Where to See Memorable Concerts & Performances in Europe
When it comes to experiencing memorable concerts & performances in Europe, you are spoiled for choice.
Europe is like a chocolate box brimming over with artsy flavors. Venues in every city and town showcase a wide range of musical styles, from classical to traditional to rock.
In addition to music concerts, you’ll find plenty of theater and dance performances, along with festivals and special events.
Some of my favorite memories are of performances we stumbled across, often as a result of chatting with local artists and fellow travelers, noticing posters and flyers, and checking out “What’s On” pages on local websites.
In this post, I present my favorite venues and performances in fourteen European cities: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Leipzig, Lisbon, London, Paris, Seville, Stratford-upon-Avon, Venice, Verona, and Vienna.
Overview – Planning Ahead
While I’m always open to serendipity when it comes to choosing performances and concerts, I also believe in planning ahead.
I suggest that as soon as you know the dates of your trip, go online and search for concerts, performances, festivals and other live events that will be on while you’re traveling.
A search for “musicals in London”, “classical concerts in Paris”, or “dance performances, Seville” should yield good results.
You can also use generic searches such as “what’s on in Berlin” or “concerts in Vienna” and then narrow down the choices to focus on the music genres that interest you.
Classical Concerts in Amsterdam
One of Europe’s most beautiful concert halls is Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, located across from the Museumplein. Free lunchtime concerts are held on Wednesdays in the small concert hall adjacent to the main hall.
On a recent visit to Amsterdam, we enjoyed a lively performance by two vibraphonists. Check the website to find out what’s on when you’re in Amsterdam.
You’ll join locals and very few other tourists for a marvelous (and free!) musical experience.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
Here are two of my recommended places to stay in Amsterdam.
Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American: This place is located within walking distance of the Concertgebouw and close to where you can hop onto a canal cruise. It’s stylish, comfortable, and excellent value in this expensive city.
Mokum Suites overlooking the Herengracht canal and near the Rembrandtplein is one of my favorite places to stay in Amsterdam. From your suite, watch the canal boats slide past.
Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona
If you’re going to Barcelona, hop online and see what’s on at the stunning Palau de la Música Catalana.
If you’re even remotely interested in what’s playing, get tickets! Attending a concert at the astonishly exquisite Palau de la Música will quite simply blow your mind!
I saw a Ópera y Flamenco performance there that transported me.
Built between 1905 and 1908 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you can’t get tickets to a performance, you can still take a tour of the building. I’ve also done this and can recommend the experience. You’ll learn a lot, and get plenty of time sitting in the hall and gazing up at the incredible stained glass.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
Here are two of my recommended places to stay in Barcelona.
I loved staying at the Cram Hotel in the Eixample district for obvious reasons! I told the attendant that my last name was Cram, but unfortunately, I didn’t get a discount! Apparently the name “Cram” comes from spelling the name of the owner’s son (Marc) backwards. This is a truly lovely hotel with a rooftop pool.
I also recommend the Casp 74 Apartments near the Eixample district. The apartment hotel includes kitchens and an underground parking garage.
Concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic
If you’re a classical music fan, check out what’s on at the impressive home of the Berlin Philharmonic (Berlin Philharmoniker).
The building itself is fabulous with wonderful acoustics and worth touring even if you can’t see a concert there. I enjoyed an awe-inspiring performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring performed by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.
Check out the concert calendar and buy tickets from the Berlin Philharmoniker website.
Where to Stay in Berlin
HighPark Berlin am Potsdamer Platz: Centrally located not far from the Philharmonie, this place offers suites, studios and apartments.
Hotel Indigo Berlin – East Side Gallery: Stay in this stylish hotel in a good location.
Kölner Philharmonie in Cologne
While we usually book tickets well in advance, we’re always open to attending concerts on the spur of the moment. One such memorable concert was at the Kölner Philharmonie, a magnificent concert hall a stone’s throw from Cologne’s famous cathedral and in the same complex as the wonderful Ludwig Museum.
We had just finished visiting the Romano-Germanic-Museum (a must-see!) and were walking past the Kölner Philharmonie when we noticed a poster for the evening’s concert. The programme appealed to us and so we inquired at the box office about tickets. The very friendly, English-speaking attendant told us that tickets were available and at a price we considered incredibly reasonable, at least compared to what we were accustomed to paying in Vancouver.
Two hours later, we took our seats in one of the most dazzling modern concert halls I’d ever been in. Built in 1986, the Kölner Philharmonie is constructed like an amphitheatre and provides near-perfect acoustics. Even the size and padding of the seats have been selected to ensure constant acoustics regardless of whether the seat is occupied.
Check the Kölner Philharmonie website to see what’s on.
Where to Stay in Cologne
Select one of the hotels overlooking the Rhine and within walking distance of the cathedral and the concert hall. I recommend the Hotel Drei Kronen.
Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg
In Hamburg, get tickets to see a performance at the ultra-modern Elbphilharmonie, one of the world’s most stunning concert halls.
I saw a classical concert here that was inspiring, not least because of the beauty of the venue itself. You’ll climb up, up, up (elevators are available) and enjoy stunning views over Hamburg before and after the concert.
Where to Stay in Hamburg
Here are two recommendations for where to stay in Hamburg:
Radisson Blue Hotel Hamburg: I find the Radisson Blu hotels consistently good in Europe (I also recommend one in Leipzig).
Hotel Wedina an der Alster: The room was small, but the breakfast area was spacious and the food excellent.
Gewandhaus in Leipzig
Marvelous Leipzig is a must-visit for classical music lovers, particularly if you adore (like I do!) the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Read my post about our visit to the Bach Museum (I still swoon when I think of it!).
While in Leipzig, we attended a wonderful concert at the famed Gewandhaus where the young Clara Wieck (who became Clara Schumann and the inspiration for my second novel, A Woman of Note) debuted as a solo pianist in 1828.
Many other famous musicians have played at Gewandhaus and for that reason I was curious to see a performance there.
The ultra-modern Gewandhaus concert hall is nothing like the venue Clara played in, and is, in fact, the third concert hall to bear the name Gewandhaus, the first being built in 1781, the second in 1884 (designed by famed architect Martin Gropius), and the current hall in 1981.
We snagged tickets to a solo piano concert of music by Mozart and Chopin. What a treat, and, at less than $30CDN per ticket, probably the best value for a concert I’ve ever enjoyed.
At the interval, we thought the concert was over. The pianist had played for so long that we couldn’t imagine he’d be able to perform any longer. As we prepared to leave, a local woman came up to us and told us in careful English that it was only the break and that we needed to stay for the second half.
Gratefully, we returned to the concert hall to enjoy another ninety minutes of jaw-dropping music performed by the very hard-working pianist.
Check the Gewandhaus website to see what’s on.
Here are some tour options in Leipzig with GetYourGuide:
Where to Stay in Leipzig
Here are two recommendations for where to stay in Leipzig:
Radisson Blu Hotel Leipzig: This was an awesome hotel right across the street from the Gewandhaus. Highly recommended.
StayCity Aparthotels Leipzig City Centre: Spacious suites; good location. I like the StayCity chain.
Fado in Lisbon
When you’re visiting Lisbon, make time for a fado performance (or two). We favor the smaller clubs with intimate performances over the more touristy offerings.
Our favorite place for fado in Lisbon is Restaurante Canto do Camões on Travessa da Espera in the Bairro Alto. Sadly, Restaurante Canto do Camões is now closed permanently; however, you’ll find other small restaurants that feature fado in the Bairro Alto and the Alfama. Walk around and listen!
Another option is to book a Fado performance. Here is an option with GetYourGuide:
You can also see fado performances in Porto and Coimbra. In Porto, we loved the performance at the Casa da Guitarra, which also included a glass of port. In Coimbra, fado is only sung by men.
We saw a troupe of men who sing wearing traditional costumes at À Capella, a 14th-century chapel that includes a bar and tapas with the live fado serenades.
Where to Stay in Lisbon
I suggest staying in the central Baixa area. From there, you can walk just about everywhere. I highly recommend Vincci Baixa. It’s stylish and with excellent service.
Theater in London
The first thing I do after booking a trip to London is check out what’s playing in the West End and what’s on at the National Theater and the Globe.
I’ve enjoyed so many memorable performances in London, starting in the 1970s when I was a student at Reading University, a 40-minute train ride from the bright lights of the West End. In those days, performances in London were so reasonably priced that even a student could afford them!
Even now, I find that prices for musicals in the West End are far below what I’ve paid in New York.
Go to the London Theatre website, see what’s on and get tickets well in advance. You can also take your chances during your trip and purchase last-minute tickets, often at a reduced rate. However, I don’t recommend doing this for a performance that you really want to see.
If you are flexible and open to seeing what’s playing, you could well get lucky. On a recent trip to London, I got a ticket for Mamma Mia on the day of the performance for just 40 GBP.
Before going to the theater, enjoy an early dinner at one of the many restaurants in the West End advertising pre-theatre menus.
And while planning your entertainment options in London, don’t forget to check out what’s on at venues such as the Albert Hall and the Barbican Centre.
Another option is the lunchtime and evening concerts at the achingly lovely St Martin-in-the-Fields near Trafalgar Square.
Here are some more options for concerts in London:
Where to Stay in London
I visit London frequently, and here are two of my favorite places to stay:
Park Plaza Victoria London Hotel: Located right across the street from Victoria Station, this hotel is a remarkably good deal for a modern, four-star hotel in the heart of London.
The Wilde ApartHotel just off the Strand is also a wonderful choice. I loved its very central location within walking distance of Trafalgar Square and most of the West End theaters.
Opera & Classical Music in Paris
We love going to concerts in Paris. Spectacular venues such as the Opéra Bastille, the Paris Philharmonie and Sainte-Chapelle enhance the musical experiences, and the quality of the performances is always first-rate. Here are just a few of the venues to check out, particularly if you are a classical music lover.
Opéra Bastille
Seeing an opera in Paris is definitely a cool experience, and one that we hope to repeat as restrictions continue to lift. One of our most memorable opera experiences was seeing Götterdämmerung at the Opéra Bastille. Talk about mind-exploding!
The Opéra national de Paris presents operas at two venues—the ultra chic and modern Opéra Bastille and the sumptuously decorated and historic Opéra Garnier. Check the website for the Opéra national de Paris.
Paris Philharmonie
The Philharmonie de Paris is just breathtaking! Located in Parc de la Villette in the northeast of Paris, the Philharmonie is a complex of buildings that also house exhibition spaces and rehearsal rooms. We attended a performance in the symphonic concert hall—a 2,400-seat über-modern venue designed by Jean Nouvel and opened in January 2015. It was a stunning experience.
Check the website for upcoming performances and events.
Piano Concerts at Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre
Located just across the Seine from Notre-Dame Cathedral in the 5th arrondissement, the Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre is one of the oldest churches in Paris. Concerts featuring either solo piano or duos (e.g., violin and piano or cello and piano) are frequently held there—and they are well worth attending. We’ve been to several. Tickets are reasonably priced, the venue is deliciously ancient and atmospheric, and the quality of the playing is first-rate.
Check the website for upcoming concerts and keep an eye out for posters in the area (that’s how we discovered what was on).
Sainte-Chapelle Concerts
Fancy spending an hour or two staring up at sublimely beautiful stained glass supported by impossibly slender columns while listening to sublimely beautiful classical music? Then check out the website for Sainte-Chapelle’s concerts and purchase tickets for a performance. You won’t be disappointed!
We’ve enjoyed several concerts at Sainte-Chapelle and have always been transported into ever higher planes of awesomeness. A favorite evening out is to enjoy the performance at 7 pm and then to wander starry-eyed through the cobbled streets of Île de la Cité to Île Saint-Louis and dine at one of the many small bistros in the area. Artsy traveling doesn’t get much better!
Where to Stay in Paris
I favor hotels and apartments on the Left Bank in Paris. Here are two of my favorites:
- Hotel de L’Universite: in the heart of Saint-Germain, this boutique hotels is a bit removed from the crowds
- Citadines Saint-Germain-des-Prés Paris: steps from the Seine and Boulevard Saint-Michel and includes a kitchenette
Flamenco in Seville
We’re firm fans of flamenco. See my post describing the flamenco performance we enjoyed on our first visit to Seville. In Seville, you can see flamenco at several venues. I recommend two.
Flamenco Museum
From the website, purchase the combo ticket that includes the museum and a late afternoon flamenco performance that will leave you breathless.
Los Gallos
Situated in a charming little courtyard in the heart of Seville, Los Gallos is an intimate venue with world-class talent. Sip the Sangria included in the ticket price and prepare to be blasted into the stratosphere.
Where to Stay in Seville
I recommend the Hotel Amadeus Sevilla deep in the old town in Seville. If you’re driving, park your car on the outskirts and take a taxi into the city.
Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon
Every time I visit England, I do my best to squeeze in a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to see a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company. I have been fortunate to see many wondrous performances there, including productions of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet that both starred the incomparable David Tennant.
When I was a student at Reading University, a two-hour drive southeast of Stratford-upon-Avon, I frequently made the trek to see a performance. I was studying for a degree in English Literature so taking in as many Shakespeare productions as possible was almost mandatory.
You can see Shakespeare productions at the Globe in London and the experience is highly recommended. However, I must admit that I prefer the productions at Stratford-upon-Avon. The seating is more comfortable, and the quality is top-notch. I liken seeing a production by the Royal Shakespeare Company as the auditory equivalent of looking at high-quality cut crystal. Every word and gesture is crisp and perfect.
When you go up to Stratford-upon-Avon to slake your Shakespeare yen, you also get the bonus of having time to wander the charming streets of Stratford. Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but so what? I love touring Shakespeare’s birthplace, paying my respects at his grave in the church, and watching the swans glide by on the River Avon.
Visit the RSC’s website for details about upcoming productions in Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Here are some other options:
Where to Stay in Stratford-upon-Avon
I recommend the Pen and Parchment Inn. The location is convenient to the theater and the breakfast was first-rate.
Vivaldi in Venice
On one visit to Venice, we were strolling through the quiet streets after dark when we noticed a young man dressed in 18th-century garb and carrying a violin case hurry past. We caught up to him and asked if he was a musician. He told us he was on his way to play a concert of 17th- and 18th-century music in a church. Did we like music like that?
Is Vivaldi Venetian?
Yes!
We followed him to the church and half an hour later were sitting beneath a mural painted by Titian and listening to a selection of Venetian classical music favorites. Bliss! The orchestra was clad in 18th-century garb and the performance was obviously aimed at tourists, but that didn’t affect the quality of the musicianship or the depth of our enjoyment.
After the concert, we floated out into a warm evening to find ourselves moments later at the edge of the Grand Canal. A barge filled with another group of musicians in period dress slid past, the music wafting through the balmy air like the rustling of silk stockings.
Magical!
In Venice, several venues feature classical music concerts. Check out the Music in Venice website for programs and dates.
Where to Stay in Venice
Here are two of the places I’ve stayed in Venice.
San Teodoro Palace: This one-bedroom apartment is huge by Venice standards and located steps from the Rialto Bridge in a very lively and touristy area.
Ca’ Mirò: Settle into this two-floor apartment in a quiet area of Venice not far from the train station and become a temporary Venetian. It’s gorgeous.
Opera in Verona
The Arena di Verona, the Roman amphitheatre in Verona, Italy, periodically presents operas to hundreds of fans who are mostly perched on the edge of very hard, very ancient Roman stone steps. We know because several years ago, we were such fans. To read about an evening that has become synonymous with disaster in our family, check out Meltdown in Verona.
Our experience aside, attending a performance at the Roman arena in Verona could be the magical experience we’d expected.
The detailed RM Europa Tickets website contains information about all the opera festivals in Europe in a given year. You’ll find opera festivals in almost all European countries, along with a detailed list of venues and schedules, including the Arena di Verona.
Where to Stay in Verona
Check out Hotel Torcolo, located a few steps from the arena in the heart of the old town.
Classical Concerts in Vienna
You can’t walk two feet in Vienna’s Stephansplatz without tripping over a bewigged young person trying to sell you tickets to a performance of Strauss, Mozart, or both. Vienna has several venues featuring tourist-oriented shows designed to showcase the oldie goldies of several of its most famous composers, particularly Johann Strauss.
The last time I visited Vienna, traveling solo, I attended a delightful string quartet concert at the gorgeous Sala Terrena, an intimate and heavily decorated venue in the center of the city. Mozart allegedly lived in the building in which the Sala Terrena is housed when he first came to Vienna as a young man. While you wait for the concert to begin, feast your eyes on the riotous Baroque frescoes and look out especially for the leopard! For more about my experience at the Sala Terrena concert, check out my post on Music in Vienna.
On the same trip to Vienna, I took the tram and then a bus out to Schloss Laudon (Water Palace) in the bucolic countryside surrounding Vienna to attend a concert that was part of the five-day Schloss Laudon festival.
I discovered the festival while planning my trip to Vienna and was very glad I managed to snag a ticket for a performance that featured an early Beethoven piano trio in the style of Haydn and a marvelous rendition of Tchaikovsky’s piano trio.
Where to Stay in Vienna
Here are some hotels in the center of Vienna with +9 ratings on booking.com that offer good value:
- House of Ble: Close to the Kunsthistoriches and Natural History Museums; stylish and modern
- Apartement-Hotel an der Riemergasse: Located in a restored Art Nouveau building close to St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Conclusion
Before you travel, check websites for venues and performance times and budget as much money as you can spare for live entertainment. You’ll be making memories that last a lifetime.
And keep a lookout for local folk performances that are often free, with some even encouraging participation. You’ll typically find these advertised in flyers and on posters.
Watch a flag-waving demonstration by young people dressed in medieval garb in Siena, dance the Sardana in front of Barcelona Cathedral along with hundreds of locals and tourists, watch a concert featuring ancient instruments in a tiny chapel in Les Baux de Provence, and more!
Keep your eyes and ears open; you never know what’s around the next corner.
Have you attended concerts while traveling in Europe? Share your experiences and recommendations in the Comments below. Here are some more posts that feature information about concert-going in Europe:
