Be warned, however, that there is an element of risk when you visit. At the sex shops and strip clubs, do not pay by credit card. So you might have only been thinking of spending a bit of money and it can end up being crazy.
Leaving your credit cards in the hotel safe, and consider using a money belt to conceal extra cash that you have on you. Always travel in groups of two or more, stay alert, and never wander away from the main area, especially if someone is trying to lure you down a darkened alley.
Avoid side streets. In addition to the shops of the red light district, sex workers can also walk the street in search of customers. Some might be working with thieves to rob you, while others will simply demand exorbitant payments for something as simple as a photo. Others may lead you to a new place that requires a hefty door fee with plenty more costs once you step through the door.
And, odds are good most or all of them will be drunk, and some may be aggressive or even outright hostile. Be careful with your money and your drinks around others frequenting the red light district. The main strip of the Reeperbahn is generally safe and just requires the usual amount of caution you would practice in any other big city at night. A word about the train to and from the Reeperbahn, though: After a certain hour on weekends, some of the more colorful patrons become quite drunken and belligerent.
Also excercise caution while exiting the station, as it will be filled a few wandering drunks. As a rule, the station is usually relatively full on weekend nights with young people and other tourists on their way to the nightclubs, but you will probably bump into some intoxicated homeless people.
