Staatsoper Unter den Linden: visiting and booking Berlin's State Opera

Updated on October 9, 2026

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden, in Mitte, is Berlin's State Opera and one of the oldest opera houses in the city. Built from 1741 to 1743 by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff for Frederick the Great, the neoclassical building closes the avenue Unter den Linden on the Bebelplatz side. Destroyed in 1941 and again in 1945, then rebuilt in East Germany, it reopened on 3 December 2017 after seven years of works. It is the home of the Staatskapelle Berlin, conducted since September 2024 by Christian Thielemann. Prices vary with the performance and the seat: check the official ticket shop, where a €2 fee per ticket is added to online purchases.

Highlights

Knobelsdorff's façade

The portico with Corinthian columns, inspired by ancient temples, faces the avenue. Rebuilt after the war in the spirit of the original, the building was renovated from 2010 to 2017, with a hall of improved acoustics.

The Staatskapelle Berlin

One of the oldest orchestras in the world, which accompanies the house's operas and gives its own concerts. Daniel Barenboim conducted it for more than thirty years.

An opera or a ballet

The programme alternates opera, ballet (Staatsballett Berlin) and concerts. Performances are generally given in the original language with surtitles.

The Bebelplatz

The neighbouring square, with the Bebelplatz and the memorial to the 1933 book burning, is worth a visit before the performance.

Practical info

Tips

Book as soon as sales open: the best evenings go fast. Tickets bought are not refundable, and times or casts may change. The theatre box office, Unter den Linden 7, is open Monday to Friday from 12:00 and at weekends from 14:00, until one hour before the performance; it is closed from 13 July to 23 August 2026 and on 24 December 2026. By phone, the ticket service answers Monday to Friday 11:00-17:00 and at weekends 12:00-15:00 (October 2026 hours). Children under 6 are generally not recommended. No strict dress code, but smart clothes are the norm. For other venues, see our guide to concerts and shows in Berlin and the Philharmonie. Also read: Around the Brandenburg Gate.

How to get there

Unter den Linden 7, 10117 Berlin. U-Bahn U6 Französische Straße or U5 Museumsinsel (about 5 to 10 minutes' walk), S-Bahn Hackescher Markt or Friedrichstraße, buses 100 and 300 (stop Staatsoper Unter den Linden).