Syntagma & Plaka
This historical open-air cinema showed its first film in 1903. Set in the verdant Zappeion, it's a little quieter than others.
Must-see entertainment in Mediterranean Europe
Athens
The cinephile's outdoor cinema, running obscure international films (sometimes a tricky subtitle situation) and black-and-white favourites.
Syracuse
Syracuse's beloved puppet theatre hosts regular evening performances; see its website for a calendar.
Costa del Sol
A great venue for live music five nights a week, this popular club recently reopened in spacious brand-new digs in Torremolinos. It hosts regular jam…
Rome
A trip to Rome’s impressive Stadio Olimpico offers an unforgettable insight into Rome’s sporting heart. Throughout the football season (late August to May…
Chueca
El Junco has established itself on the Madrid nightlife scene by appealing as much to jazz aficionados as to clubbers. Its secret is high-quality live…
Venice
A separate entity to Palazzo Grassi, Teatrino Palazzo Grassi has a 225-seat auditorium that hosts a wide range of cultural events, from live concerts to…
Milan
This refurbished 'palace' cinema complex has an impressive technical spec with 2K and 4K projectors and an Atmos sound system throughout. In addition to…
Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppe Verdi
Milan
Housed in a former Lateran convent, Milan’s most prestigious musical conservatory and high school has nurtured some of the country’s best conductors and…
Vatican City, Borgo & Prati
Intimate, underground and hard to find – look for the discreet black door near the corner – Rome's most celebrated jazz club draws top Italian and…
Venice
This pretty 17th-century theatre was built over the ruins of Marco Polo's palazzo (mansion). It now shares a classical music, opera and ballet program…
Barcelona
The National Theatre of Catalonia hosts a wide range of performances, including dramas, comedies, musicals and dance in this ultra-neoclassical theatre…
Chueca
They keep it simple at Thundercat – it's rock, as classic as they can find it, with live gigs beginning after midnight and rolling on through the night…
Athens
Loud, raunchy, funny, just plain quirky: eclectic and popular bar Faust hosts it all on its small stage. Some events are free, others ticketed. The place…
Madrid
One of the better flamenco stages in town, Cardamomo draws more tourists than aficionados, but the flamenco is top-notch. The early show lasts just 50…
Parma
Offers a particularly rich program of music and opera, even by exacting Italian standards.
Barcelona
Bands from far and wide occasionally create scenes of near-hysteria at Razzmatazz, one of the city’s classic live-music and clubbing venues. Bands appear…
Cappadocia
The Saruhan's nightly 45-minute whirling dervish ceremony is the best one in Cappadocia. You must book ahead – most hotels and travel agencies in…
Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez' renowned Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art trains horses and riders. On 'thematic visits', you can watch them going through their paces in…
Bologna
Bologna's top jazz joint, the Bentivoglio is a jack of all trades: part wine bar (over 600 labels), part restaurant (eat elsewhere) and part jazz club …
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Designed by Catalan architect Óscar Tusquets, this spectacular auditorium is striking in its geometric modernity. Constructed partly of volcanic rock,…
Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti
Modena
It will come as no surprise that the birthplace of Pavarotti has a decent opera house. The Comunale opened in 1841 and has 900 seats and 112 boxes…
Athens
Greece's wise fool, Karagiozis, gave his name to the art of shadow puppetry (karagiozi), and they're on beautiful display in this tiny outdoor theatre…
Puerto de la Cruz
This sumptuous historical mansion, about 1.5km southeast of the town centre, hosts classical-music concerts on Sunday evenings and traditional Canarian…
Montserrat
The clear voices of one of Europe's oldest boys' choirs have echoed through the basilica since the 14th century. The choir performs briefly on most days …
Rhodes Town
This entertaining 20-minute movie takes viewers back to the very birth of Rhodes, its 3D effects complemented by a further six dimensions (!) including…
La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
A tiny chocolate box of dark tinted Modernisme, the ‘Umbrella’ has been serving up drinks since the 1960s. But downstairs in the moody basement, travel…
Valletta
In Guardia is a colourful, photogenic military pageant in 16th-century costume that includes a cannon-firing demonstration that'll clear the wax from your…
San Polo & Santa Croce
Pleasure palaces don't get more romantic than this little palazzo on concert nights, when exquisite harmonies tickle Sebastiano Ricci angels tumbling…
Madrid
Clamores is a one-time classic jazz cafe that has morphed into one of the most diverse live-music stages in Madrid. Jazz is still a staple, but flamenco,…
Florence
Be it hosting some of Italy's finest craft-beer brewers during January's annual beer-craft fair Birraio dell'Anno (www.birraiodellanno.it) or top Italian…
Athens
One of the best midsize music venues in Athens, this place is a little out of the centre, but worth the trip for a band you like (they host plenty of…
Málaga
There are many flamenco clubs springing up all over Andalucía, but few are as soul-stirring as Kelipe. Not only are the musicianship and dancing of the…
Monaco
Also known as the Salle Garnier, Monaco's opera house is an 1892 confection of neoclassical splendour adjoining Monte Carlo Casino, designed by Charles…
Madrid
The state-of-the-art new home of Atlético de Madrid – they moved in in late 2017 – seats 67,703 people and has already become a firm favourite among fans,…
Florence
Hotspot for live music, international DJs and alternative bands since the 1970s, Auditorium Flog is an essential weekend port of call for Florentine music…
Venice
Classical music fans shouldn't miss these unusual concerts staged in the pretty Anglican church of St George. Historic baroque musical scores rescued from…
La Latina & Lavapiés
El Despertar is all about jazz down to its roots. Everything about this place harks back to the 1920s, with a commitment to old-style jazz and decor to…
Agia Napa
Billed as 'Europe's biggest beach party', this weekly bash is one of Agia Napa's hugest draws for young hedonists and clubbers. Ticket-holders (prebooking…
