Berliner Philharmonie

Hearing a concert at the Philharmonie is one of the great cultural experiences Berlin offers. The hall is home to the Berliner Philharmoniker, one of the most celebrated orchestras in the world, whose chief conductor is Kirill Petrenko. Designed by Hans Scharoun and opened in 1963, the building stands at the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz, and its yellow, tent-like roof is easy to recognise.

Scharoun's idea was to put the music in the centre. Instead of facing a stage at one end, the audience sits in terraces that rise on all sides of the orchestra, like vineyards on a hillside, so nobody is far from the musicians and the acoustics are clear throughout. The design influenced concert halls around the world. Next door, the smaller Chamber Music Hall follows the same principle on a more intimate scale.

The programme runs through most of the year and includes the orchestra's own symphony concerts, visiting orchestras and soloists, chamber music and jazz. Tickets for the Philharmoniker's own concerts can sell out early, so book online as soon as your dates are fixed; returns sometimes appear closer to the date. For a lower-cost introduction, the free lunchtime concerts held in the foyer during the season are very popular; arrive early as space is limited. Guided tours of the building are also offered and give a look behind the scenes.

There is no strict dress code, and you will see everything from suits to smart casual. Arrive in good time to find your block, as the entrances and staircases can be confusing on a first visit, and allow time for the cloakroom. Drinks and snacks are available in the foyers before the concert and during the interval. The box office in the building opens Monday to Saturday from 12 noon to 6pm, and tickets can also be bought by phone or online.

Potsdamer Platz station, served by S-Bahn, U-Bahn and regional trains, is about ten minutes' walk away, and several bus routes stop at the Kulturforum. The Gemäldegalerie, the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Tiergarten are close by, and the restaurants around Potsdamer Platz are convenient for dinner before a concert.