Cologne theaters and cinemas are something for everyone when it comes to culture. This city thrives on its vibrant performance traditions and has many famous venues for you to enjoy.
Volkstheater Millowitsch
This theater (Aachener Straße 5) is a cultural institution in Cologne. The Millowitsch family had been active in Cologne’s theater community since 1792 and has used this building as its home base. This historical place was the site of Germany’s first-ever televised theater performance in 1953. Its wild success led to a series of other TV events hosted by the Volkstheater.
These days, it acts as a venue for all different kinds of shows, from low-brow comedians to up-and-coming musicians. This landmark is a must-see for any theater aficionado.
Hänneschen Theater
Another popular destination is the Hänneschen Theater (Eisenmarkt 2-4). You’ll notice a major difference between here and the other Cologne theaters straightaway. Hänneschen does not employ actors; all these performances are done by puppets! However, that doesn’t mean that it’s just a place for the children. Adults will also enjoy these vignettes of everyday life that are sure to make them smile.
Be sure to plan in advance if you want to attend. These puppets are a hot ticket item and frequently play to sell-out crowds.
Opera House
Those in the mood for music would do well to check out The Opera House (Offenbachplatz). Cologne’s opera season runs from September through June. Each of its 1,300 seats offer great views and superb acoustics.
Philharmonic Concert House (Philharmonie)
More musical offerings are on hand at the Cologne Philharmonic (Bischofsgartenstraße 1). Every day brings a new and exciting performance. One of the highlights is the immensely complex organ with 5,394 pipes. Over half a million people are drawn here each year for its exceptional acoustics.
CINEDOM
Those who aren’t into the high culture of the theater or the opera will fund themselves right at home at the CINEDOM (Im Mediapark 1), which became one of Cologne’s landmarks. With 14 halls and movies in Dolby 5.1 it is by far Cologne’s largest cinema complex. Films are shown seven days a week — from morning til midnight.
Metropolis Cinema
The Metropolis Cinema (Ebertplatz 19) — a good, old-fashioned movie and some popcorn are here at this cinema, which always shows movies in their original languages, which is usually English.
Filmpalast Köln — CineStar
This is one of the oldest… Located in Hohenzollernring 22-24, the Filmpalast Köln (formerly known as UFA-Palast) is a complex with 13 screens. It even shows Turkish movies.
Autokino Köln-Porz
One uniqueness of Cologne is its Drive In Autokino. Located in the district of Köln-Porz Eil (Rudolf-Diesel-Straße 32), it has space for 1,000 cars offering an extraordinary way to watch movies (in evening hours). :-)
