Kiel’s cultural menu is defined mostly by small festivals and medium to smaller-sized venues. The big Schleswig-Holstein Festival of Music during July and August with the jazz festival JazzBaltica in late June comprises concerts in many locations across Schleswig-Holstein, and Kiel always hosts several events. Below, some venues in and around Kiel are listed as examples. Your fellow students are probably a more comprehensive source of information.

Arthouse cinema

Pumpe screens non-mainstream movies, often in their undubbed version

Mainstream and arthouse movies at Traum GmbH

Cabaret, theatre, music and literature

Author readings, music and more: Pumpe

Cabaret, music and literature: Hansa 48

Music and other events at Räucherei

Theatre: Die Komödianten

Music, cabaret and literature: Kulturforum

Drama, ballet, opera: Bühnen der Stadt Kiel

Museums in and around Kiel

Art Gallery Kiel

Modern Art gallery Kiel

Museum of the City of Kiel Warleberger Hof

Zoological Museum

Maritime Museum Schleswig-Holstein

Open-air museum Schleswig-Holstein

Viking museum Haitabu

The State Museums of Schleswig-Holstein: Schloss Gottorf

Jewish Museum Rendsburg

A. Paul Weber-Museum in Ratzeburg

More museums in Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg

The oceans and the universe

Media Dome of Kiel Polytechnic

Kiel Aquarium - seals, tropical and temperate-water fish 

Kiel University has a variety of events to offer as well, check the listing in Veranstaltungskalender for something that might interest you.

Cafés, cinemas, bars, pubs and discoteques can be easily found all over the city. Most events in and around Kiel are listed in the monthly editions of city magazines like Ultimo or Kiel-Magazin. A day out in Lübeck or Hamburg offers you lots of culture as well.