Your guide to Berlin / Music and Entertainment in Berlin
Music and Entertainment in Berlin
Berlin is a city teeming with history, culture and fun, whether you're traveling with the family or venturing out solo. The capital city of Germany is home to a variety of activities, food, and events. Nine castles, three world-class opera houses and the well-known Berlin Zoo are just a few of the adventures that await you, not to mention more than 200 museums and many green miles of natural space to explore. As you're planning your trip to Berlin, consider adding these highlights to your itinerary for a taste of all the city offers.
Music Events
Concerts and music festivals abound in this city, and many visitors and locals alike consider them to be some of the best things to do in Berlin. Learn more about some popular favorites.
Helene Beach Festival
Theatergarten, Helenesee, Frankfurt an der Oder, Germany
Each July, hundreds of acts converge on the sand at Helene Beach to celebrate electronic music and hip-hop culture. Huge crowds arrive to see some of the biggest names in German rap, as well as rock and pop music artists. Year after year, concert-goers enjoy repeat headliners like Sportfreunde Stiller and K.I.Z.
The Helene Beach Festival is held on the longest lake beach in Europe, features eight stages and more than 120 acts playing over four days. The combination of sun, sand, music and some of the cleanest lake water in Germany makes this a much-anticipated annual event. If you're planning to attend, be sure to get tickets in advance. Campsites are available near the festival if you prefer the great outdoors.
Berlin Philharmonie
Berlin Philharmonie, Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Berlin is home to three major opera houses and eight professional orchestras, the most well-known of which is the famous Berlin Philharmonie. Since 1963, the uniquely modern building, known for its outstanding acoustics, has stood as a landmark of the city. Some of the greatest conductors and musicians in the world have aspired to play in the famous tent-shaped gold building.
Performances of all kinds happen almost every day at the Berlin Philharmonie. Visit the online calendar to see what's happening during your visit. Here are a few examples of what you'll find.
- Musikfest Berlin: This 21-day festival hosts more than 25 events and hundreds of artists.
- Children's Concert: 1-2-3-Go: This musical event aimed at the preschool set sells out quickly, so be sure to get tickets early!
- Serie: Q - Philharmonic Chamber Music: For more than 25 years, this forum has offered individual musicians a place to stand out from the crowd and distinguish themselves from the orchestra.
Yorckschlösschen
Yorckstraße 15, 10965 Berlin, Germany
If you prefer the pub scene to the opera house, check out the Yorckschlösschen. For more than 120 years, it's been the centerpiece of the Kreuzberg area and people of all ages gather here for the best in live blues, jazz and swing music. During summer, the beer garden offers Sunday brunch and live music. A haven for musicians from all over the world, the Yorckschlösschen quickly gets crowded, so you may have to plan ahead or arrive early. While it's off the beaten path for most of the tourist crowd, this stop is worth going out of your way.
Sporting Events
Sports in Berlin are a major part of daily life. As a city with a reputation for hosting big events like the FIFA World Cup, it's no surprise that more than half a million citizens play some kind of professional or recreational sport. Soccer, basketball and ice hockey are just a few favorite pastimes.
Berlin is also home to six professional sports teams, so there's a good chance there will be a game to attend during your visit. Whether it's basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, handball, or soccer, these sporting events rank among the top things to do in Berlin, and you'll have fun rooting for the (far) away team!
Family Sports Festival
Olympiapark Berlin, Bezirk Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, 14053 Berlin, Germany At the end of each summer, Landessportbund Berlin (LSB) offers a free Family Sports Festival in Olympiapark Berlin. Anyone can try climbing, BMX riding and traditional sports like fencing and hockey. Even the youngest in the family can get into the act with a kangaroo workout designed for infants and parents.
The Family Sports Festival also provides educational information about diet, activity and sports as part of a healthy lifestyle. When you're ready for a break, stop to listen to music on the main stage, or watch ten sports award their national championships, including swimming, gymnastics and triathlon. This event is a great way to show your children how hard work pays off for these elite athletes.
FC Union Matches
Alten Försterei, An der Wuhlheide 263, 12555 Berlin, Germany
Football in Berlin, the game known as soccer in the United States, is big business. However, FC Union maintains its status as the team of the working class. With roots in 1960s East Berlin, and known for its proud independence, the team nickname is Eisern Union (Iron Union). The stadium, Alten Försterei, is partially owned by fans and is less commercialized than more affluent clubs. You can find a calendar of upcoming matches and past results on the club's website.
If you have children who love to play and you time your visit right, they can participate in an FC Union Camp or catch a U17 or U19 youth match. All the relevant dates, times and ticket information are available on the club's website and social media platforms. You can also find some great fan gear there to take home as a souvenir.
Wellenwork
Wellenwork, Landsberger Allee 270, 10367 Berlin, Germany
If surfing is something you enjoy, make it part of your visit to Berlin! While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of this city, Wellenwork is worth your time, especially if you're looking for things to do in Berlin with kids. This brand new indoor surfing facility keeps the water at just the right temperature year-round.
Wellenwork offers indoor surfing lessons for the inexperienced as well as wave time for more advanced surfers. Book your one-hour session, then adjust a number of variables to your liking, including wave height and flow speed. In between catching waves, everyone will enjoy the restaurant, bar and garden. Plans for future development include a cycle workshop and much more.
Cultural Events
Berlin is a city that loves a good party. You always find some sort of celebration happening, no matter what time of year you visit. Berliners have a festival to honor almost everything, from food to film and all in between. If you have some flexibility in your travel dates, you might consider planning around one of these events.
Christopher Street Day
Christopher Street Day Parade, Kurfürstendamm/Joachimsthaler Straße, 10719 Berlin
Held every July, Christopher Street Day commemorates an act of resistance of homosexuals against police violence in Greenwich Village in New York City in 1969. The uprising took place at the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street, hence the name of the Berlin holiday. Many historians point to this clash as the starting point of the fight for equality for the LGBTQ community.
Ten years later in 1979, the recognition event began in Berlin. More than 500,000 people attend the celebration each year, making it one of the largest such festivals in the world and one of the best free things to do in Berlin. While the holiday is on July 30, the Christopher Street Day festivities kick off the weekend before with the Lesbian and Gay City Festival.
Berlinale
Berlinale, Potsdamer Platz, 10785 Berlin
The Berlinale, officially known as Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin, has been the biggest event in the city for more than 60 years. Along with Cannes and Venice, it's one of the three most highly regarded film festivals in the world. Most activities take place around the well-known Potsdamer Platz, but there are screenings all over the area in some truly unique locations, such as the renovated crematorium known as the Kulturquartier.
Berlinale features hidden gems of the movie world and draws the biggest names in the industry along with more than 10,000 fans attending every year. You can't possibly see every movie featured, so the festival categorizes the offerings to let you focus on your favorites. With films shown in so many locations, you also get a bonus peek at some of Berlin's beautiful architecture as you travel around. If the dates of your trip match up, the Berlinale is well worth your time.
The diversity of Berlin makes it a great place to visit either solo or in a group. With so much to choose from, it's important to plan your itinerary carefully. Once you've decided on activities, you can pick a hotel nearby and decide how you'll travel. With those pieces in place, you're ready for the German adventure of a lifetime.