The Reeperbahn got its name from the rope and weave makers, the so-called Reepschläger. As these needed a long, straight stretch of at least 300 m to produce the high-quality ropes in past centuries, corresponding areas were designed, such as was the Reeperbahn in Hamburg.

Today, coming from the Millerntor, the "Tanzenden Türme" (Dancing Towers), two extravagant buildings , stand here. In the immediate vicinity is the Heiligengeistfeld, where Hamburg's big funfair, the Hamburger Dom, takes place several times a year. The neighbourhood itself with its side streets is, with the Reeperbahn as the central street, the entertainment and red-light district St.Pauli in Hamburg.

In addition to some theatres that have settled on Spielbudenplatz, such as the Schmidt Theater and Schmidt's Tivoli, the Sankt Pauli Theater and the Operettenhaus, you will also find the Panoptikum and the famous Davidwache, a popular police station. There are also many night bars, well-known erotic establishments and, very close to the Davidwache, the legendary Herbertstrasse, where only men are  allowed to enter so that the ladies in the windows are not disturbed by external women.

The Spielbudenplatz is also the venue for numerous events such as the St. Pauli Night Market, Santa Pauli Christmas Market and performances by artists as part of the Schlagermove.