Must-see entertainment in Germany

  • Borussia Dortmund

    Dortmund

    Dortmund’s famous and massively popular and succesful Bundesliga soccer team plays its home games at the legendary Westfalenstadion, now branded as Signal…

  • Mojo Club

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    This legendary Hamburg jazz club inhabits the fab basement of the Tanzende Türme office towers. Stellar local and international acts take to the stage…

  • Bearpit Karaoke

    Prenzlauer Berg

    On most summer Sundays, Berlin’s best free entertainment kicks off around 3pm when Joe Hatchiban sets up his custom-made mobile karaoke unit in the…

  • Die Scheune

    Dresden

    Generations of young folks have memories of the 'Barn', which started out as a mainstream GDR-era youth club before turning into an offbeat culture centre…

  • FC Bayern München

    Munich

    Germany's most successful team both domestically and on a European level plays home games at the impressive Allianz Arena, built for the 2006 World Cup…

  • Kulturzentrum Faust

    Hanover

    Ska from Uruguay, Chinese new-year festivals, disco, reggae, heavy-metal gigs, hip-hop, multimedia installations, quiz evenings, book readings and film…

  • Lila Eule

    Bremen City

    A decade or more is a long time to be a hot tip, but this Das Viertel gem has pulled it off. A student crowd gathers here for parties and events, but it’s…

  • Hot Jazz Club

    Münster

    A fine reason to head out to the Hafen, this subterranean bar keeps it real with live music of nearly all stripes – despite the name. Many concerts are…

  • Berliner Philharmonie

    Berliner Philharmoniker

    Berlin

    One of the world's most famous orchestras, the Berliner Philharmoniker, is based at the tent-like Philharmonie, designed by Hans Scharoun in the 1950s and…

  • Cinestar Original im Sony Center, Cinema

    Cinestar Original im Sony Center

    Berlin

    A favourite among English-speaking expats and Germans, this state-of-the-art cinema with nine screens, comfy seats and top technology shows the latest…

  • Semper Opera House Dresden

    Semperoper Dresden

    Dresden

    Dresden's famous opera house is the home of the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden, which puts on brilliant performances that usually sell out.

  • Bar Jeder Vernunft

    City West & Charlottenburg

    Life’s still a cabaret at this intimate 1912 mirrored art nouveau tent theatre, one of Berlin's most beloved venues for sophisticated song-and-dance shows…

  • Tonhalle

    Düsseldorf

    As a former planetarium the Tonhalle has always trained the spotlight on the stars. Today it’s the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra and the heavyweights of…

  • Babylon

    Berlin

    This top-rated indie screens a smart line-up of cinematic expression, from new German films and international art-house flicks to themed retrospectives…

  • Schaubühne

    City West & Charlottenburg

    In a converted 1920s expressionist cinema by Erich Mendelsohn, Schaubühne is western Berlin's main stage for experimental, contemporary theatre, usually…

  • Kölner Philharmonie

    Cologne

    The Kölner Philharmonie is a grand modern concert hall that presents a wide range of aural treats, from classical to jazz and chansons. It's also the home…

  • Karlstorbahnhof

    Heidelberg

    Within an old train station, beloved cultural centre Karlstorbahnhof has an art-house cinema screening original-language films; theatre, cabaret and…

  • Jazzclub Cavete

    Fairy-Tale Road

    Look for the stone wall on Steinweg studded with cow-, horse- and goat-busts to find this prime port of call for jazz and blues lovers. Monday is open…

  • Festspielhaus

    Baden-Baden

    Ensconced in an historical train station and fabled for its acoustics, the Festspielhaus is Europe's second-biggest concert hall, seating 2500…

  • Katy's Garage

    Dresden

    This institution can be found at the junction of the Neustadt's two most happening streets. As its name suggests, this cavernous party pit is set in a…

  • Freiluftkino Friedrichshain

    Friedrichshain

    Cradled by Volkspark Friedrichshain, this open-air cinema has seating for 1500 on comfortable benches with backrests, plus a lawn with space for 300 more…

  • Gewandhausorchester

    Leipzig

    Led by Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons, the Gewandhaus is one of Europe’s finest and oldest civic orchestras. With a history harking back to 1743, it…

  • Gruenspan

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    Around since the 1960s, Gruenspan has evolved since its time as a notorious drug den into one of St Pauli's best live music venues. Just about any musical…

  • Theater Waidspeicher

    Erfurt

    Not only children will be enchanted by the adorable marionettes and puppets that perform at this cute theatre in a historic woad storehouse (reached via…

  • Mercedes-Benz Arena

    Friedrichshain

    The jewel among Berlin’s multiuse indoor venues, this 17,000-seat arena regularly welcomes entertainment royalty such as Depeche Mode, Rihanna and Beyoncé…

  • Elbphilharmonie

    Hamburg

    Attending a concert here is an essential part of visiting Hamburg's most exciting architectural icon. With a full program, a number of different…

  • Arsenal

    Berlin

    The antithesis of popcorn culture, this arty twin-screen cinema features a bold global flick schedule that hopscotches from Japanese satire to Brazilian…

  • Monbijou Theater

    Berlin

    Every summer, adoring theatre groupies descend upon this lovely outdoor amphitheatre near Museumsinsel (Museum Island) for crowd-pleasing classics (in…

  • Die Glocke

    Bremen City

    Bremen’s concert hall stages classical concerts, opera and a large variety of special events, many by visiting performers, in a venue whose acoustics are…

  • Staatstheater

    Stuttgart

    Stuttgart’s grandest theatre presents a top-drawer program of ballet, opera, theatre and classical music.

  • Koka 36

    Kreuzberg

    Indie ticket agency, especially good for non-mainstream concerts and events, with great service and best-seat guarantee. Takes orders from out of the…

  • Liederhalle

    Stuttgart

    Jimi Hendrix and Sting are among the stars who have performed at this culture and congress centre. The 1950s venue stages big-name classical and pop…

  • Staatsoper

    Hamburg

    Among the world’s most respected opera houses, the Staatsoper has been directed by the likes of Gustav Mahler and Karl Böhm during its 325-year-plus…

  • Staatsoper Hannover

    Hanover

    Housed in the 19th-century opera house that was lovingly restored after suffering WWII damage. Classical music as well as ballet and opera are performed…

  • Jazz Club Hannover

    Hanover

    Hanover’s premier jazz club features top acts from Germany and abroad.

  • Kiste

    Stuttgart

    Jam-packed at weekends, this hole-in-the-wall bar is Stuttgart’s leading jazz venue, with nightly concerts starting at 9pm or 10pm.

  • Deutsche Oper , Opera

    Deutsche Oper Berlin

    City West & Charlottenburg

    Founded by Berliners in 1912 as a counterpoint to the royal opera on Unter den Linden, the Deutsche Oper presents a classic 19th-century opera repertory…

  • Zoo Palast Exterior, Cinema

    Zoo Palast

    City West & Charlottenburg

    Old-school glamour meets state-of-the-art technology and comfort at this rejuvenated grand cinema, which saw international stars sashay over the red…

  • Spielbank, Casino

    Spielbank Berlin

    Berlin

    Vegas it ain't, but there are still plenty of opportunities to challenge Lady Luck over a game of poker, roulette or black jack at this casino. Slot…

  • A-Trane, Jazz Bar Entrance

    A-Trane

    City West & Charlottenburg

    Herbie Hancock and Diana Krall have graced the stage of this intimate jazz club, but mostly it’s emerging talent bringing their A-game to the A-Trane…

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