11 Best Theatres in Berlin

The Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin is known for presenting glitzy Vegas-style productions. Housed in the Mitte district, it's the largest showhouse in Europe and has ties to the Großes Schauspielhaus, or Great Theater, which had its heyday from the late 1800s to the roaring 1920s. Only after World War II did the theatre receive its new name and welcome international acts such as Ella Fitzgerald before the construction of a new building at its current site in the 1980s.

Fast-forward to the present, and the spirit of the theatre is alive at Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, reviving the spectacular revue tradition. You’ll want to get tickets to the ARISE Grand show featuring over 100 artists, glamorous costumes and sets, show-stopping music, dance and acrobatics.

The Theater of the West (Theater des Westens) delights with bold musicals and dynamic productions. Housed in a beautiful Wilhelminian building on Kantstraße in Charlottenburg, the world-class venue opened its doors in 1895, presenting plays and operettas and later welcoming international headliners such as Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich. After the war, musicals became the focus.

Boasting a tagline of 'Touching hearts, creating memories', The Theatre of the West lives up to that promise with its calendar of high-calibre shows. After having a toast in the elegant foyer, patrons make their way to their seats to enjoy German-language versions of such Broadway smashes as 'My Fair Lady', 'Les Cage Aux Folles' and 'Les Miserables'.

The Admiralspalast presents diverse productions ranging from musicals and concerts to dance, comedy and more in its luxurious 1,756-seat Grand Hall. Since opening in 1910 on the Friedrichstraße in the Mitte district, this vibrant venue has continued to offer outstanding programming in the performing arts.

As a destination for entertainment for over a century, the Admiralspalast continues to honour that tradition. Although programming is always changing, a sampling of recent years includes 'The Phantom of the Opera', 'Cats' and 'Swan Lake', along with musical performances by renowned musical artists like Linkin Park, Lykke Li and Phil Collins, to name a few. There are also a few bar areas to enjoy a cocktail pre-show and during intermission.

The Deutsche Opera Berlin (Deutsche Oper Berlin) hits all the high notes with innovative productions and classic works. Since reopening in 1961 in a new building that replaced the original 1912 Opernhaus destroyed during the war, this vibrant venue in the Charlottenburg district continues to attract audiences with its exceptional opera and symphony orchestra offerings.

Every season at the Deutsche Opera Berlin brings exciting opportunities to enjoy the performing arts. Under the leadership of artistic director Dietmar Schwarz, the theatre stages beloved works for all ages, from Mozart’s 'The Magic Flute' to Richard Wagner’s 'Tristan and Isolde'. Artist talks, cultural festivals and other events round out the diverse programming.

The Berlin State Opera (Staatsoper Unter den Linden) boasts a 250-year opera heritage, and today's theatregoers enjoy modern stagings of classic productions spanning opera, classical music, ballet and children’s concerts. Over the centuries, the Berlin State Opera has always been associated with top musical composers and conductors, including Giacomo Meyerbeer, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Richard Strauss, among others.

Sitting in the historic Bebelplatz square in the Mitte district, this beautiful opera house was reconstructed after the original building, commissioned by Frederick the Great, was destroyed by fire in 1843 and again during World War II.

The Wintergarten Berlin (Wintergarten Varieté) commands attention with colourful, dreamy, sensational shows. Located in the Mitte district, this theatre, which originally opened at the Hotel Central in 1887, successfully combines eye-catching theatrics, acrobats, dancing and live music to the glee of audiences night after night.

Inside, the Wintergarten Berlin boasts a whimsical and warm interior, ideal for enjoying dinner and any one of their variety shows and other sensational productions. While the schedule may change, past shows include the glamorous 1920s-inspired 'Golden Years', the 'Woodstock Variety Show' and the dance-driven 'Flying Dreams'. Tours are also available for those who want a look at what happens behind the scenes.

The Theater am Kurfüstendamm (Komödie am Kurfüstendamm im Schiller Theater) offers a mix of productions, ranging from classics to contemporary pieces and comedic works. Located in the western district of Charlottenburg, the present repertory theatre replaces the one destroyed during the war that was originally founded by Max Reinhard in 1924.

While the Theater am Kurfüstendamm is known mostly for comedic productions, there are also stagings of popular plays such as 'The 39 Steps', 'Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' and 'Murder on the Orient-Express'.

The Berliner Ensemble boasts 125 years of superb performances on the stage. While the current theatre originally began as the Theatre am Schiffbauerdamm in 1892, its present iteration in Mitte began in 1954, when actress Helen Weigel and her husband, playwright Bertolt Brecht, took it in a new direction.

Today, the Berliner Ensemble still captures the artistic spirit with thought-provoking programming. Over the years, the theatre has offered a mix of productions, ranging from Moliere’s 'Don Juan' to Shakespeare's 'Coriolanus' and the more recent 'A Streetcar Named Desire' by Tennessee Williams, to a new generation of theatregoers.

The Deutsches Theater (Deutsches Theater Berlin) is an esteemed institution staging works by theatre greats like William Shakespeare, Anton Chekov and Jean-Paul Satre and more contemporary works, including world premieres. Audiences can enjoy productions in one of 3 spaces of The Deutsches Theater: the original main stage, the more intimate Kammerspiele established by Max Reinhardt in 1906 and the 80-seat Box in the foyer.

Established in 1850 under Frederick William IV of Prussia, the striking theatre building on Schumannstraße in the Mitte district is a beautiful sight to see with its majestic classical facade. Inside is equally as elegant.

Hearing the revered Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra perform under Sir Simon Rattle’s baton is one of the top 10 cultural things to do in Berlin for classical music enthusiasts. Arrive early to appreciate Hans Scharoun’s quirkily designed concert hall, a kind of asymmetrical big top.

The Berlin Kriminal Theater draws people in with suspenseful shows that will have them on edge. Founded by director Wolfgang Rumpf and dramaturg Wolfgang Seppelt, this unique performance space in the Friedrichshain district focuses on classic theatre productions with an emphasis on the crime and mystery genres.

Over the years, the Berlin Kriminal Theater has provided edgy, thrilling entertainment through celebrated works by the likes of Sir Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. Whether it's 'Death on the Nile', 'Ice Cold', 'Passenger 23' or another play, you can’t help but want to break out your detective skills.