St Pauli & Reeperbahn
This plush theatre stages a cornucopia of saucy musical reviews, comedies, soap operas and variety shows. Midnight shows follow the main performance. The…
Must-see entertainment in Germany
Berlin
This 1960s cinema in the courtyard of the Centre Francais (Wedding was part of the French sector during the city’s division) has a heady repertory of…
Lübeck
This adorable puppet theatre, which is part of the Theater Figuren Museum, puts on a children’s show at 3pm, and another for adults on some evenings at 7…
Altstadt
One of the better live music venues outside of St Pauli, Cascadas offers up a nightly program that ranges across soul, jazz, Latin, funk, Caribbean and…
Hanover
This former movie theatre features rock, pop, house, soul and more on weekends and frequently during the week, with both local and international acts…
The Ruhrgebiet
The machine hall and washrooms of a former coal mine have been restyled as an alternative cultural centre with live concerts, parties, cabaret, theatre…
Freiburg
Under the brick arches of a wine cellar, this venue hosts first-rate jazz, rock and world music concerts at least a couple of nights a week (see the…
Mainz
Concerts by German and international bands, dance parties, theatre for kids… the happening KulturZentrum (cultural centre) has it and more. It's housed in…
Munich
Downstairs at the Hotel Mariandl, this is Munich's oldest music cafe. It has an eclectic menu of sounds ranging from bossa nova to piano to Italian…
Frankfurt & Southern Rhineland
The city’s first electric power plant, built in 1888, is now a multipurpose cultural centre hosting concerts (especially jazz but also pop and classical),…
Hanover
Part live-music venue, part club, the Glocksee has everything from techno and trance DJs to grungy gigs – mainly on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, with a…
Hanover
An old-school type of variety theatre with dancing, acrobatics, circus-style acts, magic, music and more, housed in the Georgspalast. It also boasts the…
Ulm
This huge cultural venue, housed in a former industrial plant 1km south of the Hauptbahnhof, has a concert hall, cinema, disco, bar and special-event…
Frankfurt am Main
This rambling former soap factory serves as a forum for younger artists, and hosts contemporary dance, theatre (sometimes in English) and cabaret, as well…
Berlin
This 17,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre in the district of Köpenick, about 12km southeast of Alexanderplatz, was built in the early 1950s from war debris…
Nuremberg
This converted factory, 2.5km south of the Hauptbahnhof, hosts live alternative music almost daily, both big-name acts and local names. Take the U1 or U2…
Hanover
Home to the Staatstheater Hannover and stages both new works and classics like Medea and Hamlet. It's sometimes used to host international performances…
Düsseldorf
This action-oriented non-profit cultural centre in an old factory has been around since 1977 and is still the go-to place for non-mainstream indie and…
Hamburg
This excellent local arthouse cinema skips the mainstream films and shows them in their original version (ie with German subtitles) on Tuesdays. Otherwise…
Deutsches Schauspielhaus Theatre
Hamburg
Germany’s largest and most important theatre presents imaginative interpretations of the classics (Shakespeare, Goethe, Chekhov et al) alongside new works…
Konstanz
Once a medieval church, this is now Konstanz’ most happening cultural venue, with a line-up skipping from salsa nights and film screenings to gigs, club…
Düsseldorfer Marionetten-Theater
Düsseldorf
Generations of kids and adults have been enthralled by the adorable marionettes that sing, dance and act their way through beautifully orchestrated operas…
Friedrichshain
This petite single-screen flick palace has presented movies since the silent era and is a delightful vintage venue to catch the latest art-house movies…
Kreuzberg
The white tent-shaped Tempodrom is a mid-sized venue with super-eclectic programming that may feature a salsa congress, an Iggy Pop concert, a magic show…
Lower Saxony & Bremen
This historic venue is used for classical music, theatre, dance and opera. The tourist office sells tickets, or turn up an hour before the event for rush…
Hamburg
It has moved around a lot in its time, but wherever it has been in Hamburg, the city's oldest jazz club has been reliable for live jazz in all its forms,…
Frankfurt & Southern Rhineland
An long-time student favourite, this sociable bar is known for its nightly concerts as well as dance parties, many held on Friday and Saturday nights…
Dresden
Fresh from a thorough reconstruction, this mammoth-sized GDR-era parallelepiped decorated with Communist-themed murals is home to a renowned orchestra.
Schöneberg
This sumptuous cabaret venue with its sparkling starry-sky ceiling features changing variety shows, concerts, acrobats, magicians and other entertainers…
Frankfurt am Main
Hugely enjoyable even if you don’t speak German, Tigerpalast is a top venue for cabaret and Varieté theatre, with programs that often include acrobats,…
Frankfurt am Main
The Alte Oper hosts frequent concerts of symphonic and chamber music in its two halls, which seat 2450 and 720 respectively. Pop, jazz, singer-songwriter…
Mainz
See performances by up-and-coming artists and big-name international acts at this cultural venue. Some events take place at other venues around the city,…
Frankfurt am Main
Enormous cultural complex Städtische Bühnen includes Oper Frankfurt, the city’s main opera company. Tickets can be ordered by phone or online.
Würzburg
Soulful jazz spins beneath a corrugated-iron ceiling and stainless-steel fans, while bands and DJs play a couple of times or more a week in a second,…
Hanover
Hanover’s popular cabaret venue hosts everything from drag performers and French chanteuses to swing, jazz and blues bands. It's a couple of blocks east…
Hamburg
Germany's oldest professional English-language theatre has been around since 1976 and performs quality English drama with English actors to a…
Frankfurt am Main
This century-old former tram depot hosts innovative dance performances as well as Städtische Bühnen theatre and opera productions.
Munich
On wide and bustling Schwanthalerstrasse, Munich's answer to London's West End hosts touring road shows such as Dirty Dancing, The Gruffalo and Mamma Mia.
Jazzclub Unterfahrt im Einstein
Munich
Join a diverse crowd at this long-established, intimate club for a mixed bag of acts ranging from old bebop to edgy experimental. The Sunday open-jam…
Lübeck
High-calibre concerts take place throughout the summer and winter semesters at this music academy. Check at the tourist office or their website for…
