Must-see entertainment in Northern Germany

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Barclaycard Arena

    Hamburg

    Hamburg’s huge Barclaycard Arena (previously sponsored by O2) was extensively refurbished for the 2006 football World Cup, and is home to Bundesliga club…

  • Hasenschaukel

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    The booking policy at this unhurried pocket-size club with plush decor skews towards lo-fi indie-folk-rock and usually features prestardom international…

  • Laeiszhalle

    Hamburg

    Built in 1908, the Laeiszhalle was Hamburg's premier address for classical concerts and opera. That mantle has passed to the extraordinary new…

  • Schmidt Tivoli

    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…

  • Figurentheater

    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…

  • Zeise Kino

    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…

  • Cotton Club

    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,…

  • English Theatre of Hamburg

    Hamburg

    Germany's oldest professional English-language theatre has been around since 1976 and performs quality English drama with English actors to a…

  • Musikhochschule Lübeck

    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…

  • Fabrik

    Hamburg

    They're making beautiful music in this former factory that's an iconic Altona venue, where the music ranges from classical to club and the program spans…

  • Kaiserkeller

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    One of the more respectable clubs today on the Grosse Freiheit, this second venue for the Beatles survives in a much-altered form with regular live acts.

  • Knust

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    In addition to excellent live music gigs and experimental DJ sets, this former slaughterhouse hosts anything from acoustic raves to spoken word.

  • St Pauli Theater

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    A dynamic program of high-quality, sometimes-offbeat theatre is the hallmark here. If you speak German, it can be a great night out.

  • Millerntor-Stadion

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    Favourite local football team FC St Pauli plays at home in the multi-use Millerntor stadium.

  • Staatstheater Schwerin

    Northern Germany

    The state theatre offers a varied range of concerts and theatrical performances.

  • Queen Calavera

    St Pauli & Reeperbahn

    An essential part of the St Pauli night, this burlesque show in a tiny venue divides visitors. Some love it as a less sleazy counterpoint to the table…

  • Musik und Kongresshalle

    Lübeck

    Notable for the colourful statues on its roof, this concrete monolith is where big international names perform when in town.