Hardly another street in the world boasts such a legendary reputation as the Reeperbahn. Once upon a time, it was a dimly lit red-light district catering to sailors. Then, in the '60s and '70s, it served as a springboard for pop culture. So much so that the meteoric rise of The Beatles had its beginnings here. Since the '90s, though, the red-light district has been metamorphosing from a den of iniquity into an attractive "in" district of a very special kind. It is doubtful whether any other street has as many faces as the Reeperbahn. All in all, they add up to the unique charm of this amusement strip.

During the day, the half a mile or so of the Reeperbahn appears rather dull, looking like another almost normal street in the St. Pauli district. But when night falls, it becomes bright and colorful as neon lights compete with each other, bouncers vie for custom and the business of fun starts to bubble. The bars, discos and nightclubs prepare to receive their guests…

At the same time, businesspeople, tourists and locals of all ages and persuasions begin to stream to the musicals, theaters and museums. That is because the Reeperbahn has everything to warm the hearts of culture aficionados: world-class musicals, fantastic theaters, as well as shows and cabaret to match any on Broadway. The "Kiez" as the area around the street is known, is also a favorite among night owls and club and pub-goers. A mercurial, young and original music and club scene has grown up here, comparable with the legendary Hamburg “Star Club” and the style-forming club scene of the 1960s.

The revamped Spielbudenplatz with its two stages lends wholly new dimensions to music events. The 4th Reeperbahn Festival in 2009 attracted more than 17,000 enthusiastic visitors, drawn by the 154 bands that performed on 20 stages in the Hamburg clubs in and around the Reeperbahn. It's true to say that bands that perform here are soon heard all over Europe!

High-brow meets subculture, business meets scene – it is this unique mix that makes the Kiez whatever you want it to be – and, at the end of the day, it is simply appealing and attractive to all.