Whether you’re into pop, rock, classical or jazz, Europe has some stunning venues in which to enjoy your favourite music. From ancient Roman amphitheatres to modernist masterpieces, these incredible buildings are bound to enhance your listening experience.
Read on to discover our pick of the most beautiful concert venues in Europe…
Built between 1745 and 1750, the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth is a masterpiece of Baroque theatre architecture and the only surviving example of its kind still in use today. Beautifully preserved (and partially restored between 2012 and 2018), the intricate and highly decorated wooden interior was designed by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena in the Italian late Baroque style. It features tiered loges, illusionistic painted canvas, lavish gilt highlights and an elaborate trompe l’oeil ceiling. The auditorium seats around 500 people, providing an intimate yet stunning setting for each new season of opera and classical music.
It may seem hard to believe when looking at its striking auditorium, but the origins of Turin’s Teatro Regio stretch back to 1740. The original theatre was a sumptuous affair, witnessing the premiere of Puccini’s La Boheme in 1896. It burned down in 1936 leaving only the façade intact and it wasn’t until 1973 that the new theatre was inaugurated, with its bold modernist design by Carlo Mollino. Bright red seats catch the eye, while the floor and wall coverings contrast with cream-coloured boxes and an elegantly curving rib-vaulted ceiling. A spectacular cluster of glass 'icicles' illuminates the hall from above.
Commissioned by Napoleon III and inaugurated in 1875, the Opera Garnier is one of the most opulent and prestigious music venues in the world. Named after its architect, Charles Garnier, it comprises a stunning blend of Baroque and renaissance architecture. Virtually every corner of its labyrinthine interior is covered in elaborate marble friezes, intricate mosaics, gilt bronze fittings and ornate mirrors. The ceiling of the breathtaking auditorium was painted by Marc Chagall. Although primarily a venue for classical music, it has also hosted famous popular artists such as Frank Sinatra, George Michael and Liza Minnelli.
The Royal Ballet and Opera (formerly the Royal Opera House) in London’s Covent Garden is one of the UK’s most historic performing arts venues. Opened in 1858, the current building is the third theatre to occupy the same site, after the first two were destroyed by fire. Despite numerous expansions and improvements over the years, the original façade, foyer, and the stunning horseshoe-shaped auditorium remain intact, providing a breathtaking setting for performances by the resident Royal Ballet and Opera companies, as well as occasional shows by pop acts like Pet Shop Boys, Rufus Wainwright, and even Motorhead.
Love this? Check out our Facebook page for more travel inspiration
Although only completed in 2003, the Auditorio de Tenerife is already regarded as one of the Crown Jewels of Spanish architecture. Designed by Santiago Calatrava Valls, its distinctive image has graced stamps and coins, becoming an enduring symbol of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Boasting an enormous curved and pointed arc, its spectacular, hyper-modern outline resembles a ship, a wave, or even a helmet, depending on the viewpoint. Home to the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, the hall also offers a varied programme of opera, jazz and world music. Popular artists to have played here include Wilco and Jethro Tull.
Dating from the first century AD, the Theatre Antique in Orange is one of the best preserved of all Roman theatres and the first of its kind in France. Its enormous stage stretches for 200 feet (61m) behind which towers an elaborate 121-foot (37m) stage wall dotted with ancient columns, friezes and niches, providing a stunning backdrop to any events staged there. Every summer it hosts an opera festival, the Choregies d’Orange. Over the years it has attracted international artists such as Sting, Elton John, David Gilmour and The Cure, with the latter shooting their 1987 concert film The Cure in Orange here in the summer of 1986.
First opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall is one of Europe's most iconic concert halls. Its famous elliptical auditorium, the world’s first domed amphitheatre, has been home to the BBC Proms since 1941. Many celebrated composers including Wagner, Verdi and Elgar chose it as the venue in which to conduct the first UK performances of their own works. It has also hosted a star-studded line-up of popular musical legends over the years, from Abba and Shirley Bassey to Frank Zappa and Led Zeppelin, with Jimmy Page describing it as 'the Holy Grail for Musicians'.
Hidden away inside the enormous Bozar arts complex in central Brussels, the Henry Le Boeuf Hall is an architectural gem just waiting to be discovered. Although designed by Victor Horta, Belgium’s most famous exponent of Art Nouveau, the broad sweep of this imposing egg-shaped hall features a more minimal blend of Art Deco and Neoclassicism. Its white balconies and columns contrast with the deep scarlet of the velvet seats, providing a stunning setting for any concert. Highlights from the past century include legends like Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, Billie Holiday, Django Reinhardt, Ravi Shankar and Lou Reed.
Designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner, and inaugurated in 1908, Barcelona’s Palau de Musica Catalona is often ranked amongst the most beautiful concert halls in the world. A stunning example of Catalan Art Nouveau, the richly decorated building blends exposed brick and ironwork with ornate mosaics, sculptures and glazed ceramics, while the auditorium is bathed in natural light by an enormous stained-glass skylight in the ceiling. Over the years this prestigious and remarkable venue has witnessed premieres of work by leading modern composers such as Alban Berg, Joaquin Rodrigo and Krzystof Penderecki.
Rising like some strange alien structure from a corner of the Parc de la Villette in northeastern Paris, the Philharmonie de Paris is one of Europe’s most cutting-edge contemporary concert halls. Designed by renowned architect Jean Nouvel, and completed in 2015, the main building blends flowing, spiralling forms with bold asymmetrical angles, all coated in a shimmering mosaic of reflective metallic greys which captivate the eye at any time of day or night. The auditorium combines a cool minimalism with curving patterns, making it a spectacle for the audience before the performance even begins.
World-renowned for its superb acoustics (only Boston’s Symphony Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein are considered comparable), the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is undoubtedly one of the greatest places in Europe to experience classical music. Opened in 1888, the beautiful Neoclassical hall is supported by 2,186 wooden piles, each one around 40 feet (12m) long, driven into the earth beneath it to stop the building sinking into the damp Amsterdam earth. Over the years, the Concertgebouw has staged concerts by dozens of musical legends across numerous genres. Everyone from Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss to Louis Armstrong and Pink Floyd has played here.
Prague’s stunning Estates Theatre is a jewel of Neoclassical theatre architecture which has been preserved almost entirely in its original state. It was built at the behest of the enlightened aristocrat František Antonín Count Nostitz Rieneck, who hoped to aggrandise his native city as well as the souls of its inhabitants. The theatre is inextricably linked with the name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as two of his operas, Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito, had their world premieres here. It is also notable for its connection with the beginnings of Czech professional theatre. The first Czech-language performances took place here in 1785.
One of the most spectacular venues in the UK, the Minack Theatre is an open-air arena perched precipitously on the rugged cliffs of southwest Cornwall, offering breathtaking views over the Celtic Sea. This unique theatre dates back to 1932, and was the brainchild of Rowena Cade, who transformed her own cliff garden into a stunning venue for a local dramatic troupe. Today it stages over 200 performances a year, from plays, operas and musicals to a diverse range of live music, including acclaimed contemporary artists like Dry Cleaning and Gwenno.
Victoria Hall was built in 1894 by the Geneva architect, John Camoletti, for the wealthy, music-loving British Consul, Daniel Fitzgerald Packenham Barton. Packenham Barton dedicated the building to Queen Victoria, hence the name, and presented it to the city in 1904. Today the Victoria Hall is renowned for its excellent acoustics, its opulent stucco and deep red decoration. Its monumental organ is one of the most famous in Europe. The hall’s programme is mainly devoted to classical music, but it also hosts big names in pop, jazz and world music.
The Vienna State Opera officially opened its magnificent doors in May 1869, with a production of Mozart's Don Giovanni in front of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. It was designed by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg with interior decoration by Eduard van der Nüll. The famous Magic Flute frescoes decorating the veranda are the work of Moritz von Schwind. An early artistic high was achieved under the directorship of the renowned composer Gustav Mahler between 1897 and 1907. Today, it boasts the largest repertoire and is considered one of the most important opera houses in the world.
First opened in 1893, the Olympia is Paris’ oldest music hall and, with its giant white-on-red glowing sign, remains one of the city’s most iconic venues. Over the years its stage has seen performances by every major icon of Francophone music, from Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel to Serge Gainsbourg, Charles Aznavour and Johnny Hallyday. Many of these famous French performers have recorded legendary live albums at the venue. This place has also hosted a vast array of international artists including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, David Bowie, Madonna and The Beatles. In 1964, the 'Fab Four' played here for 18 days (performing two or three shows per day).
Perhaps the ultimate act of self-celebration, the Bayreuth Festspielhaus was designed by Richard Wagner for the sole purpose of staging his own works. It opened in 1876 with the premiere of his four-opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung, a performance attended by some of the classical world's biggest names including Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Liszt, Bruckner and Saint-Saens. Still home to the annual Bayreuth Festival, the Festspielhaus is celebrated for its superb acoustics and simple design. Offering unrestricted views from every seat, it's designed in a way that focuses all attention on the stage. For Wagner fans, it is a unique and unforgettable experience.
Occupying a former church in the heart of Amsterdam, this legendary venue opened in 1968. Over the following half-century, it has become one of Europe’s most famous live venues. With its original stained-glass windows and distinctive balconies, it retains something of a church-like atmosphere but only until the music starts. Over the years, its stage has been graced by loads of pop and rock legends including Pink Floyd, Joy Division, The Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Nirvana and Prince. Keith Richards even claimed The Rolling Stones’ 1995 concerts here were the best the band ever played.
The Teatro di San Carlo is the oldest continuously active opera venue in the world. Built at the behest of the Bourbon King Charles III of Spain (who was also King of Naples as Charles VII), it opened on the sovereign's name day on 4 November 1737. The original building was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1816, with only the external walls left standing. Astonishingly, it was then rebuilt in just nine months. During the restoration the spectacular auditorium’s ceiling was embellished with a painting by Antonio, Giuseppe and Giovanni Cammarano called 'Apollo introducing the greatest poets in the world to Minerva' (pictured).
One of Europe’s most impressive outdoor arenas, Dalhalla is located in a former limestone quarry whose unique dimensions provide excellent acoustics comparable to those found in the ancient amphitheatres of Greece and Italy. 180 feet (55m) deep, 1,300 (396m) feet long and 574 feet (175m) wide, the venue can accommodate between five and six thousand spectators, its rugged limestone walls providing a stunning setting for international acts such as Arcade Fire, Simple Minds, a-ha, Kraftwerk, Bjork and Nick Cave. Its season runs from June to September, attracting over 100,000 spectators each year.
The Musikverein is Vienna's most beautiful and celebrated venue for classical concerts. Designed by the Neoclassical architect Theophil von Hansen for the Society of Music Lovers, it opened with a festive concert in 1870. The jewel in the crown of the building is undoubtedly The Great Hall (pictured). Nicknamed The Golden Hall on account of its beauty and magical acoustics, it is from here that the world-famous New Year's Day Concert is broadcast every year to a global audience of over one billion music lovers.
Built on top of a 19th-century warehouse on a peninsula in the River Elbe, the Elbphilharmonie is one of Hamburg’s most distinctive landmarks. The roofline of its vast glass facade resembles a wave or a hoisted sail and soars 26 storeys into the sky. Within the glass structure is a spectacular concert hall, whose modernist 'vineyard' design consists of terraced rows of seats surrounding a central stage. This set-up delivers a glorious view for every spectator. The walls here are made from 10,000 panels of textured gypsum fibre, which reflect the sound into every corner, creating superb acoustics.
One of the most modern and well-equipped concert halls in the world, the Royal Danish Opera House in Copenhagen is also one of the most expensive ever built, costing around £385 million ($500m). Designed by Henning Larsen, it opened in 2005, and spreads across 14 storeys, five of which are underground. The ceiling of the spectacular main auditorium is covered with 105,000 sheets of 24-carat gold leaf, while the balconies are equipped with LED lighting which can be illuminated in a variety of different patterns.
Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre is a small venue that has played host to some seriously big names. David Bowie, Adele, REM, Radiohead and Florence and the Machine have all chosen to perform intimate gigs here when they could easily have sold out much larger venues. The building, designed by the architect John J. Callaghan, first opened in 1879. Over the years, it has operated as a Music Hall Theatre, a more conventional theatre and a playhouse. Having survived attempts to demolish it in the 1960s, as well as the roof falling in during the 1970s, it is today one of Dublin’s best-loved music venues.
Opened in 2015, and designed by Spanish architect Fernando Menis, the Cultural and Congress Centre Jordanki (CKK Jordanki) is one of the most striking concert halls in Europe. The building’s futuristic, angular façade blends a concrete skin with exposed areas of crushed red brick intended to echo the historic buildings of Torun’s Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, the stunning main auditorium resembles a set from a lavish sci-fi movie. Its strange geometry recalls something from another world but was actually designed to create excellent acoustics.
The vast, curving structure of Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia rises 14 storeys – almost 250 feet (76m) – into the air, making it the tallest opera house in the world. Designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, this modernist masterpiece contains four separate auditoriums, with the Sala Principal seating almost 2,000 people and boasting one of the largest stages in the world (alongside the third largest orchestra pit). All four spaces are beautifully minimalist, and offer a broad spectrum of opera, ballet, classical, jazz and popular music. Pat Metheny, Melody Gardot and Rufus Wainwright have all performed here.
Quite apart from being Europe’s largest (and probably grandest) cinema, the Grand Rex also doubles as one of the best concert venues in Paris. Inspired by New York’s Radio City Music Hall, this extravagant Art Deco edifice first opened in 1932. It was conceived by Jacques Haik, a wealthy film producer and then owner of the Olympia. Its main auditorium, decorated in an opulent Mediterranean style, seats 2,700 spectators in spacious leather armchairs beneath a vast, starry vaulted ceiling. Its unique atmosphere has attracted major artists including Tom Waits, Pet Shop Boys and Bob Dylan.
Pay a visit to Oslo’s Opera House and you will actively be encouraged to walk on its marble embellished roof. Norwegian nature is free to explore and the building, which opened in 2008, was designed as an extension of this idea. Beneath visitor’s feet are three innovatively designed stages and a backstage area with big glass windows which are intended to allow a glimpse into the production process. There are also eight art projects involving 17 different artists, including four installations by Olafur Eliasson titled The Other Wall. These can be viewed in the wardrobe area of the foyer.
The Latvian National Opera and Ballet is housed in a stunning Neoclassical building. Designed by Ludwig Bohnstedt, it was originally constructed as the Riga German Theatre in 1863. Much of the building was destroyed by the great fire of 1882, but it was rebuilt according to Bohnstedt’s original plans. It became the home of the Latvian National Opera in 1919, before being joined by the first professional ballet ensemble in Latvia in 1922. Since 1998 it has held the Riga Opera Festival, the largest such event in Eastern Europe.
Built between 1767 and 1769, the awe-inspiring Teatro Bibiena was designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena from Parma on commission from the rector of the Accademia dei Timidi, Count Carlo Ottavio di Colloredo. Although it was primarily intended to host scientific meetings it also held performances and concerts. The intriguing mix of wood and plaster in the main hall creates astonishing acoustics. These were tested soon after the building opened in January 1770 by the young Mozart. He had arrived in Mantua, aged only 14, for his first Italian tour and gave a memorable concert there together with his father Leopold.