Berlin’s music scene: Where to visit for techno, punk and opera

It’s Sunday afternoon and the party’s still going at Berlin’s world-famous techno club, Berghain. Beats emanate from heavily guarded doors as a few black-clad clubbers sit around smoking on the concrete outside.

I should say at this point, I’m not one of them, but it’s because of places like this that Berlin is a clubber’s paradise. Though I know it’s a cardinal sin, I snap a picture as I walk by, causing a huge, punk-dressed bouncer to bark at me to put my phone away.

The club’s closely-guarded secrecy is a large part of its allure. Gaining entry is infamously difficult, with a strict, though mysterious, door policy. Many queue for hours, only to be turned away with no idea why.

Berghain’s mystique also undoubtedly played a role in Berlin’s techno scene gaining Unesco cultural heritage status this March. The recognition followed a decision by local government in 2021 to make Berlin’s clubs cultural institutions.

And it’s the reason I’m here: to seek out some of the city’s best clubbing spots, while exploring all the other ways you can enjoy its incredibly diverse music scene – from its bars and restaurants to its museums and markets.

I arrived in Berlin the previous Friday with friends, and that night we headed out bar hopping – it’s a perfect way to experience the city’s music culture, with soundtracks to suit all moods. If punk rock is your vibe, then head to Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, where a number of dive bars, such as Trinkteufel, play metal and hardcore punk into the early hours. Or you could make your way to Friedrichshain to visit the city’s oldest rock pubs Paules Metal Eck and Rock Cafe Halfords.

During the day, it’s worth checking out the self-proclaimed first and only Ramones museum, set up by Berlin-based mega fan Flo Hayler in 2005. With a free beer on entry to enjoy 1,000 plus Ramones memorabilia, spanning 1974-1996, it’s a great place to go to with friends.

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Jazz is also hugely popular in Berlin, with live music playing during the week across venues like The Hat to the west of the city, Quasimodo on Kantstraße in the popular Charlottenburg district, or the underground jazz club, Junction Bar, in…