Hamburg’s official line is that the Reeperbahn is the city’s second-greatest attraction and asset (after the port). The well-regulated approach to prostitution and sex solicitation is similar to Amsterdam’s, even though the Reeperbahn is a lot more seedy-looking than Amsterdam’s red-light district. In Hamburg every officially sanctioned working girl must submit to a medical examination every 2 weeks—and pay income tax on her profits. The district’s police station, Davidwache, at the corner of the Davidstrasse and the Reeperbahn, provides highly visible and omnipresent police protection. No amount of police presence is going to protect you from paying exorbitant prices for watered-down cocktails or astronomical cover charges, and a little common sense will help you enjoy a walk on the wild side without losing your shirt.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
