Theatres in Munich allow you to get dressed to the nines, enjoy a classical night out with your family or beloved and catch live music, plays, musicals and opera. Germany, and especially Munich, is a cultural hub in Europe, famed for centuries of performing arts and culture, and at the many different venues in this city, you can see everything from the biggest modern pop stars to stand-up comedy routines to classical operatic performances by world-famous divas. It's a luxurious, refined and thrilling way to spend an evening enjoying local culture.
Munich is a haven for the arts, and that includes musical theatre, opera and live performances. Check out some of the best theatres in Munich to see a show here.
- 1
Deutsches Theater
See one of Munichâs largest, most revered theatres
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļāļĢāļ°āļ§āļąāļāļīāļĻāļēāļŠāļāļĢāđ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
Deutsches Theater is a major venue in the heart of Munich that showcases traditional and classical performances including operas and operettas, ballets and musicals with international names. This historic theatre has hosted some of the best shows in the city for over 120 years. Besides major productions with both local and touring casts, the theatre also features variety shows, vaudeville-style performances, magicians and circus troupes. Itâs the home of the annual carnival in Munich and hosts many high-society gatherings and ballroom events throughout the year.
The theatre is steps away from public transport and offers food and beverages before and between acts. It seats around 1,500 people and is among the largest theatres in the city.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: SchumannstraÃe 13A, 10117 Berlin, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 30 284410
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđ - 2
National Theatre of Bavaria (Bayerische Staatsoper)
Visit the home of the Bavarian State Opera
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļāļĢāļ°āļ§āļąāļāļīāļĻāļēāļŠāļāļĢāđ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
The National Theatre of Bavaria (Bayerische Staatsoper) in the heart of the city centre has showcased major works of German ballet and opera for over 200 years. Itâs the home of the Bavarian State Ballet (Bayerisches Staatsballett) and Bavarian State Opera, and for over 120 years has housed the Prinzregententheater, which is focused almost entirely on the works of Richard Wagner. King Maximilian I commissioned this theatre, and it opened in 1818 before being ravaged by fire and rebuilt in 1825.
It was heavily renovated in 1930. Today it features a stunning neoclassical edifice, seats 1,200 people and still features the original foyer and grand staircase.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Max-Joseph-Platz 2, 80539 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 21851025
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđ - 3
Prinzregententheater
See one of Munichâs largest, most opulent venues
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļāļĢāļ°āļ§āļąāļāļīāļĻāļēāļŠāļāļĢāđ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
Prinzregententheater in the Bogenhausen district is among the largest theatres in Munich, offering everything from concerts to cabaret, classical opera and a host of other diverse events. The theatre is renowned for providing a perfect view of the stage from any seat in the house. The auditorium in its Big Building (GroÃes Haus) has stadium-style seating, and the venue offers some of the best acoustics around. Itâs also a distinctive combination of art nouveau and classical architecture both outside and in.
The theatre opened in 1901 and has hosted such major events as the Richard Wagner festival, and is the former home of the Bavarian State Theatre Company. Itâs about 10 minutes east of the Munich city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Prinzregentenpl. 12, 81675 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 218502
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđ - 4
Staatstheater am GÃĪrtnerplatz
See authentic folk theatre and musical comedy
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
Staatstheater am GÃĪrtnerplatz was established in the mid-1800s by King Ludwig II to provide a theatre for the people and today is a primary venue for operas and musical theatre. It was approved in 1864 and completed in 1872, becoming the third Bavarian royal theatre in Munich. It has been renovated several times, most notably to repair bombing damage during World War II. It is primarily dedicated to presenting musical folk theatre such as operettas and musical comedy, and is regarded as among the greatest venues of its type in the city.
The theatre also showcases employees through monthly podcasts and audio samples of most performances. Itâs directly in the heart of the city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: GÃĪrtnerpl. 3, 80469 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 21851960
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđ - 5
MÞnchner Volkstheater
See a true emblem of the cityâs cultural scene
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
MÞnchner Volkstheater is a venue that specialises in classical and contemporary dramas and comedies portrayed in a popular, accessible way with a 'theatre for all' approach. This venue has seen some of the most important auteurs of the 20th century cross its stage including ÃdÃķn von HorvÃĄth and Bertolt Brecht. Itâs divided into 2 venues: the primary Volkstheater and the secondary, smaller Nachtkastl theatre. The original venue was sponsored by the city and opened in 1983 with 609 seats.
A new theatre was commissioned in 2017, and the current building opened in October 2021, covering nearly 18,000 square metres. It hosted an inaugural performance of 'Edward II' that month. Itâs 10 minutes southwest of the city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: TumblingerstraÃe 29, 80337 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 5234655
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđāļ āļēāļāđāļāļĒ Muenchnervolkstheater (CC BY-SA 4.0) āđāļ§āļāļĢāđāļāļąāđāļāđāļāđāđāļ
- 6
Residenz Theatre
Attend a prestigious theatre with modern productions
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
Residenz Theatre is the home of the Bavarian Playhouse and the Bavarian State Drama Company, and is among the bigger and more prestigious theatre venues in the city. The programme here changes daily, and it varies wildly from classical Shakespeare to traditional drama to modern musical theatre and everything in between, but with an emphasis on contemporary playwrights.
A design highlight is the 'Silver Cloud' lighting installation by artist Ingo Maurer, which is a focal point of the foyer and a magical sight upon entry. The theatre is split into 3 venues. The primary venue seats 881, while the CuvilliÃĐs Theatre seats 437 and the smallest Marstall seats about 146. All 3 houses are located in the city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Max-Joseph-Platz 1, 80539 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 21851940
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđāļ āļēāļāđāļāļĒ Burkhard MÞcke (CC BY-SA 4.0) āđāļ§āļāļĢāđāļāļąāđāļāđāļāđāđāļ
- 7
Comedy at the Bayerischer Hof
See a comedic drama at a private boulevard theatre
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
Comedy at the Bayerischer Hof (KomÃķdie im Bayerischen Hof) offers 560 seats and a diverse lineup of productions in an elegant hotel with high drama and belly laughs together. This venue is a primary icon of boulevard theatre at its best, and it showcases some of the finest entertainment in the city, with well-known performers not just from Germany but from all over the world. It opened in 1961 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in the autumn of 2011. To this day itâs owned and operated by the same family.
KomÃķdie im Bayerischen Hof is in the heart of the city centre. It seats 578 and is a completely private theatre with no subsidies, which is quite an accomplishment.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Promenadepl. 6, 80333 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 29161633
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđ - 8
Munich Kammerspiele (MÞnchner Kammerspiele)
Check out a historic theatre in the city
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
The Munich Kammerspiele (MÞnchner Kammerspiele) theatre company was founded in 1912 and offers a historic locale with a wide range of varied productions in every style. This theatre launched the career of Bertolt Brecht and is seen as one of the most important traditional theatre companies in German-speaking countries. Huge names from the international theatre scene have graced this stage including Robert Wilson, George Tabori and Franz Xaver Kroetz. Itâs a 3-time winner of the Theatre of the Year award by Theater Heute magazine.
Itâs the first theatre to have ever showcased the famed play 'Drums in the Night'. Itâs in the heart of the city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: MaximilianstraÃe 26, 80539 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 23396600
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđāļ āļēāļāđāļāļĒ Christian Wolf (CC BY-SA 3.0) āđāļ§āļāļĢāđāļāļąāđāļāđāļāđāđāļ
- 9
Munich Children Theater (MÞnchner Theater fÞr Kinder)
Visit an important family-friendly venue
- āļāļĢāļāļāļāļĢāļąāļ§
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
Munich Children Theater (MÞnchner Theater fÞr Kinder) has staged charming family-friendly theatrical performances for over 50 years, from 'Sleeping Beauty' to 'Pinocchio' and beyond. This magical venue showcases shows for kids ages 4 and up, and the programme changes twice daily, with up to 14 different productions going on at any one time. Here you can see a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, original stories by famed writers Janosch or Astrid Lindgren and even musicals and operas.
Originally in Leopoldstrasse, in 1977 it moved to its current location on Dachauer StraÃe. Itâs about 15 minutes northwest of the city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: Dachauer Str. 46, 80335 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 595454
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđāļ āļēāļāđāļāļĒ Eine kleine ZauberflÃķte (CC BY-SA 4.0) āđāļ§āļāļĢāđāļāļąāđāļāđāļāđāđāļ
- 10
CuvilliÃĐs Theatre
See a jewel of rococo-style design
- āļāļđāđāļĢāļąāļ
- āļāļĢāļ°āļ§āļąāļāļīāļĻāļēāļŠāļāļĢāđ
- āļŦāļĢāļđāļŦāļĢāļē
- āđāļāļāđāđāļĨāļāđ
CuvilliÃĐs Theatre is a historic venue that once hosted Napoleon himself and is famed as the very first rococo theatre in Munich, offering elegant surroundings for operas, operettas and plays. The original theatre opened in the late 1700s to replace one that had burned to the ground. It was celebrated as a jewel of rococo design.
After a period of decline in the 1800s that led to a temporary shutdown, it was reopened in the mid-19th century by King Maximilian II as a cultural centrepiece of the city. It was nearly destroyed in World War II and was rebuilt in grand style. Today it offers exquisite decor and is a jewel of the theatre scene in the city centre.
āļāļĩāđāļāļąāđāļ: ResidenzstraÃe 1, 80333 MÞnchen, Germany
āđāļāļĢ: +49 89 290671
āđāļāļāļāļĩāđāļ āļēāļāđāļāļĒ Luca Florio (CC BY-SA 3.0) āđāļ§āļāļĢāđāļāļąāđāļāđāļāđāđāļ