Berlin Philharmonic

Berliner Philharmonie concert hall at night
Berliner Philharmonie concert hall at night

Berliner Philharmonie is a highly acclaimed contemporary designed concert hall that is home to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - one of the top-rated orchestras in the world.

The concert hall, designed by architect Hans Scharoun, first opened in 1963. It is renowned for its excellent acoustics and for having a good view of the stage from any seat in the house.

Unlike most concert halls, the orchestra in the Berlin Philharmonic performs from the center of the audience. The ceilings emulate the sloped sides of a tent and the 2440 seats are arranged in terraces around the central stage.

If you sit at the back of the orchestra you can see the conductor face on, just like the performers.

You can see a virtual tour of the inside of the concert hall here.

If you love classical music, you'll definitely want to try to take in a concert at the Berlin Philharmonic during your visit.

At 1 pm every Tuesday from September through June they even hold free lunchtime concerts, not in the main hall but in the foyer. These offer a wonderful opportunity to see the venue and enjoy some fabulous music for free.

Berliner Philharmonie is part of the Kulturforum located just west of Potsdamer Platz.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Berlin Philharmonic

Fee: Fees vary by event. Visit the official website for an event calendar. Tuesdays from September through June they hold free lunchtime concerts

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours

Address: Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin, Germany

Phone: 030 254880

Official Website: Berlin Philharmonic

Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5Berliner Philharmonie Star Rating

5 Star Rating I attended a private event here and found the experience very nice. The space is large and was able to hold many people. The inside of the concert hall is beautiful and designed in a way that allows for all guests to have a good viewing and listening experience no matter their location. I look forward to returning for a public concert.
Jennifer Johnson - 1 month ago

5 Star Rating Amazing concert hall, every seat has a view of some or all of the orchestra. The seats are banked such that it would need to be an exceptionally tall person in front to restrict your view. The design of the roof increases the acoustic balance. Fabulous performances full of energy, emotion and vitality. Visited on 28/9/2023
Margaret Hook - 2 months ago

5 Star Rating I came for the Wednesday lunchtime concert and it was amazing. The music was so good and it's such a cool thing to offer these free events. The space filled up very quickly, so I didn't have a great spot where I could see the stage, but even in the foyer the sound carries so well and I could still hear the music perfectly. Interesting building as well, I need to come back to see inside some of the stages sometime!
Cai Jo - 23 days ago

4 Star Rating Taking one star away as the Kammermusiksaal is really not that nice. If you are a frequent classical concert goer like me, you probably choose a concert based on the program but if you are just there for an experience, my advice is look for a concert in the main hall (Großer Saal). The acoustics in the smaller hall (Kammermusiksaal) is not as nice, personally I feel like the echo is too strong and the sound is scattering all over the place, especially obvious when someone is singing.
Jessie Jess - 5 months ago

5 Star Rating Incredible venue. Sound quality was fantastic. Accessibility seemed good, but of course everyone has different needs, so for those with mobility impairments, I suggest researching ahead of time and possibly contacting the concert hall ahead of time for more info. Very large capacity. Okay selection of drinks, limited food options. Gift shop was cute, some interesting items for sale, many many CDs (mostly classical/orchestral music), and a display case containing some awards.
Neut King - 1 month ago

Accommodations near Berlin Philharmonic:

Directions

How to get to Berlin Philharmonic by U-Bahn, S-Bahn

Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Line(s): U2, S1, S2, S25, S26
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Station(s): U Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Potsdamer Platz Bahnhof

From Potsdamer Platz, walk west along Potsdamer StraBe. After it curves to the left look for the entry to Berliner Philhamonie on your right.

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