Things to do in Erlangen

27 activities, venues and outings in Erlangen, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Bergkirchweih
Berch
Begun in 1755, this festival is held every Pentecost (Whitsuntide - seven weeks after Easter) for 12 days every year. The first day is always the Thursday before the Pentecost weekend. Similar to Oktoberfest, but more German owing to the absence of tourists. The festival draws crowds around the 1 million mark, so hotels might get crowded and overpriced during this time of the year. At 23:00 the main action stops and the party crowd goes on to the various discos and bars that keep going until 05:00.
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Blockhelden
bouldering hall
A bouldering hall in Dechsendorf, a somewhat outlying suburb.
All days to 23:00 Mon and Wed from 11:00; other days from 09:00 holidays 09:00-23:00regular €9.90, reduced €8.90, under 13 €6.90, €2 discount on regular and reduced M-F before 15:00
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E-Werk Kulturzentrum
Cultural centre showing great concerts (from famous to hardly known), which also hosts a cinema, festivals and a variety of other program, such as for example poetry slams. Basically, if it can be put under the broad umbrella of "culture" and there is a conceivable interest for such a thing in a student town, the E-Werk has it at least occasionally. They also run a "help yourself" bike repair shop Tu-Sa late in the afternoon, which comes in handy if your bike does things that flabbergast you but you don't want to spend outrageous sums to have it fixed or want to learn how to do it yourself. The offerings of the cinema are also interesting in that they often show lesser known international movies (often with the original audio and subtitles) and have a very reasonable general admission of €8.
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Erlanger Waldweihnacht
During the opening there is also an open air ice rink on the other half of the square (Marktplatz).
Mon-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun 11:00- (starting end November and running until Christmas)
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Heinrich Lades Halle
Named after a former mayor (governed 1959-1972) upon his death in 1990, this late 1960s early 1970s building might not look like much (though its interior design is certainly more inspired than that of some other buildings of the era), but it hosts numerous large scale events from discussions about pressing issues for the city to the main events of the Comic Salon. It's also the biggest concert venue in town. During the Covid - 19 pandemic it was chosen as the venue to hold socially distanced city council meetings.
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Markgrafentheater
One of the 3 stages of the Stadttheater, which is the oldest Baroque theatre in Southern Germany - built in 1719. It is worth visiting, even if you don't understand German at all. Some plays and performances are held in the other locations. Given Germany's propensity to subsidise "high culture", tickets are very affordable indeed.
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Röthelheimbad
The indoor part of this pool is called "Hannah Stockbauer Halle", named after the swimming great who used to train here for her Olympic medals and other successes.
Summer season: daily 08:00-20:00Regular day ticket €4 during summer season
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Westbad
formerly known as "Freibad West"
This institution has had an indoor section since 2017 when the indoor pool at Frankenhof was closed and this was built as a replacement. Parking lots for cars can get somewhat scarce on sunny days, so arrive by bike or bus if possible.
Summer season Mon Tue Thu Fri 06:30-20:00, Wed Sat 10:00-20:00, Sun 08:00-20:00Regular day ticket €4 during summer season
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Wöhrmühlinsel
An island in the river Regnitz which was redesigned as an event space in time for the summer of 2020. It hosts all manner of open air events during the summer season.
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ZAM
A place to get to know doers, explore and make. This place blends arts, crafts and high tech, and is something between a makerspace and project space. There are different groups who meet at different times to do all sorts of tinkering - whether it be repairing electric appliances or testing the scale model of the next world changing invention. The Friday evening date given in the opening hours is the "open door" where everybody can come and join without any membership, entrance fee or pre-registration required. Other regular events are open to the general public to various extents, too. Check the website for details. Given the nature of the place, you're almost guaranteed to find one or several people fluent in English and/or other foreign languages, so the language barrier shouldn't be an issue. The name is a hard to translate pun of sorts - "zam" is a frequent Franconian shortening of "zusammen" (~ together) but it is also supposed to stand as an acronym for "Zentrum für ausprobieren und mitmachen“ - centre for trying out and joining in.
open for everyone regularly Fri evening from 18:00; events and groups have their own timesfree. Some events may charge for materiel or to pay an instructor. Donations welcomed
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Gemeinnütziger Theater- und Konzertverein Erlangen e.V. (gVe)
Local non-profit union that organises theater shows and classical concerts all year round.
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International Comic Salon Erlangen
Held every two years in even years in mid-June. The next is scheduled for 16-19 June 2022. The paradise of comics fans. It is one of the largest in the German language area and artists of some renown in Germany come to sign comics or read from their work. There are also a few works in other languages than German available and the Comic Salon also draws artists from abroad. The smaller artists who have yet to make their name may be of particular interest as they have time to talk with prospective buyers about their work. Many artists also offer to draw upon request or sell original artwork or prints. Cosplaying visitors (or even exhibitors) are also a common sight.
Regular day ticket in 2018 was €9; four-day ticket €24
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Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften
A bi-yearly big happening regarding the sciences, usually held on one night in the second half of October in years with an odd number. The Long Night of Sciences is thus usually held in years that the Comic Salon is not held. While events are spread throughout Nuremberg, Erlangen and Fürth, there are special shuttle buses included in the ticket price to get you to all places. It is highly recommended to make a plan which events to attend as there are by far more interesting things to see, do, hear or try out than can be done in a single night. Having a backup plan handy in case something disappoints or isn't possible for one reason or another is also handy. Both the website and printed guides give and extensive rundown on what is available.
€12, €8 for concessions every full ticket allows up to two children under age 12 accompanied by the adult
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Studiobühne Erlangen e.V.
Student theatre association with roughly ten productions being staged every year.
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Tag des offenen Denkmals
Usually held in late summer, this day offers the possibility to see many historic monuments, even some which are usually not open; which sites participate changes (see link), Erlangen usually takes part in the nationwide happening with a lot of offerings.
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Golf Club Erlangen
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Historical Christmas Market
Neustädter Kirchplatz
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Weihnachtsmarkt Altstädter Kirchplatz
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For one month before Christmas, Mon-Fri 10:00-21:00, Sat 10:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-22:00, Dec 24 until 14:00
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Arena Festival
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Classical music by the lake
Held every summer. At Dechsendorfer Weiher (see under ).
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International Figure Theater Festival
Held every year (usually second half of May).
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International Jazz Workshop Erlangen
Held yearly around end of March/beginning of April.
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Jazzband-Ball
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Poetry Festival
Held every year (late August).
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Sound of Erlangen
Regional newcomer music festival.
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Summer Nights Film Festival
Open air cinema, yearly in August.
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Theaterverein Fifty-Fifty e.V.
Cabaret, theatre and music stage.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Erlangen (CC BY-SA 4.0).