The Best Live Music Venues in Berlin
Music is deeply embedded in Berlin’s culture, with world-renowned musicians of all genres regularly gracing the many stages the city has to offer. From underground dive bars to opera-singer-worthy venues, Culture Trip has picked the best places to experience Berlin’s live music scene for yourself.
The vibrant and international music hub that is Germany’s capital city has been gathering fans for decades. Musicians from around the world flock to the city’s eclectic music scene, adding their style to an already strong local community. Music pumps out of the city’s myriad bars and venues on a daily basis; from classical concerts and iconic pop bands to the latest DJ beats, Berlin has it all.
1. Kallasch and Moabiter Barprojekt, Unionstrasse
Bar, Pub Grub
2. Quasimodo Club
Concert Hall, Music Venue
Steeped in history, the Quasimodo Club is located in the basement of former 1920s dance hall, the Delphi Filmpalast. Just off Kurfürstendamm, it’s the ideal spot to rest your legs after perusing the street’s shops. The Berlin jazz club opened in the late 1960s in what was then the centre of West Berlin, and has offered live music every night of the week ever since. Branching away from its jazz-only early days, the club now also offers other music genres, including funk and soul. Famous names such as Prince and Chet Baker have taken to the stage in this unmissable stylish spot.
3. Berlin Philharmonic
Building
4. Silent Green
Art Gallery, Building, Music Venue
5. Astra Kulturhaus
Bar, Fusion
6. Huxleys Neue Welt
Concert Hall
This popular Neukölln establishment first opened its doors in 1880 as the concert venue, Neue Welt. Its current name only came to life around 100 years later, when it officially reopened as Huxleys Neue Welt – locally known as Huxleys. Steeped in history, it’s hosted political meetings, served as a military hospital during World War I, and was bombed during World War II. More recently, the hall has welcomed huge rock and pop talent such as Jimi Hendrix, Patti Smith and the Dire Straits, and it still invites famous bands and musicians to its historical hall.
7. Tempodrom
Concert Hall
8. Berghain
Music Venue
9. Hoppetosse
Nightclub, Beer, Wine
Based on a static boat on the Spree River that was built in 1928, Hoppetosse is a truly unique location for a night out in Berlin. Make the most of the boat’s outdoor deck or look out over the river from inside the boat. Hoppetosse is owned by the famous Club Der Visionäre and, keeping its DJ list lean, Hoppetosse focusses on minimalist house and techno music. Dance the night away to Berlin favourites as well as a rotating cast of international names.
This article is an updated version of a story originally created by Evangelos Tsirmpas.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.