It’s been 50 years since The Beatles made their debut in North America, yet the iconic foursome still continue to have an impact on music and culture today. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or an occasional listener, get a taste of The Beatles in these 10 cities across the globe.
Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Nothing says The Beatles like the birthplace of the Fab Four. Liverpool has become a hot spot for travellers looking to immerse themselves in the roots of The Beatles. Whether you tag along on a group tour, which are in abundance across the city, or you set out solo, must-sees include The Beatles Story Museum, the original Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, the childhood homes of John and Paul, and St. Peter’s Church. The original Cavern Club, where The Beatles played in their early days, is no longer in existence, but visit its replica across the street for tours and merchandise.
Hamburg, Germany
The Beatles left England to find success in Hamburg where they played in clubs around the seedy Reeperbahn district. Visit still-standing Kaiserkeller and Indra venues where The Beatles first performed for meager deutschmarks in the St. Pauli quarter, and from there check out their statues in Beatles-Platz. While Ringo, John, Paul and George might be the most famous Beatles, there is an additional statue of Stuart Sutcliffe (the band’s original bassist), while Ringo shares his statue with other former drummer Pete Best.
New York, N.Y., United States
Directly across from where John Lennon was murdered in 1980 is a section of Central Park known as the Strawberry Fields Memorial. The iconic “Imagine” mosaic at Strawberry Fields is famously decorated year round and has become a place for people to pay their respects. In addition to visiting the memorial, Beatles fans can recreate photo ops at the Statue of Liberty, see the Ed Sullivan Theatre where the foursome first played in the United States in 1964, and check out the residences of Yoko and John in the Village and at West 72nd Street.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Mexico might not be the first “Love-Me-Do” destination that comes to mind, but in celebration of The Beatles Invasion, the Hard Rock Café Riviera Maya threw a Beatles bash Feb. 5–10 2014. In addition to the typical sun and sand, there was live performance recreations, exclusive music sessions with rock legends, private music lessons and a variety of keynote speakers – all in the name of The Beatles.
Rishikesh, India
During the late sixties, in an attempt to develop their subconscious, The Beatles travelled to India to practice transcendental meditation and stay at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh. While in India the band wrote many songs, including several that would appear on the White Album and Abbey Road. The Maharashi Mahesh Yogi Ashram is now abandoned, but several of the buildings can still be seen, and inside one of the empty buildings is The Beatles Cathedral Gallery.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
For fans looking to travel south of the equator, there is much Beatles-mania to be had in Buenos Aires. The city’s Beatles Museum houses thousands of Beatles-related items. The museum was opened by Rodolpho Velasquez, who broke the record for having the largest Beatles memorabilia collection in 2001. Next door to the museum is Buenos Aires’ own Cavern Club and Star Club café where top-rated Beatles cover bands are known to perform.
London, England, United Kingdom
It’s hard to imagine a more iconic Beatles destination than Abbey Road, where the band did most of its recording from the early sixties until 1970. While Abbey Road studio is closed to the public, it provides a live, 24-hour stream of the zebra crossing made famous by The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover. Additionally, there are extensive tours for daytrippers covering London, including the My Life Walk and Magical Mystery Tour, covering hot spots like The Beatles Coffee Shop, film locations for “A Hard Day’s Night” and more.
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
The Beatles might not be synonymous with Cleveland, but as home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this locale offers plenty of Beatles-inspired opportunities for fans – young and old. The Beatles exhibit is extensive, with more than 70 artifacts, including John Lennon’s Gibson guitar, self-portraits done by Stuart Sutcliffe and birthday cards among band members. Plus, check out other exhibits at the Hall of Fame, telling the history of other beloved rock and roll musicians.
Prague, Czech Republic
What started out as a plain wall in the 1980s has now been transformed into a shrine to peace, love, The Beatles and John Lennon. By now the original murals are covered by endless layers of paint, but the expectation for graffiti art is constantly present. When artists were met with opposition in the late eighties, an ironic “Lennonism” movement occurred against the security and the police in protestation. Now, the wall is still standing and constantly covered in Beatles-inspired lyrics, Lennon-inspired art and all things Beatles.
Las Vegas, Nev., United States
Las Vegas is a hot spot for music entertainment and theatrical shows; it’s also home to Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles-inspired production, “Love.” A loose biography based on the band, “Love” incorporates theatre punctuated by Beatles favourites and celebrates their legacy. During the creation of “Love” there was significant involvement from Paul, Ringo and the surviving widows of John and George for more than three years. “Love” has become a popular spectacle for fans to bask in the history and music of the Fab Four.
(Main image: Beatles statue in Almaty, Kazakstan by Ken and Nyetta)
