The Festspielhaus is one of the largest opera and concert halls in Europe — 2,500 seats — set inside the imposing facade of the old Baden-Baden railway terminus, converted in 1998. It has become one of the most respected music venues on the German circuit, hosting the Berlin Philharmonic, leading opera companies, and a calendar of festivals that runs almost year-round.
The acoustics are excellent and the programme is unusually adventurous for a town this size. Visiting orchestras include many of the world's great names; ticket prices range widely. Even if you are not attending a performance, the building's hybrid 1840s station / 1990s concert hall architecture is worth a look from the outside.