A unique multidisciplinary platform uniting worldwide cultures

Noteworthy for: You're greeted by Henry Moore's Butterfly sculpture before you've even reached the steps – an indication of the experience to come.

The iconic building with its stunning curved roof – illuminated by night and nicknamed 'the oyster' – attracts visitors in itself, but the incredible program of contemporary arts is always worth checking.

Born from the tumult of 1989, HKW was one of the first new cultural institutions to emerge, and takes its role as a platform for international cultural and societal exchange very seriously.

Both gallery and theatre, it hosts lectures, visual arts, music, film and performing arts, as well as festivals and forums in the 1000-seat auditorium. With a mission statement to connect with cultures from non-European societies, you could see anything from a Korean Film Festival to a talk on Germany's Muslims.