefanie Hempel & Band, Heinz-Rudolf Kunze, Inga Rumpf, Annett Louisan, Stoppok and many more

"MY BONNIE" Live at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Hamburg

Book your virtual tour, on beatles-tour, get a glimpse of the tour.

10 Years Hempel’s Beatles-Tour

Stream & Shout - 60 Jahre Beatles Hamburg

NDR 50 Jahre Abbey Road

ARD Nachtmagazin

NDR Hamburg Journal

ZDF Volle Kanne

WDR Rockpalast

ARD Morgenmagazin

I’m looking forward to your feedback on Tripadvisor or facebook

Freda kelly.

Beatles’ secretary and head of the fan club

“It was my great pleasure do a Beatle-Tour with the best guide in Hamburg, the lovely Stefanie Hempel. Stefanie does her tour with an easy charm, a lovely sense of humour, and real enthusiasm and love for ‘the boys’, as my old boss Brian called them. At certain places she bursts into a song- I found myself jiving with my partner to ‘I saw her standing there’. I would recommend Stefanie’s tours to anyone interested in learning about ‘the boys’ and their time in Hamburg. And what a time it was!”

Nancy Lee Andrews

Photographer and former fiancée of Ringo Starr

“When visiting Hamburg at the top of your must do list is Stefanie Hempel’s Beatles-Tour. It’s a fun tour that you will cherish! And be sure you get one of her CD’s, this gifted woman will rock your socks off!”

Mark Lewisohn

Beatles historian

“No Hamburg, no Beatles. St Pauli was crucial to the Beatles’ development – and, thankfully, all these years on, most of the clubs they played can still be seen, along with the places they lived and the locations at which they were photographed. Hamburg needs a Beatles tour guide, and we all need Stefanie Hempel. She has the human touch and she talks, sings and plays her music with heart and soul. It’s clear she loves what she does, and time spent in her company is not only educational – it’s a delight.”

Author and former girlfriend of John Lennon

“Stefanie Hempel gives such an informative tour around Hamburg that if you don’t take it and you’re a Beatles fan, then you are missing out!”

Günter Zint

Photographer and friend of the Beatles

„Die Beatles haben auf St.Pauli viele Spuren hinterlassen. Die informativste und musikalisch beste Erinnerung an die Fab Four liefert jede Woche aufs neue Steffie Hempel mit Ihrer unvergleichlichen Beatles-Tour. Ich habe sie schon oft begleitet und werde nicht müde immer wieder mitzuerleben wie professionell und unterhaltsam Steffie uns die Zeitreise in die ‚Golden Sixties‘ erleben lässt. Wer die Beatlestour nicht kennt – hat den Kiez verpennt.“

Gibson Kemp

Musician and friend of the Beatles

“HEMPEL RULES!”

I read the news today oh boy

Los angeles times 05.2019.

FORGET LIVERPOOL. HAMBURG, GERMANY MADE THE BEATLES... A magical musical tour! It's hard to imagine anyone in Hamburg more effusive about the Beatles than Stefanie Hempel. She conducts walking tours, performs the group's music on a ukulele and is a cultural ambassador for the city.

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 02.2020

Roll up for the Mystery Tour! Sixty years after their first visit, the Fab Four still rock in this vibrant port-city.

THE GUARDIAN 03.2020

A Local's Guide to Hamburg - 10 Top Tips by Stefanie Hempel. Stefanie Hempel is a singer and ukulele player, and created the Beatles Tour.

DIE ZEIT Magazin 08.2020

Aus der Serie: Ich habe einen Traum. Die Beatles sind für mich Familie und Schutzengel. Dazu passt ein Traum mit George Harrison, den ich vor vielen Jahren hatte.

FLYBE MAG 06.2019

Stefanie Hempel's Beatles-inspired musical tours of Hamburg are a big hit with fans from around the world. It's not that the Hamburg singer, songwriter and musician takes her business to heart. It's more that her business and her heart are interchangeable...

IRISH DAILY MAIL 11.2018

Or rather you want Stefanie Hempel to show you Hamburg's most famous neighbourhood. Trust me, you really do. Stefanie is something of an institution in St. Pauli. What Stefanie doesn't know about the Fab Four and their teenage days in Hamburg isn't worth knowing... you’ll not spend a better three hours in St. Pauli than on Stefanie’s Beatles tour.

MTV UK 04.2017

The greatest Beatles tour of all time. Thankfully, we have the frankly brilliant Beatles mega-fan Stefanie Hempel to get you up to speed. The creator of Hamburg’s first Beatles tour, her tours have become so popular that they’re now oft-xeroxed, but never beaten.

EVENING STANDARD 07.2017

Yes, but what about The Beatles? There's only one thing a groupie has to do: book a tour led by the charismatic, Beatles-besotted, ukulele-playing historian Stefanie Hempel - as an incognito Bob Dylan once did.

DAILY EXPRESS 02.2018

A ticket to ride in Hamburg - The fascinating story of how the Fab Four were moulded into the supergroup they became by their experiences in Hamburg was the highlight of my visit to the city, as it was told by professional musician Stefanie Hempel.

WELT AM SONNTAG 04-2017

Mit Frau Hempel auf Beatles-Tour durch Hamburg. Sie begeistert damit Menschen aus aller Welt – und sogar Nobelpreisträger. All you need is Love, All together now!

DAILY MIRROR 04.2017

The best way to discover more about the history of the young Mop Tops in the city is taking a tour with musician and major Beatles fan Stefanie Hempel. The effortlessly charming Stefanie will show you round all of the key spots in the group's history and even serenade you with a song or two.

EASY JET MAGAZINE 07.2014

… Passion, that´s not something she struggles with. Head to Grosse Freiheit on a Saturday and you´re bound to hear her belting out hits on her ukulele. 

SH:Z IM NORDEN 09.2019

Auf den Spuren der Fab Four. Mit einer Leidenschaft, die ihresgleichen sucht, erzählt die 42-jährige, mal auf Deutsch, mal auf Englisch, von der wenig glamourösen Frühphase der Beatles... Heute gilt Stefanie Hempel als Hamburgs Beatles-Spezialistin Nummer eins. Das hat sich sogar bis zu Bob Dylan rumgesprochen.

FAZ 05.2010

… Dank Stefanie Hempel wirkt deren Magie der ersten Jahre noch heute. Sie führt ihre Gäste auf den Spuren der Fab Four durch das nächtliche Hamburg, kennt alle Anekdoten.

POLITIKEN 12.2016

Hamburg: En syngende guide... Vi forelsker os også. Dog ikke i Astrid Kirchherr, men i Stefanie Hempel, som fortryller hele gruppen ikke alene med sin Beatles-fortælling og musikalske fortolkning, men også med sin entusiasme og sine strålende øjne.

WESTFÄLISCHE NACHRICHTEN 04.2017

Mit der Ukulele unterwegs - Stefanie Hempel und ihre Beatles-Tour

TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG 12.2016

Paris ist die Stadt der Liebe, Mailand die Stadt der Mode. Und Hamburg? Die Stadt der Musik! Nicht nur wegen der Elbphilharmonie, die bald ihre Türen für Konzertbesucher öffnet. Es sind auch die Menschen, die die Hafenstadt mit Musik erfüllen. Zu ihnen gehört Stefanie Hempel.

DAILY STAR 09.2015

On a busy street corner a girl pulls a ukulele from its case, strikes a chord and starts to belt out 'Twist And Shout‘, stomping her feet to the rhythm.

BILD 11.2014

Die Beatles in Hamburg - sie weiß ALLES darüber. Sie ist DIE Beatles-Kennerin auf St. Pauli: Stefanie Hempel (37). Die Sängerin macht seit genau zehn Jahren Kiez-Führungen.

GONOMAD 09.2011

Are you a Beatles fan? You can claim to be the biggest “Fab Four” fan on the planet but odds are good that Stefanie Hempel of Hamburg, Germany knows more. She’s like a Beatle-reincarnate.

DAILY TELEGRAPH 08.2010

My hard days and nights in Hamburg. Adrian Bridge goes on the trail of the Beatles... One of the first to recognize the need to take pride in the Beatles link was Stefanie Hempel. She started her own magical mystery walking tour.

HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT 06.2014

Ein Leben mit den Beatles. Seit zehn Jahren macht Stefanie Hempel Führungen auf den Spuren der Fab Four. Und singt deren Songs auf einer CD.

NEW YORK TIMES 03.2011

Twist and Shout! Forever enshrined by the Beatles. The City of Hamburg is a fab foray into Sex, beer and Rock´n´Roll. In 1961, an English art-school screw-up named John Lennon stepped into a doorway in St. Pauli...

MARE 08.2012

… Es gab kein Bandmuseum, keinen Beatles-Platz und keine Beatles-Tour. Und so machte es eben Stefanie Hempel, Songwriter und zugleich der größte Beatles-Fan. Sie wurde zu einer Institution.

SZENE HAMBURG 05.2011

Stefanie Hempel ist die Erfinderin der musikalischen Beatles-Tour. Singend und erzählend katapultiert sie das wilde Rock´n´Roll-Leben der Fab Four auf St. Pauli in die Gegenwart.

SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 08.2012

Stefanie Hempel spielt Beatles-Songs auf der Ukulele oder Gitarre und erzählt von Ringo, George, Paul und John, denen sie ihre Begeisterung für Musik verdankt.

HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT 03.2011

Stadtführungen wie die Hempel's Beatles-Tour und die Kiez-Geh-Rock-Revue zeigen die musikalische Seite des Hamburger Rotlichtviertels.

TRAVEL AGENT CENTRAL 07.2013

An enjoyable and enlightening evening can be spent “On the Tracks of the Beatles,” courtesy of Hempel’s Beatles-Tour, hosted by the engaging young singer-songwriter Steffi Hempel.

HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT 05.2013

Seit neun Jahren führt die Musikerin Beatles-Fans und Touristen durch Hamburg. Dabei zeigt sie ihnen die Plätze, an denen die Pilzköpfe zwischen 1960 und 1962 den Grundstein für ihre Weltkarriere legten.

POLITIKEN 12.2011

Genoplev Beatles i Hamburgs festlige kvarter Før Beatles indtog verden, indtog de Hamburg. Guidet tur fortæller den ukendte historie om bandets barske år i de tidlige 1960'ere.

NORDJYSKE (DK) 10.2013

Well, she was just seventeen, you know what I mean ... Med firestrenget ukulele synger, spiller og fortæller Stefanie Hempel, mens vi følger i Beatles fodspor rundt i Hamburg.

Get the Press Kit (40MB)

Book the tour, every saturday or as exclusive tour, beatles-tour.

Book the classic Beatles-Tour with live music on the street, all the sites plus Specials. Including closing singalong concert in a Beatles/ St. Pauli Location

April to November. Saturday at 6 p.m.

DEPARTS FROM

Subway Station Feldstrasse

German/English

Stefanie Hempel [email protected]

EXCLUSIVE BEATLES-TOUR

Book your private Beatles-Tour with live music. For small or bigger groups. We would be glad to cater to your individual wishes. Tell us your desired date, group size and favourite songs.

All-season Dates as desired

Beatles-Platz, Reeperbahn

Hempel's Beatles-Show

Experience Stefanie Hempel on stage with her personal hommage to the greatest band of all time.

Beatles-Tour Album

Listen and buy here, impressum / datenschutz.

Verantwortlich für den Inhalt:

Stefanie Hempel

Telephone: +49 151 56047984

E-Mail: [email protected]

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Forget Liverpool. Hamburg, Germany, made the Beatles into the band they became

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At the tender age of 8, I knew the Beatles were extraordinary. In their appearance on “ The Ed Sullivan Show ,” they sang and played effortlessly, their timing perfect despite rarely looking at one another.

Like thousands of others, I basked in that black-and-white glow on that Sunday night in February 1964, but when it was over, I had a burning question: How did they do that?

I recently had the chance to find out. On a business trip to Germany, I spent three days in St. Pauli , the Hamburg district where the Beatles became really good before they became really, really famous.

My expert guide: Peter Paetzold , a bearded 68-year-old with the street cred of a chain-smoking rock drummer, well versed about St. Pauli’s music scene of the 1960s. He grew up around the corner from the Indra club, one of four venues the group played.

In August 1960, when the Beatles arrived, the Indra was a seedy strip joint complete with a neon-lighted elephant beckoning passersby. The band’s contract required the five of them (John, Paul, George, drummer Pete Best and bassist Stuart Sutcliffe) to perform for 30 hours, six nights a week. Each one received the generous sum of 30 Deutsche marks a week, about $51 in those days.

“We had to learn millions of songs because we’d be on for hours,” George Harrison later said. “Hamburg was really like our apprenticeship, learning how to play in front of people.”

The Indra’s owner provided the group free lodging. On my private tour, Paetzold and I crossed the street to the entrance of those accommodations, the back door of the Bambi, a movie theater. The Beatles slept behind the screen in two dark, dank, cramped storage rooms with small beds, folding cots and a couch. The nearby men’s room, where broken toilets sometimes overflowed into their rooms, served the group’s personal hygiene needs.

‘Oh-my-gosh’

As we stood outside the back entrance of the Bambi, Paetzold removed a photo from an envelope, a black-and-white image of John Lennon taken in 1960 at the theater. The singer is reading a newspaper and wearing only a cap, sandals and white briefs. It marked one of my “oh-my-gosh” moments in St. Pauli.

There were many more OMG moments the previous night.

It’s hard to imagine anyone in Hamburg more effusive about the Beatles than Stefanie Hempel. She conducts walking tours , performs the group’s music on a ukulele and is a cultural ambassador for the city. She is organizing a celebration in September of the “Abbey Road” album with a band and orchestra.

Hempel vividly remembers the moment — she was 9 — when she first heard “She Loves You” on a cassette tape her father had acquired surreptitiously in the 1980s because rock music was verboten in East Germany. “It was the moment of my life,” she said.

She often is asked what it was like for the Beatles playing small, noisy, smoke-filled clubs in Hamburg.

“It was a very tough time for them, but it was the wildest time of their lives,” she said, an allusion, I think, to the musicians’ introduction to prostitutes and “prellies,” the nickname for Phenmetrazine, a stimulant.

“They were never again as free as they were in Hamburg,” she said. “As John Lennon said, ‘We could try anything and the audience liked it, as long as it was really loud.’ ”

Magical musical tour

I joined Hempel and 30 others on her weekly Saturday evening musical tour , more magical than mysterious, through St. Pauli’s red-light district. Her clients have included Bob Dylan, Steve Winwood and John Lennon’s half-sister, Julia.

Hempel’s three-hour excursion, now in its 15th year, includes a stop at the site of the Star-Club, where the Beatles and other musical icons, including Bill Haley and Jimi Hendrix, performed in the 1960s. The venue closed in 1969; it was destroyed 18 years later in a fire.

After leading us in a robust sing-along of “Twist and Shout,” Hempel walked us to Beatles-Platz , a circular plaza with five metal silhouettes, a tribute to the pre-Fab Four. Names of their songs (in English), from “My Bonnie,” recorded in Hamburg in 1961 with singer Tony Sheridan, to “The Long and Winding Road,” are incised in the ground representing the grooves of a record.

The plaza is the city’s only public recognition of the group, and I wondered why Hamburg had not capitalized on this extraordinary musical legacy,

“They spent their time in a very sleazy area, and it is still that way,” said British radio broadcaster Spencer Leigh, author of “The Beatles in Hamburg.” “If Hamburg were to clean up the area, they presumably would be turning away profitable enterprises ... a real conundrum.”

Carsten Brosda, head of Hamburg’s office of culture and media, contends the Beatles’ legacy lives on in the annual Reeperbahn Festival , four days in September when rock, pop, folk, soul and jazz abound in clubs and blocked-off streets. The name refers to the half-mile main boulevard in the heart of the red-light district.

“It’s grown to become one of the most important European music festivals,” Brosda said. “So you could say that the lively music culture in this part of town is one of the best commemorations of the Beatles and the long tradition of music around the Reeperbahn.”

Vintage market

That lively culture extends beyond the Reeperbahn. A short walk led me to the waterfront district where the promenade along the Elbe River is filled with locals and tourists. The crowd was almost shoulder to shoulder on a Sunday morning as they converged on the Hamburg Fish Market , which dates back more than 300 years.

I was not shopping for cod, flowers or fresh fruit and vegetables. Rather, I was admiring the street artists and buskers, some of whom may have their sights on this year’s Reeperbahn Festival (Sept. 18-21).

Another St. Pauli tradition, although not three centuries old, is the Flohschanze, a Saturday flea market that was a 15-minute walk from my hotel. With my “find,” an Art Deco picture frame from the 1920s, I strolled around the corner to two more Beatles landmarks.

Musik Rotthoff is crammed to the ceiling with Gibson, Fender and other brands of guitars. Claus-Dieter Rotthoff is the third-generation proprietor of this family business. In 1961, his father sold Paul McCartney the stylish violin-shaped Hõfner bass guitar the singer played in concert and in recording studios throughout the 1960s.

The shop is adjacent to Hotel Pacific , where in December 1962 the four Beatles, now with Ringo Starr on drums, stayed two weeks, each with his own room. The group closed its pre-Beatlemania Hamburg run, which totaled more than 1,100 performance hours on five trips from Liverpool, with a New Year’s Eve show in 1962 .

Eleven days later, “Please Please Me,” which record producer George Martin accurately predicted would be the group’s first No. 1 hit, was released in Britain. A little more than a year later, the Beatles played “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

The best way to Hamburg, Germany

From LAX, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Austria, British, United and Delta offer connecting service (change of planes) to Hamburg. Restricted round-trip fare from $1,070, including taxes and fees.

To call the numbers below from the United States, dial 011 (the international calling code), 49 (the country code for Germany) and the local number.

Peter Paetzold , [email protected]

Hempel’s Beatles-Tour , 6 p.m. Saturdays, April-November. About $40 for a 2½- to three-hour tour.

Where to stay

Ibis Budget Hamburg St Pauli Messe , 64 Simon-von-Utrecht-Strasse, Hamburg, Germany; 40-31765620 . Doubles from $94, breakfast included

Hotel Pacific , 30-31 Neuer Pferdemarkt, Hamburg, Germany; 40-4395095. Doubles with private baths from $100.

Arcotel Onyx Hamburg , 1a Reeperbahn, Hamburg, Germany; 40 2094090 . Doubles from $170 a night.

Where to eat

Captain’s Dinner Restaurant and Cafe , St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, bridge 3; Hamburg, Germany; 40-312121. Lovely waterfront setting overlooking the Elbe River; several fish entrees. Dinner for two from $80.

Freudenhaus St. Pauli , 7-9 Hein-Hoyer-Strasse, Hamburg, Germany; 40-314642. Elegant dining just off the infamous Reeperbahn. Nice array of veal, pork and other “sinful meats.” Dinner for two, $100.

It’s Like Kandie , 16 Wohlwillstrasse, Hamburg, Germany . Specializing in dessert waffles; a two-minute walk from the John Lennon “doorway,” featured on the cover of his 1975 “Rock ’n’ Roll” album.

To learn more

Contact the Hamburg tourism office .

[email protected]

@latimestravel

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Beatles Tour - Adults Only (HAM20)

Port of Call

Activity Level & Duration

Experience Type

Culture | Music

The Beatles in Hamburg: 60 years on from the band's wild German adventure

On the morning of August 17, 1960, the Beatles emerged from a cramped minibus and tumbled out into a seedy enclave of Hamburg. Arriving after a drive on the long and winding road from Liverpool, they were there to play a series of gigs at a club in the West German city. Little more than three months later, they were being deported back to the UK, chiefly thanks to an incident involving a flaming condom.

It sounds ridiculous and, in many ways, it was. But it was also an “apprenticeship”, as George Harrison later put it — an education in performance, drugs, sex and, as would soon prove itself rather important, moptop haircuts.

When they set off for Germany, only three of the Fab Four were in place: Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney . Joined by Stuart Sutcliffe on bass and Pete Best on drums, they were taken abroad by booking agent Allan Williams, who had previously enjoyed success in Hamburg with other groups.

They settled at the Indra, a club just a few hundred yards off the Reeperbahn, a notorious stretch of road unaffectionately nicknamed by locals as “die sündigste Meile”, or “the most sinful mile”. It was Hamburg’s red light district, a haunt of the ne’er-do-wells, and the kind of place that the respective parents of each Beatle had to be persuaded by Williams to let their teenage sons travel to.

It was all thoroughly unglamorous. Accommodation was sourced in the dingy storeroom of a nearby cinema, with the band sleeping on tiny bunk beds and regularly ingesting wafts of urine from the adjacent toilet. The pay was almost decent — £2.50 each per night, roughly £40 in today’s money — but the work was back-breaking. They would be forced to play for hours every evening, seven nights a week, with performances stretching into the early morning. Songs would stagger onwards for 20 minutes or more, with solo after solo. It was herculean, and it soon became aided by phenmetrazine, a stimulant drug that would sometimes keep the band “awake for days”.

The crowds were tough, too. Violence often broke out, with bouncers hardly averse to the odd scrap, and some punters were amused by the band’s name, which shared a similar sound to “Piedel”, a word for “penis” in the local dialect. The extra incentive to impress forced the band to up their showmanship — as regularly reminded by club owner Bruno Koschmider, who would yell “mach schau!”, or “put on a show!” in front of the stage — and turned them into the seemingly ready-made rock ‘n’ roll stars that would appear on TVs around the world just a couple of years later.

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In late October, lured by the promise of a less sordid sleeping arrangement and better pay, the band accepted a booking at another Reeperbahn venue, the Top Ten Club. It enraged Koschmider, who claimed a breach of contract. In retaliation, he reported the 17-year-old Harrison for working underage. He was deported the following month.

When McCartney and Best went back to the cinema to get their belongings, they found it dark and without electricity. A condom was pinned to the wall and set alight as a makeshift lamp. When Koschmider found out about it, he again made a criminal complaint, this time for the trumped up charge of attempted arson. And it worked — the pair were sent home in December, and Lennon followed soon after.

Undeterred, and with their immigration woes settled, the group returned to Hamburg and the Top Ten Club in March the following year. This second stint was defined by fate, chance meetings and happenings that would define the band’s future success.

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For one, Sutcliffe decided to return home to pursue a career as a painter, which forced McCartney onto bass. A year later, Sutcliffe had tragically succumbed to a brain haemorrhage.

It was in Hamburg, too, that the band first met Ringo Starr, who was the drummer of another group playing around the city, and who filled in on drums at a recording session when Best was otherwise engaged. And it was in Hamburg that they recorded their first ever single, My Bonnie, as Tony Sheridan’s backing band. The song piqued the interest of Brian Epstein, who would later become the band’s manager and the so-called “fifth Beatle”.

A young photographer, Astrid Kirchherr, attended some of the gigs and became obsessed with the band. She asked to take photos of them — one of the first snappers to ever do so — and played a peculiar role in influencing a key aspect of Beatles iconography: the moptop. Her boyfriend at the time had the haircut, as did many of their art school friends, which persuaded Sutcliffe to do likewise. The rest is history.

Today, remnants of the Beatles’ formative stay in Hamburg are dotted around the city. Towards the eastern end of Reeperbahn, there’s Beatles-Platz, a small square with steel silhouette sculptures of the group performing. Various scraps of memorabilia are housed inside some museums. Largely, though, Hamburg’s role in the Beatles' career remains an understated one. But as Lennon once put it: “I might have been born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg”.

Zur Zeit keine Touren!!! No tours at the moment!!! Website im Aufbau....Website Under Construction. "Get Back... ...To where it all began"

All tours are in German and English language (scroll down please for the English description) Beatles-Tour Hamburg Die Beatles-Tour ist einerseits ein Rundgang auf St. Pauli,  andererseits eine fesselnde Zeitreise auf den Spuren der Beatles.  Informationen aus erster Hand von einem Tourguide,  der in den 50er und 60er Jahren auf St. Pauli aufgewachsen ist und die Beatles und viele der anderen legendären Bands dieser Zeit selbst hautnah erlebt hat. Als Stammgast und Autogrammjäger in Clubs wie dem Star-Club, Top-Ten-Club und anderen Treffpunkten hatte er in diesen Tagen Kontakt mit unzähligen Legenden der 60er Jahre. Viele der Musiker und Macher dieser prägenden Zeitepoche zählen bis heute zu seinen Freunden. Mehr Authentizität bei einer Beatles-Tour geht nicht.

Führungen für kleine und große Gruppen, Schulklassen, Junggesellen/innen Abschiede und andere Anlässe sind auf Anfrage möglich.

Für weitere Informationen oder Buchungen  bitte das Emailformular mit Angabe des gewünschten Termins,  Art der Tour und der Teilnehmeranzahl ausfüllen.  (Zum Mailbutton geht es nach dem englischen Text und den Fotos) Wir melden uns umgehend um alle weiteren Fragen zu beantworten.    

Beatles-Tour Hamburg The "Beatles-Tour Hamburg" is a walk around as well as a  fascinating journey back to the famous Hamburg Days of The Beatles.

"Komm gib mir deine Hand" / "I want to hold your hand"

All  information is provided by a tourguide who grew up in St. Pauli

 in the 50s and 60s and who witnessed the rise of the Beatles 

and many other now famous bands first hand. 

He was a regular visitor and autograph hunter at the "Star-Club",

the "Top-Ten-Club" and other venues and locations during this years.

Since then he kept in touch with many legends of the 60s 

and tied friendships with musicians, staff and managers of the scene. 

From this formative era lasting until today!

There is no way to get a more authentic "Beatles-Tour" 

through the real birthplace of The Beatles...

Guided tours for small and large groups, school classes, Hen/Stag nights etc.  are possible on request. For more information or bookings please fill out the email form,   incl. the desired date and the number of participants.  We will contact you immediately to answer all further questions.    

Phone: +49 162 379 77 47  Telefon 0162 379 77 47

E-Mail: [email protected]

Beatles-Tour Hamburg   Grosse Freiheit 39   22767 Hamburg   Germany

Dieses Feld ist obligatorisch

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A Beatles Tour of Hamburg's Best Nightlife Spots

‘I might have been born in Liverpool, but I grew up in Hamburg’, John Lennon allegedly once quipped when a journalist asked what growing up in Liverpool was like. Between 1960 and 1962, the new Beatles played an estimated 281 concerts in Hamburg’s notorious red light and party district , sometimes starting at 7pm and finishing at 7am. In two short years, they played more live music hours in Hamburg than anywhere else in the world in their entire career. It was in Hamburg where they learned how to play as a band, how to improvise and to entertain any audience. It was here that they made their first recording, that John, Paul and George first played together with Ringo and that they acquired their iconic moptop haircuts. Just ten days after their last Hamburg concert in 1962, the LP Please, Please Me was released and took the world by storm . Our guide will let you walk in the footsteps of The Beatles along Hamburg’s most sinful mile.

1. Beatles-Platz

2. Indra Club

Music Venue

Kaiserkeller

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3. Top Ten Club

Building, Concert Hall, Music Venue

4. The Star Club

Building, Music Venue

5. Gretel & Alfons

Pub, German

Beatles Tours

One of the best ways to explore the Hamburg beginnings of The Beatles’ career is by taking a Beatles tour. There are several options, like the walking Beatles Tour and the bus Magical Mystery Tour . But the most widely acclaimed is the Stefanie Hempel’s musical Hempel’s Beatles Tour , which introduces The Beatles sights, stories and trivia , accompanied by their most famous tunes played on an ukulele.

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The Night the Beatles Played Their First Hamburg Show

The stints the Beatles did in Hamburg, Germany, are widely credited with turning them from just another teenage band in Liverpool into a tight rock 'n’ roll combo. They played their first night on Aug. 17, 1960, at the Indra Club.

They had gotten their gig through Allan Williams, who owned the Jacaranda Club in Liverpool and managed a handful of local groups, including the Beatles. He had developed a working relationship with Bruno Koschmider to send his acts to perform residencies at the Indra and the Kaiserkeller, both owned by Koschmider.

They hired Pete Best as the band's drummer a few days before. For the previous two months, Paul McCartney had moved from guitar to drums, but Koschmider specified that he wanted a five-piece band, so bringing on Best, whom they knew from the Casbah Club – owned by Best’s mother – was a natural choice.

They arrived in Hamburg and, after stopping at Koschmider’s house where they were to stay the first night, went to the Indra on Grosse Freiheit just off the Reeperbahn, the famous red light district in Hamburg’s St. Pauli quarter. The next night, and for the rest of their first Hamburg trip, their lodgings were in the Bambi Kino, a nearby theater, where they slept on bunk beds in the storeroom next to the ladies room.

Beatles Bible says that, for £2.50 a day per person, they played four sets between 8PM and 2AM on weeknights, five sets from 7PM to 3AM on Saturdays and six sets from 5PM to 1:30AM on Sundays. Their shows were comprised virtually entirely of covers of their favorite rock and R&B tunes, with stabs at whatever requests would be shouted at them by the drunken crowd. The long hours were a change-of-pace from what they were used to, but it forced them to adapt, especially with Koschmider repeatedly urging them to mach shau — to “make a show.”

“In Liverpool, we just used to do our best numbers, the same ones at every gig,” John Lennon said in Anthology . “In Hamburg, we would play for eight hours, so we really had to find new ways of playing. … We got better and got more confidence, playing all night long. It was handy, them being foreign. We had to try even harder, put our heart and soul into it, to get ourselves over.”

They dealt with the exhausting shifts thanks to the introduction of Preludin, a stimulant used as an appetite suppressant, into their diet. “[T]he waiters, when they’d see see the musicians falling over with tiredness or with drink,” Lennon continued, “they’d give you the pill. You’d take the pill, you’d be talking, you’d sober up, you could work almost endlessly — until the pill wore off, then you’d gave to have another.”

“We were frothing at the mouth,” George Harrison added.

Another way they passed the time was by indulging themselves in some of the other activities that draw men to the Reeperbahn. “It was a sex shock,” Paul McCartney  later recalled. “[S]uddenly, you’d have a girlfriend who was a stripper. If you had hardly ever had sex in your life before, this was fairly formidable. Here was somebody who obviously knew something about it, and you didn’t. So, we got a fairly swift baptism of fire into the sex scene. … We all got our education in Hamburg. It was quite something.”

The Beatles played the Indra until early October, when it was closed due to regular complaints about the noise. But Koschmider moved them into the Kaiserkellar, where they split time with another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, whose drummer was Ringo Starr . It was during this period that they met two people who would play a major part in their history.

Klaus Voormann, a young German artist, walked into the Kaiserkellar one night during the Beatles’ set. Struck by what he heard, he invited his girlfriend, a photographer named Astrid Kirchherr, to see them perform. They became regulars and befriended the band, in particular bassist Stu Sutcliffe, who was also an artist. Kirchherr took some photographs that became the definitive portrayal of their Hamburg era, and she and Sutcliffe soon fell in love.

Sutcliffe also took a liking to Voormann’s hairstyle, which was common among the German art scene, and asked Kirchherr to cut his hair that way. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison soon followed — it didn’t work with Best’s naturally curly hair — and, a few years later, it would be synonymous with the Beatles’ image. Voormann would go on to design the cover of Revolver and play bass on solo sessions by Lennon, Harrison and Starr as well as Harry Nilsson , Lou Reed and Carly Simon .

By the end of October, the Beatles’ reputation had grown and they attracted the attention of Peter Erickson, who owned the Top Ten Club. He offered them more money and better living conditions and the Beatles jumped at the opportunity. Koschmider retaliated by notifying the German authorities that Harrison was only 17 and therefore ineligible to work, which led to his deportation a few weeks later.

They continued in Hamburg as a quartet, but not for long. Upon retrieving their belongings from the Bambi Koni, McCartney and Best nailed a condom to the wall and set fire to it. Koschmider had them arrested for trying to burn the theater down. They spent the night in jail and were deported the next day. Lennon joined them back in Liverpool a few days later.

The Beatles returned to Hamburg in March 1961, a month after Harrison turned 18, staying for three months and backing up Tony Sheridan – another Brit who was having success in Hamburg – for a recording session. However, when this residency ended, Sutcliffe decided to stay in Germany with Kirchherr.

On April 10, 1962, three days before the Beatles’ final stint in Hamburg, Sutcliffe died of a brain hemorrhage.

A park at the intersection of the Reeperbahn and Grosse Freiheit was created in 2008 and named Beatles-Platz. Situated atop black pavement designed to look like a vinyl record stands five statues representing the Beatles as a reminder of the importance of the city in the group’s development.

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The Beatles in Hamburg – Private Tour

‘Every legend has a beginning.’ The Beatles’ transformative journey in Hamburg unveils a tapestry of musical anecdotes waiting to be explored.

Discover the untold stories behind the band’s rise to fame and the pivotal role Hamburg played in shaping their sound.

As the tour unfolds, you will step into the vibrant world where The Beatles’ legacy was born, offering a glimpse into a chapter of history that continues to resonate with music enthusiasts worldwide.

With each step, a deeper connection to the band’s roots emerges, leaving visitors with a newfound appreciation for the legendary quartet.

• Uncover authentic Beatles’ memorabilia and rare anecdotes in Hamburg
• Explore hidden gems and vibrant nightlife related to The Beatles’ early days
• Gain unique insights into Hamburg’s cultural significance in The Beatles’ history
• Understand how Hamburg shaped The Beatles’ sound and evolution into global superstars

Here's some more nearby experiences we've reviewed

• Elphi Plaza and Hafencity Culinary – the Food Tour
• Hamburg Half Day Walking Tour With a Local: 100% Personalized & Private
• Hamburg St. Pauli and Red Light District Private Walking Tour
• Hamburg Red Light District Introductory Walking Tour

Tour Highlights

Explore the mesmerizing world of The Beatles in Hamburg on this private tour, uncovering the city’s profound impact on the iconic band and unveiling hidden tales of The Fab Four’s journey.

One of the tour highlights is the chance to view authentic Beatles’ memorabilia, offering a glimpse into the band’s early days and their evolution into global superstars.

Hamburg’s vibrant nightlife, which served as a crucible for The Beatles’ musical development, will be explored , shedding light on the venues where the band honed their craft and captured the hearts of audiences. This aspect of the tour provides a unique insight into the cultural backdrop that shaped The Beatles’ sound and set the stage for their unprecedented success.

Exclusive Insider Stories

Set out on a captivating journey into the lesser-known tales of The Beatles in Hamburg with exclusive insider stories that offer a fresh perspective on the band’s formative years in the city.

Visitors on this private tour will uncover rare anecdotes that shed light on the Fab Four’s early days, providing a deeper understanding of their rise to stardom. These hidden gems reveal the untold stories behind the band’s gigs, friendships , and struggles in Hamburg, painting a vivid picture of the environment that shaped their music.

With insights from those who witnessed their journey firsthand, guests can truly grasp the significance of Hamburg in The Beatles’ history and the impact it had on their iconic sound.

Band’s Favorite Hangouts

The Beatles’ favorite hangouts in Hamburg offer a glimpse into the places where the band relaxed and found inspiration during their time in the city. Hamburg hotspots such as the Indra Club and Kaiserkeller were significant to the band’s early success.

At the Indra Club, The Beatles played marathon sets and honed their musical craft, drawing in crowds with their infectious energy. The Kaiserkeller provided a platform for the band to experiment with their sound and stage presence, shaping their future performances.

Band anecdotes from these locations reveal stories of camaraderie, late-night jam sessions , and the birth of iconic songs. Exploring these hangouts allows fans to connect with the roots of The Beatles’ journey and experience the city’s rich musical history firsthand.

Musical Influence in Hamburg

Hamburg’s vibrant music scene deeply influenced The Beatles during their formative years, shaping their sound and setting the stage for their future global success. The Beatles’ early days in Hamburg were pivotal for their development as musicians. Here’s how the Hamburg scene impacted the Fab Four:

Immersion in Live Performances : The band played numerous gigs in Hamburg, honing their craft and stage presence.

Cross-Cultural Musical Exchange : Exposure to diverse musical genres in Hamburg enriched the Beatles’ repertoire and style.

Resilience and Adaptability : Challenging conditions in Hamburg clubs taught the band resilience and adaptability, crucial for their later success.

Booking and Refund Policy

Exploring the intricacies of booking and cancellations unveils the tour’s flexibility and policy details for prospective participants. The booking process for ‘The Beatles in Hamburg – Private Tour’ is straightforward and can be done online through Viator. Participants can select their preferred tour date and time, with the tour duration typically lasting around 3 to 4 hours.

In terms of the refund policy, full refunds are available for cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance of the tour. However, no refunds are provided for cancellations within 24 hours of the tour start time. It’s important to note that changes to bookings can’t be accepted less than 24 hours before the scheduled start time, with cut-off times aligned with local experience time.

Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Delving into customers’ experiences on the ‘The Beatles in Hamburg – Private Tour’ reveals intriguing insights into the impact of the tour on participants.

Fan Experiences Customers often mention feeling a deep connection to The Beatles and their time in Hamburg, making the tour an emotional and memorable experience.

Hidden Gems Many reviewers highlight discovering hidden gems about the band’s history and lesser-known anecdotes, adding a new layer of appreciation for The Beatles.

Personal Touch Several testimonials praise the tour guides for their in-depth knowledge and passion, enhancing the overall experience and creating a personalized journey for each participant.

Assistance and Inquiries

Customers seeking further information or assistance regarding the ‘The Beatles in Hamburg – Private Tour’ can easily access the Viator Help Center for prompt responses to their inquiries.

The customer support team is readily available to address any queries about the tour details , such as the locations visited, the duration of the tour, or any special accommodations needed.

Whether it’s about the historical significance of Hamburg in shaping The Beatles’ career or specific requests during the tour, the Viator Help Center is there to assist.

Pricing Details and Terms

For a comprehensive understanding of the ‘The Beatles in Hamburg – Private Tour’ pricing and accompanying terms, visitors can refer to the detailed information provided by Viator

The tour starts from $319.46, offering an insightful exploration into The Beatles’ Hamburg journey.

Viator’s cancellation policy allows for a full refund if canceled 24 hours before the tour, but no refunds are provided for cancellations within 24 hours.

Visitors are encouraged to review the terms and conditions to understand the operational procedures and any additional fees that may apply.

Here's a few more nearby tours and experiences we think you'll like.

• Jewish Hamburg – Private Tour
• English Guided Tour Reeperbahn “Red Light and Offence”
• Treasure Hunt Through Hamburgs Hafencity
• St. Pauli Culinary – The Food Tour
• Sailing Trip on the Hamburg Outer Alster
• Private Guided Elbphilharmonie Plaza Tour

Common questions

What kind of exclusive memorabilia or artifacts related to the beatles can guests expect to see during the private tour in hamburg.

Guests on the private tour in Hamburg can expect to see exclusive artifacts and rare memorabilia related to The Beatles. They will also hear historical anecdotes and insider stories about the band during their time in the city.

Are There Any Special Anecdotes or Behind-The-Scenes Stories About the Beatles’ Time in Hamburg That Are Not Commonly Known?

Unheard stories and rare artifacts await on the tour, offering guests exclusive insights into The Beatles’ Hamburg experiences. Anecdotes reveal behind-the-scenes moments not commonly known, enriching the journey with hidden gems of the Fab Four’s history.

Can Guests Learn About the Band’s Personal Experiences and Interactions With Locals During Their Time in Hamburg?

Guests can explore the band’s personal interactions and local experiences during their Hamburg days. Uncover untold stories, explore significant locations , and deepen knowledge of The Beatles’ ties to the city. This private tour offers a unique insight into their journey.

Are There Any Lesser-Known or Hidden Locations in Hamburg That Hold Significance to the Beatles’ History and Music Career?

Hidden landmarks in Hamburg tied to The Beatles’ inspiration and musical influences include lesser-known spots like bars where they honed their sound, local cafes they frequented, and alleys where they found creative sparks through unique local connections .

Is There an Opportunity for Guests to Interact With Local Musicians or Experts Who Can Provide Additional Insights Into the Beatles’ Time in Hamburg?

Guests on the tour can engage with local musicians and experts, gaining insights into The Beatles’ time in Hamburg. They’ll enjoy interactive experiences , learn behind the scenes stories, discover hidden locations , and hear lesser-known anecdotes, enhancing their personal journey.

Not for you? Here's more of our most recent tour reviews happening neaby

• Hamburg Like a Local: Customized Private Tour
• The Local Tour of Hamburg Historic Centre
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Set out on a journey through the musical history of The Beatles in Hamburg with our private tour. Trace the footsteps of the iconic band and uncover hidden anecdotes about their formative years.

Enjoy the nostalgia and vibrancy of The Fab Four’s legacy as you explore their favorite hangouts and venues where they honed their craft.

Book your personalized excursion today and discover the profound connection between The Beatles and Hamburg.

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The Beatles Got Started in Hamburg. There’s a Reason for That.

The Beatles first played Hamburg’s pleasure zone in 1960, in a former strip club near the infamous Reeperbahn.

It was sixty years ago today, on August 17, 1960, that the Beatles got together to play…their first live performance at the Indra Club in Hamburg’s red light district. The Fab Four in utero—Ringo Starr wouldn’t replace Pete Best as drummer until 1962—began what George Harrison would call their “apprenticeship” in a former striptease club on the Reeperbahn.

Historian Julia Sneeringer tours the “sinful” main street of the St. Pauli harbor district via contemporary tour guides and helps to explain what the Beatles were doing so far from the Liverpool of their childhoods.

“The Reeperbahn was (and still is) defined as a zone of pleasure, a place to consume an array of sensations and to ‘let loose’ anonymously without fear of community censure,” she writes. “As such, it became a harbinger of many trends that would hit the nation with such force in the late 1960s, such as more open sexuality or broader tolerance of interracial couples and homosexuality.”

As a port, Hamburg had a long history of catering to sailors from around the world. But legitimate theater as well as burlesque drew middle- and working-class locals through much of the nineteenth century. The movies arrived in 1901, then striptease in 1925. The Nazis attacked the international flavor of the place, uprooting the St. Pauli Chinese-German community in an act of ethnic cleansing.

After World War II, the Reeperbahn opened back up to pleasure seekers. “Seamen, musicians, bartenders, show-girls, gays, gangsters, and prostitutes, and some 13,000 St. Pauli residents (many of whom were immigrants) rubbed elbows with tourists and slumming natives,” writes Sneeringer.

During the postwar Wirtschaftswunder  (economic miracle), Hamburg’s tourism exploded. The city’s “aggressive selling of sexualized commodities” was an “extreme manifestation of a revved-up postwar capitalism.” Sneeringer quotes from the city’s official tourism center in 1961: the Reeperbahn’s “pleasure factories are springs of frivolity and enjoyment whose water nymphs aren’t exactly prudish.” The St. Pauli district generated $25 million for the local economy every year by the early 1960s.

International travel and readier access to pornography diminished the Reeperbahn’s appeal as an erotic attraction in the 1960s. But it transformed itself to meet the needs of a younger generation, one born after 1945.

The Beatles were pioneers here. A younger audience less interested in nude mud wrestling—or camel rides and beer-drinking horses, since animal shows were still a thing in the 1950s—started coming to the Reeperbahn. They were steeped in American popular culture, like jazz, blues, and rock and roll. Brits like the Beatles and Tony Sheridan were hired by backstreet clubs to lure in more of these customers.

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Ultimately, the lads from Liverpool didn’t win over the old Indra Club patrons, who wanted their strippers back. But when they moved down the street to the Kaiserkeller, they found their audience. “They soon fell in with a group of art students who defied the conventions of their bourgeois upbringing to experience the thrill of live rock and roll in a smoky cellar,” according to Sneeringer.

Sneeringer notes that the twenty-first century brought a retro appeal to the Reeperbahn, with neo-burlesque shows and gay cabaret. And Beatles tourism : you can see where the mop tops performed for 1,100 hours over four tours of Hamburg before their first single, “Please Please Me,” was released.

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Beatles-Platz An interactive memorial to the greats of pop history

A Milestone in Pop Music The Beatles in Hamburg

In the matter of two years, five young lads from Liverpool transformed into the most famous pop band of the 1960s: the Beatles! It was in the live music clubs of St Pauli that the Beatles developed their distinctive style and laid the foundations for their world career More

Best Things to Do in Hamburg, Germany

Weekend in hamburg itinerary – top things to do in hamburg germany.

H amburg, Germany’s Harbor City, is still a relatively undiscovered treasure among foreign tourists, but well worth a visit. I had been to Hamburg and Northern Germany a few times as a child/teenager, but not recently and so I was really excited when I was invited on a press trip to Hamburg for a few days to explore the top things to do in Hamburg, Germany.

What makes the city of Hamburg so special? Despite being Germany’s second largest city, it is still overlooked by many international tourists. Yet this city is full of surprises and lots of cool stuff is happening here. Did you know that Hamburg is considered the coffee capital of the world? Or the craft beer capital of Germany? Or that The Beatles spend more time performing in Hamburg than anywhere else in the world?

The Hamburg itinerary I followed was incredible and showed me not only the top tourist attractions in Hamburg but also some stuff only the locals know about. I can’t wait to share some of my favorites sights, travel tips, and things to do in Hamburg with you.

Insider Tip:  If you plan a jam-packed Hamburg Itinerary and want to see and experience all the top things to do in Hamburg, I highly recommend getting the Hamburg Card . It not only includes free public transportation but also up to 50% discounts on all Hamburg Museums, many tours, Alster cruises, experiences, and even restaurants. You can buy your Hamburg Card here in advance and either print it or use it on your smartphone.

And here is a great guide for the best Restaurants in Hamburg Germany .

Elbphilharomonie Hamburg

Let’s start with the top Hamburg tourist attraction: The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.

Built on top of a historical warehouse in the heart of Hamburg’s HafenCity, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall has not only become a stunning addition to Hamburg’s cityscape but is becoming one of the most recognizable and iconic buildings in Germany.

Elbphilharmonie Acoustics

The Elbphilharmonie Hamburg – lovingly called Elfie – opened its doors for the first concert in January 2017 and has impressed music aficionados with its acoustic excellence.

The large concert hall is not only visually striking but also optimized the architecture to create the perfect sound experience from every seat in the audience. No seat is more than 30 meters (98 ft) from the conductor and the vineyard-style seating allows undisturbed views of the orchestra.

Elbphilharmonie Concert

I was lucky to enjoy a concert at the Elbphilharmonie, which was definitely a highlight of my Hamburg itinerary. The piece, written by the conductor himself, was perfect to showcase the sound capabilities of this renowned concert hall.

You can find a list of upcoming concerts at the Elfie here .

Elbphilharmonie Tickets

If you like to attend a concert at the Elbphilharmonie during your Hamburg trip, I recommend you book tickets ahead of time, in case of popular artists or performances even months in advance. Make sure that you get tickets for the Grand Hall (Großer Saal in German).

In case you decide spontaneously, you can always try to get a ticket on the day of the performance at the ticket booth inside the concert hall.

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

Platz der Deutschen Einheit

20457 Hamburg

Find the Elbphilharmonie on Google Maps here>>

Westin at the Elbphilharmonie

My already perfect evening at the Elfie became even more memorable because I spend the night there. Yes, you can sleep inside one of the most famous concert halls in the world. Inside the Elfie building, surrounding the concert hall is the Westin Hamburg .

This 5 Star Hotel is one of the best Hotels in Hamburg and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of luxury and comfort. If you book a premium room, you will be spoiled with stunning views over the city or the Elb river, which connects Hamburg to the North Sea.

Book your room at the Westin Hamburg here>>

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District of Hamburg

Germans are practical when it comes to naming places, so the name Speicherstadt is nothing but a literal translation of “storage city”. I have to say, the German name sounds a bit more idyllic and fitting for the beautiful buildings that make up the largest warehouse district in the world.

UNESCO recognized the Speicherstadt in Hamburg as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, but it has been a magnet for tourists long before.

What makes a warehouse district so special, you might wonder? Three things:

• History: Learning about the importance of Hamburg as one of the major trading cities (Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg) in the world is fascinating. Starting in the 11th century, the Hanseatic League – a confederation of merchant guilds and trade towns in Northern Germany and Scandinavia dominated the Baltic trade in Europe. You can learn more about this at the Maritimes Museum Hamburg . The port of Hamburg is still known as one of the largest trade centers for coffee and rugs in the world. Lots of warehouses are still used for their original purpose. While the Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District were extensively damaged during World War II, it was rebuilt in an authentic way.
• Architecture: The red brick warehouses, built between 1883 – 1927, are absolutely stunning. Rows and rows of Neo-Gothic style buildings, alternating with cobblestoned streets and canals make the Speicherstadt extremely picturesque.
• Modern Use: While it is forbidden to live in the Speicherstadt due to flood management restrictions, many of the old warehouses are now office space or specialty shops, restaurants, bars and more. I really liked that these historic buildings were not turned into a museum, but rather are part of the city, where tourists and locals enjoy themselves, go to work and hang out.

Kontorhaus District

The Kontorhaus District is part of the UNESCO Heritage Site , but not directly located in the Speicherstadt. It is famous for 8 Kontorhouses: The Chilehaus, Messberghof, Sprinkenhof, Mohlenhof, Montanhof, former Post Office Building at Niedernstrasse 10, Kontorhaus Burchardstrasse 19-21 and the Miramar-Haus.

These huge office buildings were built between 1920 – 1950 and are prime examples of modern city planning in dense urban areas. Pure office buildings were a new concept, as it was more common to have mixed-use buildings in urban settings.

Due to the rapid expansion of the Hamburg Harbor and the Speicherstadt, the demand for office space also increased and the Kontorhaus District was the solution to provide office space for trading companies as well as port authorities.

Chilehaus Hamburg

The most iconic and famous Kontorhaus in Hamburg is the Chilehaus designed by architect F. Höger and a prime example of expressionist architecture. The wavey facade of the building leads to a sharp corner, looking like a ship’s prow.

Inside, you will find stunning tile work, art deco details, and beautiful staircases, as well as one of the only still working paternoster elevators in the city. Also, don’t forget to check out the nice courtyard in the center.

Chilehaus on Google Maps>>

Elbphilharmonie, Speicherstadt, Kontorhaus, HafenCity Walking Tour

Because the history of the Speicherstadt and the Kontorhaus District is so interesting, I highly recommend a walking tour of the area. This one includes a visit to the Plaza of the Elbphilharmonie, a tour of the Speicherstadt, Kontorhaus District and HafenCity and you can book it here .

Hotels in Hamburg HafenCity:

Westin Hamburg  

My stay at the Westin was a real treat. The service is impeccable and nothing could beat the view from my room. Sleeping inside one of the most iconic buildings in Hamburg is an unforgettable experience and simply walking through the lobby to access one of the most famous concert halls in the world can’t be topped. If you want to treat yourself, I highly recommend the Westin Hamburg .

25 Hour Hotel Altes Hafenamt

I stayed here for 2 more nights during my weekend in Hamburg and really enjoyed it. The decor feels like Indiana Jones meets National Geographic with a hint of Hipster. The rooms are very large and the location is very convenient. Their breakfast is also noteworthy – they had an extensive buffet selection and offered made to order dishes as well, including omelets, shakshuka, and of course eggs in all shapes and forms.

Top Attractions in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt

• Elbphilharmonie
• Miniatur Wunderland (see info below)
• Coffee museum
• Dialogue in the Dark
• HafenCity Visitor Center (with an impressive model of Hamburg City)

Miniatur Wunderland

Unfortunately, I did not have time to visit the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg myself, but my father and my nephew went there last year and they both absolutely loved it.

What can you expect from Hamburg’s top tourist attraction and who should visit? The Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg is the world’s largest model railway. If you think that is a bit nerdy and not for you, I think you should at least watch this short video to see how cool it actually is:

Pretty cool, isn’t it? Over 1 Million visitors a year will probably agree with you. You can book your tickets in advance here: Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg

St Pauli & the Reeperbahn – Visit Hamburg’s Red Light District

Let’s continue with a little Hamburg tourist attraction that is a little less suitable for kids: St Pauli and the Reeperbahn are in Hamburg’s Red Light District. So what is there to see, other than seedy strip clubs and brothels?

A lot, actually. St Pauli is actually a pretty large neighborhood and the Red Light District around the Reeperbahn is only a tiny fraction. There is the famous FC St Pauli soccer stadium, for example. I did a Beatles Walking Tour (see more below) in St Pauli and it was one of my favorite neighborhoods in Hamburg with a lot of charm, cool bars, and restaurants (once you get away from the Reeperbahn).

Große Freiheit

This street is filled with clubs and bars featuring the hottest DJs as well as live music, some of them for 80+ years. If those walls could talk. Some of the bars and clubs hosted stars like The Beatles, Bill Haley, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more. In the 60s, Hamburg was THE place to be for young and up and coming musicians.

Beatles Walking Tour

This was another highlight of my Hamburg itinerary, the Hamburg Beatles Tour. If you are a Beatles fan – and who isn’t, really – you might already know that they performed in Hamburg.

The tour led me all across St Pauli and showed me some of the iconic places like the Kaiserkeller or Club INDRA, where The Beatles performed for the very first time on August 17, 1960. Steffi Hempel, the tour guide, knows EVERYTHING about the Beatles and her passion for this band and their music is contagious.

Here are some of the fun facts that Steffi shared with me on the tour:

• The Beatles were the second choice band that the agent selected to go play in Hamburg
• They had NEVER performed together and only had a handful of practices together before coming to Hamburg
• They performed more hours on stage in Hamburg than in any other place in the world
• They slept for months in unheated broom closets in a movie theater in the heart of St Pauli (which showed children’s movies during the day and adult movies at night)

If you are a Beatles fan, this tour is a MUST, but even if you are only remotely interested in the band and their history, you will find the tour interesting. This is also a more child/teenager appropriate tour to see and experience St Pauli and the Reeperbahn.

Herbertsstraße

The most sinful street in the Kiez, the Herbertstraße, is the epicenter of the Red Light District near the Reeperbahn. The entrance is boarded up and only men over 18 are allowed in . Yes, you read this right. Women are not allowed. And ladies, DO NOT TRY TO GO IN! In all seriousness, this is not a game, especially not for the Madames working there.

What will you find in the Herbertsstraße? As I am a woman, I can’t tell you from personal experience, but from research and stories, this is what you will see: Ladies in Boots, as the locals call the working women in Hamburg, sit scantily clad behind windows and use their feminine charms to siren men to their room of pleasure.

*Disclaimer: Prostitution is legal in Germany and most of the women are working as independent contractors or even employees, pay taxes, and receive social benefits just like any other worker in any other industry.

St Pauli Walking Tour

This is an 18+ tour that will take you in the heart of the Kiez and the Red Light District. You will learn about the history of the most sinful mile in Germany, the sex, the crime, and all the other debauchee details.

It also includes visits to some of the most legendary bars and clubs of the Kiez and definitely promises a fun time for the grown-ups. You can book your spot on the 2 hours St Pauli Sex and Crime tour here!

Hamburg Fish Market

Sunday morning is Fish Market in Hamburg. It starts early – at 5 AM – but the only ones you will find there at that time are over-eager tourists and Reeperbahn zombies trying to sober up from last night’s debauchery.

However, at 10 AM sharp, the market sellers have to pack up their stuff and leave, so I recommend getting there at 8 – 8:30 AM to check out the Fish Market.

This gives you enough time to listen to the barkers praising their fish offers and eat a traditional Matjesbrötchen (a bread roll with pickled herring) or a Backfischbrötchen (bread roll with traditional “fish cake patty” and remoulade or any of the other delicious treats you might enjoy.

They do have limited options for people who don’t like to eat fish, but other than fresh produce and fruit, I have not seen anything that might be suitable for vegetarians, so consider that when you have dietary restrictions.

After that, head to the Fish Market Hall right next to the Market and enjoy some live music, coffee, beer, more fish and definitely a good time.

Fish Auction Hall on Google Maps 

Hamburg Harbor Tour by Boat

If it is Sunday, and you already are at the Fish Market, I recommend that you do your Hamburg Harbor Boat Tour right after. It is a nice 15-20 minutes walk along the river to get to the Landungsbrücke (Pier), where the Harbor Tour takes off.

The Hamburg harbor is the 3rd largest port in Europe and Germany’s largest port city, and also plays an important part of the city’s incredible charm. Seeing those huge container ships close up and learning about the history, day-to-day operation and lots of interesting fun facts make the Harbor Cruise a must for your Hamburg itinerary. Book your 1-hour harbor cruise here.

Old Elbe Tunnel

After your harbor cruise, I recommend another Hamburg attraction, which is just around the corner from the cruise pier: The Elbtunnel in Hamburg. Just walk along the bank of the Elbe and you will run right into it.

The Elbtunnel opened its doors in 1911 and was a real sensation for the time and is still amazing to see in today’s time. The 1400 feet (426 m) long tunnel lays 80 feet (24 m) beneath the surface of the river Elbe.

On each end, there are 4 large elevators that hold cars and motorcycles. Yes,  you heard that right, this tiny tunnel was made for cars and is still used as a regular way to commute to and from the city for locals. In 2008, 700,000 pedestrians, 63,000 bicyclists and 300,000 cars used the Old Elbtunnel ( Source Wikipedia ).

When you get out on the Steinwerder side, turn right and follow the signs to the viewpoint and you will have a great view of Hamburg’s skyline and the Elbphilharmonie.

Opening Hours Old Elbtunnel:

Pedestrians/Bicyclists: 24/7, except New Year’s Eve (closed from 9 PM to 4 AM).

Cars and motorized vehicles:

Monday – Friday:

8 AM to 1 PM: One-Way traffic from St. Pauli to Steinwerder

1 PM to 6 PM One-Way traffic from Steinwerder to St. Pauli

Saturday, Sunday, and Bank Holidays: Closed for Cars.

Insider Tip: Due to exhaust fumes, I highly recommend pedestrians and bicyclists to only use the Elbtunnel when it is closed for motorized vehicles. I walked through the Old Elbtunnel on Sunday after the Fish Market and it was a fun stroll, but if I had to walk next to cars with their motors running, I probably would have turned back.

Elbtunnel on Google Maps

Dialogue in the Dark Hamburg

When I first heard about Dialogue in the Dark, I thought it was an interesting concept. I didn’t know that this would be such an incredible experience.

So, what is Dialogue in the Dark?

Dialogue in the Dark is a social concept exhibition that has locations around the world. When you visit, you are experiencing a glimpse of the daily life of a blind person. You will be guided by a visually impaired guide through an exhibit that simulates situations of daily life, such as walking through a park, exploring a living room, crossing a street and even sitting in a boat – in complete darkness.

Why should you visit Dialogue in the Dark?

This is difficult to answer, but let me tell you my personal experience of Dialogue in the Dark and what I got out of it.

• It pushed me outside of my comfort zone as I had to relearn the most basic daily tasks, such as crossing a street or identifying vegetables by touch and smell.
• It made me realize how different my life would have been if I had been born with a visual impairment or if my eyesight had been taken away through disease or an accident.
• A sense of accomplishment, when I was able to identify an object with the senses that I usually pay much less attention to.
• I got to talk to several guides and learned about their personal story, some of them blind since birth, others who lost their eyesight later in life. It was interesting to see and learn more about the difficulties they encounter and actually experience a few of them myself.
• I learned more about how I can become more proactive in helping visually impaired people the right way. I am working on updating the photos on EuropeUpClose to include a better description of the photo and make my website more accessible for visually impaired visitors.
• It also made me feel thoughtful and even a bit somber, as I was able to walk out of the exhibit and see again, while my guides could not. It is their daily life.
• It made me aware of the ingenuity that visually impaired people have to master their lives. I am in awe of their problem-solving skills, their creativity, and their memory skills.

Dialog in the Dark on Google Maps

Explore the Craft Beer Scene in Hamburg

Everyone knows that Germany is the country of beer. German beer is good, some of it even great. But Craft Beer has been a bit slower to take off in Germany than in most other countries. I think this is due to three reasons:

• Part of it is because of the strict German Purity Law, which does not allow any ingredients other than water, barley, and hops. You can’t get too creative with just those three ingredients.
• Another reason might be that because German beer has always been decent, there has been less of an urgent need to come up with more tasty beer recipes.
• And lastly, because Germans are not very adventurous when it comes to their favorite beverage. I know people who have bought the same brand of beer for decades and they simply don’t see a reason to try something else. They buy what they know and what they like. Thankfully, this is slowly changing.

So Craft Beer Breweries and Beers are not as readily available in Germany as in many other parts of the world. If you are a craft beer lover, and you have been missing your Craft Beers while traveling, you should definitely check out these Breweries/Tap Rooms/Brew Pubs when you are in Hamburg:

This brewery/brewpub is located right along the Elbe. This colorful brewery and brewpub was by far my favorite Craft Beer stop in Hamburg.

Their beers are really good and balanced. Many IPAs I have tried in Europe are on the sweet side, but the Supadupa IPA and the World White IPA were nice and dry with a fruity hop aroma. Their Lieblings Lager and the Original (Helles) are a great choice if you don’t like too much hops.

I talked to their Head Brewer and he knows what he is doing. He has brewed all over the world and you can taste his passion in his beers.

They also have amazing pizza there. I had the Margarita and even it was the perfect pairing for the beer flight I had. The dough is fluffy, but not doughy and the toppings are fresh and flavorful.

Überquell also likes to do fun events with other breweries in the area, collaboration brews, live music, and other fun stuff.

Überquell on Google Maps

Ratsherrn Brewery

The Ratsherrn Brewery is located in the Schanzenviertel of Hamburg and offers a brewery experience similar to what you would get in the US. They offer a brewery tour with tasting, have a craft beer store and next door is a brewpub.

They offer English speaking tours every Friday at 1 PM and I highly recommend booking in advance. If you can’t make it on Friday, you can also join any German tour and they will provide you with an audio guide in English. The tour was good, but more targeted towards people who have never been on a brewery tour before. What I liked a lot about the tour was that I learned a lot about the history of beer in Germany and especially Hamburg.

They have a very large selection of beers and I liked their variety of different beer styles. However, they all were a bit too sweet and malty for my personal taste.

Ratsherrn Brewery on Google Maps

Altes Mädchen

Next door to the Ratsherrn Brewery is the Brewpub Altes Mädchen (Old Girl). They have 30 taps on draft and countless bottled beer options, so you will most definitely find something to your liking.

Prices are mid-range and you should definitely try their bread. They take the German bread obsession to the next level with their own Bread Sommelier. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to eat there, but they served their bread during the beer tasting at Ratsherrn brewery and it was knock-your-socks-off DELICIOUS.

If I lived in Hamburg, this would probably be my hangout spot. It is a tiny little bar in a residential neighborhood with about 20 beers on tap. Most of them are from the region and you can get a taster before you commit (which is NOT common in Germany).

The interior design is part dive, part mid-century modern living room with a cozy atmosphere and friendly service. There is not a lot going on, no TVs or loud music or other distractions. It is the kind of place, where you go to talk to your friends, drink some beers, even read a book, write in your diary and just hang out.

Bar Oorlam on Google Maps

Coffee Museum

Most of us drink it every morning yet we know so little about it: Coffee. Did you now that the largest Coffee Wholeseller is located in Hamburg. Every 7th cup of coffee you consume is sold by a family-owned company based in Hamburg. This makes Hamburg de facto the Coffee Capital of the world.

I visited the Kaffeemuseum Burg  in the Speicherstadt. During my visit, I toured their coffee museum and also had a coffee tasting. If you like coffee, I highly recommend this experience. I not only learned interesting facts about coffee and its history but also great tips on how to find good quality coffee, how to prepare it properly and why cold coffee often tastes horrible.

Opening Hours/Tickets Coffee Museum Burg:

Tuesday – Sunday: 10 AM – 6 PM ( please see this site for exceptions )

Public Tours:

Tuesday – Friday: 10 AM – 12 PM – 14 PM – 16 PM

Saturday & Sunday: Every full hour

Ticket Price: 10 EUR for adults, 8 EUR for teenagers (12-18 years), and free for children under 12

Kaffeemuseum Burg on Google Maps

Relax at the Alster

After all this exploring, let’s finish with something more relaxing. I told you that Hamburg is a city surrounded by water. Aside from the Elbe river, there is also the Alster. While the Alster is only about 30 miles long (50 km), it is one of the favorite outdoor recreation areas in Hamburg.

You can learn sailing or do a sunset sailing cruise, rent a SUP or paddleboat, or do an Alster Cruise, that takes you around the Alster and lets you peek into the backyards of Hamburg’s rich and famous. You will see beautiful villas and gardens, parks and bridges along the way as your enjoy one of the boat tours.

If you like walking, running, or cycling, you can do that along the Alster banks in Alster Park. It is also a great spot to let the kids run around and enjoy themselves if you travel as a family. Hamburg’s stunning city hall with its green copper roof is also with a look, as it is right around the corner from the Jungfernstieg.

Jungfernstieg on Google Maps

Planten un Blomen

This beautiful park is a favorite among the locals and especially during the spring and summer months a nice spot to hang out, relax and enjoy the greenery. If you are traveling with kids to Hamburg, check out the large playground at the southern end of the park.

St Michael – Hamburger Michel

This baroque church in Hamburg’s Neustadt is one of the iconic steeples in Hamburg’s cityscape. What makes this church special is that it was built as a Protestant church, unlike most other churches which were converted from Catholic churches after the Reformation.

So you see, there are so many things to do in Hamburg that you definitely have enough options to fill a few days in this beautiful city. In fact, a weekend in Hamburg might not be enough time to do all the things and see all the sights in Hamburg that interest you.

Hamburg is one of my favorite cities in Germany because it is so full of history and charm, but also has such an international feel to it. I love the architecture in the Speicherstadt and the history of centuries of trade that influenced the city to have such an open-minded character.

If you are looking to add another city to your Europe or Germany trip, I highly recommend Hamburg. It has a very different atmosphere than Berlin and Munich and I am sure you will enjoy your stay.

Things to Do in Hamburg – Pin for Later: