Concert halls Berlin

One of the few clubs in Mitte to escape the sweeping and stay stuck on its cultural aspirations. Led by an association, the Acud develops interesting and varied programs and opens its doors to all kinds of events: screenings of films, openings for expo, concerts, plays. Without being locked up, the Acud leaves in all directions, invites Djs in a relaxed atmosphere. A canteen is also available.

This concert hall - which has absolutely nothing to do with the Lido des Champs-Elysées - offers a programme that is both diverse and qualitative. Rap, rock concerts, slam sessions or even Soul Train evenings, there's something for everyone! Probably one of the most beautiful concert halls in Berlin, it's the place to go to keep up with the latest trends in what the local scene has to offer. But not only that, groups from all over the world stop by the Lido for a colourful evening.

Founded in 1882, the Berlin Philharmonic has seen a succession of the most illustrious conductors, but it was not until 1955 that it acquired worldwide status, with the appointment of Herbert von Karajan as its conductor. In this magnificent yellow building, designed by the architect Hans Scharoun, the acoustics are quite simply exceptional. It is also possible to visit the building almost every day on guided tours in German or English.

Formerly a repair station for the Reichsbahn carriages, then a gigantic squat, it is today a vast complex of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. Fundamentally alternative, this place is a paradise for street-art lovers. Frescoes cheerfully colour the brick façades. You will also find a climbing gym, a skateboard room and, in the summer, an open-air cinema. At nightfall, it's the meeting place for late-night sleepers. Unfortunately, the RAW-Gelände is threatened by a new building project.

Formerly the gymnasium of the Allied troops, the acoustics and size of the hall have made it the second largest venue for rock, pop and rap concerts after the Arena and it can accommodate up to 3,500 people (plus 1,400 seats). The hall can also host all kinds of events (sporting events, fashion shows, etc.). Right next door, the Columbia Theater replaced the Columbia Club in 2015 and also hosts concerts, but the hall can only hold 800 people. It used to be the cinema of the US Air Force.

It is the classical counterpart of the Philharmonic and the second temple of classical music in Berlin. In 1821, a Schinkel construction replaced the Langhans Theatre (Brandenburg Gate) which was destroyed by fire. The bombing of 1943 will come to an end, but the building will be rebuilt identically in 1979. In the retro ambience of the small and large hall, the performances of the musicians are religiously attended. The Musikclub programmes musical-literary meetings and performances for children.

Next to the city's major opera houses, this one is a bit of a UFO: located in the formerly working-class district of Neukölln, this theater has established itself as Berlin's "fourth opera house" by means of lesser-known creations. The range of genres is very broad: experimental chamber music, great romantic operas, musicals, music hall, operettas - there's something for everyone, opening the doors of opera to everyone. Housed in a former ballroom, the large auditorium seats 120.

It is the oldest opera house in Berlin: Frederick the Great entrusted its construction to Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorf with the intention of making it his Court Opera. Since 1743, the geniuses of music have walked the steps of this institution without interruption: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Meserbeer, Richard Strauss, Otto Klemperer and many others. This great house continues to enjoy tremendous popularity today, thanks also to the fame of its director, Daniel Barenboim. Since its restoration, the opera house has been sublime.

Destroyed by the bombings, the Deutsche Oper was rebuilt by the Berlin architect Fritz Bornemann in a resolutely modern and functional style. The facade on the street is severe but the foyer and the windows are gigantic. With 1,865 seats, it is one of the largest theaters in the city. The program includes the great classics: Verdi, Mozart, Wagner, etc. The Staatsballett Berlin also presents some of its productions here. A great house in the European opera landscape.

Founded by the famous playwright Bertold Brecht in 1949 after his return from exile and recently renovated, the Berliner Ensemble was part of the theatre avant-garde of its creator's time. After his death in 1956, directors such as Heiner Müller continued to celebrate the Brechtian spirit. For theatre lovers who understand German, a performance at the Berliner Ensemble is a must. Perhaps the Threepenny Opera or Galileo Galilei will be performed there during your stay? And the hall is beautiful.

Founded in 1890, this Mecca of the German theatre was built with the financial participation of the neighbourhood's workers. The layout of the place carried with it this socialist spirit: no dressing rooms in the hall, to break with the spirit of privilege. Since then, the Volksbühne has played an ever-increasing role in the German cultural landscape, and its somewhat intimidating building still sits proudly on the Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz. Its programme is very varied, and keeps - in keeping with its history and tradition - the heart on the left.

Under the direction of Thomas Ostermeier since 2004, this great Berlin institution has evolved into a contemporary theatre scene. Classical texts (Shakespeare, Ibsen, Strindberg, Horvath) or contemporary authors (Milo Rau, Lars Norén) are performed, always with themes that resonate with the times. The program is very francophile, with texts adapted from Edouard Louis, Virginie Despentes, Didier Eribon and many shows are surtitled in French. Without doubt the best theatre in the city.

This small stage is one of the most successful theatres in Berlin, especially with a young, international, committed audience. The plays, which are often conceived with the actors, intelligently address current topics. His company aims to reflect the diversity of German society: gender, origin, sexual orientation, etc. The plays are mostly in German, but Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, etc. are also performed. In addition, all shows are surtitled in English!

Created in 1883, the theatre's mission was to present classical works accessible to all. Directed between 1905 and 1930 by Max Reinhardt, the latter revolutionized the staging, giving a new craze to German theatre. Since then, the Deutsches Theater has remained a place of reference for fans of Goethe, Schiller, Shakespeare and other pillars of classical theatre. Alongside the classics, there are also plays by contemporary playwrights such as Dürrenmatt and Dario Fo. Some plays are subtitled in English.

Situated in the centre of Berlin, a stone's throw from the S-Bahn, this place is proof that a jazz club doesn't have to settle in a smoky cellar. On the contrary, at the B-Flat, the stage is in the window, on the street side, and it swings every night of the week. Its eclectic programming is rarely disappointing, harmoniously alternating prestigious names and local stars. The B-Flat also hosts tango evenings on Sundays. An excellent address for jazz lovers or those who would like to get acquainted with the genre.

Babylon! The name makes you dream and it already made Berliners dream in the 1920s when this silent movie theatre opened. Babylon is the great city, the metropolis teeming with exchanges, ideas and vices! In the Roaring Twenties, Berlin was no longer compared to Sparta or Athens, but to Chicago... and Babylon. Today, it is a beautiful independent cinema that hosts cutting-edge festivals, original films, readings and concerts. Silent films with live orchestra are screened there. An address steeped in history.

The Kino Arsenal is the cinema of the Deutsche Kinemathek (the film and television museum) in the basement of a building in the Sony Center. There are few or no current films shown there, but there are cycles and retrospectives with films from all over the world. It's a venue for the Berlinale of course and also shows films during the French Film Week (Französische Filmwoche) between the end of November and the beginning of December.

It's one of the biggest stages in Berlin and Germany! The traditional themes of the 1920s are successfully adapted to the modern Las Vegas style, with a lot of feathers, flesh and special effects in shows that attract large numbers of German and international tourists. Language presents absolutely no obstacle in Friedrichstadt-Palast, the shows are above all visual: dance, circus, acrobatics, etc. Every two to three years the Friedrichstadt-Palast presents a new production.

The Chamäleon Theater on the floors of a building in the Hackesche Höfe offers quality performances, often by contemporary circus companies from all over the world. In a cosy atmosphere worthy of a cabaret from the 1920s, you can eat and drink here (the menu is excellent!) while admiring the performers. The shows are a little crazy, original, deeply contemporary: acrobatics, human pyramids, trapeze, breakdance... You will come for the virtuosity of the productions, but also for the charm of the place.