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Category 3 of 11 · Hamburg

Beatles Hamburg: the address is Große Freiheit 39.

From the cellars of the Große Freiheit to broadcast houses that outlived their own transmitters — music history you can walk, and collect.

Hamburg · 4 spots≈ 1.5 h on footSeal for the complete set

Where can you follow the Beatles in Hamburg?

If you came to Hamburg for the Beatles, the address is Große Freiheit 39. The Star-Club opened there on 13 April 1962, made its name on the band that played it, and closed on New Year's Eve 1969; the building itself burned down in 1987, so what is left is the place — which is exactly what this category collects. The set holds four spots. In Ottensen, the Fabrik has been a cultural centre since 25 June 1971, with concerts, theatre and readings under an old factory roof. On Rothenbaumchaussee sits the broadcasting house of North German radio, nearly a century of transmission history a short walk from the Alster. The fourth spot in Barmbek stays hidden until you are standing in front of it.

This is not a Beatles bus tour and not a guided walk: you get a bearing and a distance, find the place yourself, and stamp within 75 metres.

Free is the app with one city — every spot, every stamp, and games with up to 6 devices; after that, each additional city and each self-built game costs.

Spots in Hamburg

A plaque, a factory and a radio house.

+1 more spot — revealed only when you get there. Every spot is a card with its own question.

Where exactly did the Beatles play in Hamburg?

The Star-Club stood at Große Freiheit 39, a side street off the Reeperbahn. It opened on 13 April 1962 and closed on New Year's Eve 1969, and the band that made it famous played it before anyone outside Hamburg had heard of them. The building burned down in 1987; a memorial plaque marks the spot, and that plaque is the card you stamp.

Is there anything to see, or just a plaque?

Both, and the set is built for that. Three of the four spots are still working buildings: the Fabrik in Ottensen has run as a cultural centre since 25 June 1971, and the NDR broadcasting house on Rothenbaumchaussee is still on air. The plaque is the memory; the other three are the city carrying on.

How long does the music route take?

About 1.5 hours on foot for all four spots, or spread across several days — progress stays in your passport forever. Where music turns into cult, Pop Culture takes over: the Beatles-Platz at the mouth of the Große Freiheit is 29 metres across and laid out like a vinyl record.

Can I play this with a class or a group?

Yes. Every category also runs as a live game: a teacher or host builds the route in the group portal, picks the stops, adds their own questions and sends teams off with a six-digit join code. Store products are Friends Game – up to 6 devices (€14.99), Private Game – up to 10 (€49.99), Class Game – up to 35 (€399) and Large Group Game – up to 100 (€699). Planning and preparing a route costs nothing.

Where do I go next?

Two neighbours to this set: Pop Culture in Hamburg and Dark History in Hamburg. All eleven Hamburg collections sit on the Hamburg hub page, and the German version of this page is at /de/staedte/hamburg/music-history/.

Große Freiheit 39 is waiting for your passport.

Stamp every Music History spot in Hamburg on site and the holographic category seal goes into your passport for good.

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FAQ

Before you go.

Where was the Star-Club in Hamburg?

At Große Freiheit 39, off the Reeperbahn. It opened on 13 April 1962 and closed on New Year's Eve 1969; the building burned down in 1987 and a memorial plaque marks the place.

How many music spots are in the Hamburg set?

Four — three are named on this page, the fourth in Barmbek-Nord stays hidden until you stand in front of it.

How long does the route take?

Around 1.5 hours on foot, or spread over several days. Your progress stays in your passport permanently.

Can I play this with a group?

Yes. A host builds the route in the group portal, adds their own questions and starts teams with a six-digit join code.

More categories

Keep collecting: Pop Culture or Dark History — or back to all Hamburg categories.