Sankt Pauli is a neighbourhood I hold dearly in my little lost heart. Gritty inner-city red light districts are just not my normal favoured destination. There is grime, there is broken glass aplenty, and homelessness, street drinking and drug-taking is a big issue. I even discovered a syringe on my first morning of rehearsals a few years ago. Street art is splashed across every available brick wall, and people spill out of coffee shops by day and bars by night.
But amongst all the madness of stag parties and strip clubs and, occasionally, schlager festivals, Sankt Pauli continues to be a living breathing neighbourhood where people live and children play and skip round to school. And that is why I have so much appreciation for it; Sankt Pauli has real life flowing through its streets. If you get my drift. From a lass who has got to know the area pretty well over the last few years, here is my personal guide to Sankt Pauli, Hamburg.
Back in the day when sailors docked in Hamburg, they headed to the Sankt Pauli district to have a good time. Follow the signs to the S-Bahn, and buy a ticket from one of the red machines.
There are no ticket barriers, but there are random ticket checks every now and again so bear that in mind. Hop on the S1 they only go in the direction of the city from here, approximately every 15 minutes , and hop off at the Reeperbahn about forty minutes later.
For a luxurious hotel in St Pauli, check out the four star east Hotel. This red brick building is only a few minutes walk from St Pauli station, but is set slightly back from the Reeperbahn- away from the noise of the night. The whole hotel is sleekly designed, with nods to the orient, and the rooftop spa is open for guests to use.
