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Panoptikum is the oldest and largest wax museum in Germany, a family-run institution on the Spielbudenplatz in Hamburg's St Pauli district, a short step from the bright lights of the Reeperbahn. It was founded in 1879 by Friedrich Hermann Faerber, at a time when wax figures gave the public a chance to see what famous people looked like before photography was widespread, mixing kings and criminals, public figures and curiosities in a display that was part spectacle and part visual newspaper. Remarkably, the museum is still owned and run by the Faerber family, now in its fifth generation, who model and maintain the figures themselves with a care that gives the likenesses their convincing quality. Spread over more than seven hundred square metres, the collection presents over a hundred and twenty wax figures drawn from art and culture, sport and politics, society and history, ranging from historical personalities to current international stars. Photography is positively encouraged, and taking a selfie alongside a favourite celebrity is treated as part of the experience rather than something to be discouraged. The building was destroyed in the Second World War and the museum reopened in its present home in the 1950s, continuing a tradition that has now lasted well over a century. Its location amid the theatres, bars and nightlife of St Pauli, easily reached by U-Bahn and S-Bahn, makes it a natural stop on an exploration of the district. People come for the fun of seeing lifelike figures of the famous, for the chance of an amusing photograph, and for a museum whose long history and family ownership give it a charm and continuity rare among such attractions. Light-hearted yet steeped in tradition, it offers an enjoyable hour and a distinctive piece of Hamburg's cultural heritage. Open daily with late hours that suit an evening on the Reeperbahn, it charges a modest admission and takes about an hour to see. The relaxed photography policy means visitors leave with plenty of amusing souvenir pictures, and the museum's long survival gives it a warmth and character that newer wax attractions struggle to match, making it a worthwhile stop in the heart of St Pauli.