Guidad Beatles-tur i Hamburg - följ med till Reeperbahn

We have done a guided Beatles tour in Hamburg, and we can highly recommend it. Very interesting and fascinating! It was in Hamburg that the world-famous band started their career in the early 1960s.

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Hempel's Beatles tour in Hamburg

During our visit to Hamburg, we took part in a press trip for a few days, organised by the Hamburg Tourism Organisation. They took us on a slightly shortened version of the Hempel's Beatles tour of Hamburg, in the St Pauli neighbourhood.

The tour is organised by Stefanie Hempel, who developed the tour herself and led it for 18 (!) years. What is special about the tour, apart from Stefanie's love of the Beatles and their history, is that she also enhances the tour by playing and singing the group's music live.

She takes you to lots of little alleys that you wouldn't have found on your own, but which played a role in the Beatles' lives. In the picture below, for example, she shows a gateway that features on one of the group's album covers.

A tough start for young Beatles members in Hamburg

We learnt that the start for the young members of the Beatles was anything but painless. When they arrived in Hamburg, they thought they would be staying in a hotel, but instead they were housed in cold and dark storerooms at the back of the 'Bambi' cinema.

They spent many months in the inhospitable cinema and today you can find a small sign outside that says "The Beatles lived here in 1960".

Reeperbahn in Hamburg

The guided Beatles tour in Hamburg took us to the (island) famous street Reeperbahn. The Beatles thought they would play the big famous clubs here, but instead they had to start at "Indra", which was located in a dark and remote corner of the street and attracted only a few confused souls.

The young group was also unprepared for what lay ahead. At home in the UK, they were used to playing for an hour, until the clubs closed at 11pm. Now they were expected to play all night, for 4-5 hours. They didn't even have that many songs, and they had to drag out each song forever with endless solos...

In the beginning, the Beatles were a cover band, playing 1950s rock. Over time, they developed their own style, both in terms of music and their 'look'. The group evolved, and eventually they finally got to play at the Kaiserkeller club, at the bright end of the Reeperbahn.

The Beatles started in Hamburg as very young and inexperienced guys. But it was here, on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg, that they got to know each other and grew as a team. It was also here that Ringo Starr was included in the group, and we all know the story that followed.

On the Reeperbahn today you can find a plaque listing many of the famous artists who have played here. You can also visit the Beatles-Platz, which looks like a round disc in the ground, and is designed to commemorate the group.

Today, the Reeperbahn is still a very busy place in the evening, filled with nightclubs and strip clubs. For those who wish, it is interesting to take a walk here, and perhaps have a beer in one of the many pubs along the street.

More to see and do in Hamburg and Germany

The Hempel's Beatles tour in Hamburg is one of the many exciting things we experienced here, but there is much more to see and do. For starters, we recommend strolling around the harbour area, and perhaps taking a boat trip. Other interesting experiences include the fascinating Elbphilharmonie concert hall and the "Miniatur Wunderland" with a huge and amazing model railway.

READ MORE: Miniatur Wunderland - the largest model railway in the world
READ MORE: Elbphilharmonie - concert hall and landmark
READ MORE: Restaurants in Hamburg - our top 7 tips
READ MORE: What to do in Hamburg - 23 sights and experiences

Have you been on a Beatles tour in Hamburg?

Do you like the Beatles? Have you been on a Beatles tour in Hamburg, or maybe somewhere else? Tell us about it!

Facts about Hempel's Beatles tour in Hamburg

Time: Saturdays at 18:00
Length: 3 hours
Meeting point: Underground Feldstrasse
Language: German/English
Price: 32 euros (2022)
Tickets: hempels-musictour.de
Book for groups: Groups can book other times, at info@hempels-musictour.com

10 Comments

Add yours →

cheek says:

I don't like the Beatles myself. If you are in Hamburg you should not miss: Miniatur Wunderland, the whole world in miniature. Absolutely fantastic place, takes almost the whole day to go through. Hope your trip is good.

03 May 2022 - 7:31

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thanks for the tip, we have visited Miniatur Wunderland now and totally agree, a fantastic place!
  
  04 May 2022 - 7:10
  
BP says:

I'm glad the Reperbahn is still there and not just the "Red Light District" anymore. I knew that the Beatles played in Hamburg. Strangely enough, it was our own Jerry Williams who told me that he played at the same club as the Beatles in Hamburg. But I have forgotten which club it was.

03 May 2022 - 19:01

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad that you knew the Beatles story and that it was Jerry Williams who told it! 🙂 There is still a lot of "Red Light District" feeling here, but the area is also interesting to check out for anyone, and there are also regular pubs where you can just pop in for a beer.
  
  04 May 2022 - 7:12
  
Ditte says:

What a success! Would love to go on this tour.
I have visited Hamburg and the Reperbahn and in different rounds from 1966 to the early 2000s. But then no Beatlestur. We have friends who then lived in Hamburg and took us around the city on a lot of things. I still remember Hagenbeck Zoo and some canal trips.

03 May 2022 - 20:48

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you've been here, on several occasions! Having friends as guides is perfect! 🙂
  
  04 May 2022 - 7:13
  
bmlarstravellingblog says:

Sounds like a really nice trip! Lars sometimes talks about the concert that he as a teenager was at in Borås when the Beatles did a concert, 1963, and probably the other (more famous) band was Sven Ingvars. We are thinking about a stop in Hamburg on our way home, a city we haven't visited since youth trips in the 70s....

03 May 2022 - 21:19

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  What an experience with that Beatles concert in Borås! Hamburg is an exciting city, and we will soon come up with more tips 🙂.
  
  04 May 2022 - 7:15
  
  - Kent Adeborn says:
    
    Try also http://www.beatlesresa.se !
    We'll be a great team
    
    06 May 2022 - 10:42
    
Lena - good for the soul says:

It sounds very interesting to do that tour. I had no idea about that background!

Hug Lena

25 August 2022 - 15:56

Guided Beatles tour in Hamburg - join us at the Reeperbahn

Hempel's Beatles tour in Hamburg

A tough start for young Beatles members in Hamburg

Reeperbahn in Hamburg

More to see and do in Hamburg and Germany

Have you been on a Beatles tour in Hamburg?

Facts about Hempel's Beatles tour in Hamburg

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10 Comments

cheek says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Helena says:

Kent Adeborn says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

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