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Photo: JOEXX, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
ZKM is devoted to interactive and 'media art'. The museum is quite unique, and the exhibitions are world-class. The ZKM also hosts many cultural events, check their home page for the schedule. The same complex also hosts the Museum für Neue Kunst (Museum for New Art) and the city gallery.
The ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, a cultural institution, was founded in 1989 and, since 1997, is located in a former munitions factory in Karlsruhe, Germany. The ZKM organizes special exhibitions and thematic events, conducts research and produces works on the effects of media, digitization, and globalization, and offers public as well as individualized communications and educational programs.
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Zoologischer Stadtgarten Karlsruhe
The zoo is moderately large, and does have some special attractions. In the Zoo, there is an artificial mountain (the Lauterberg), and a memorial for the 49° N parallel. You can also ride small boats ("gondolettas") in the lake. A so-called water organ (music and fountains) plays every 30 minutes.
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe
Here can be found lots of interesting animals, also plants, geological exhibits (including an earthquake simulator), etc. Ideal to see with children.
Badischer Kunstverein
The second-oldest art association in Germany, founded in Karlsruhe in 1818. Its focus is on contemporary art exhibitions and events (for example lectures, movies, guided tours).
Art Hall of the State
This museum shows mainly classical paintings from the 16th century on. The main building is closed for renovation as of April 2024.
The biggest theatre and opera house in the city. Your ticket entitles you to use public transportation within the entire KVV to get to the theatre and back on the day of the performance (and until 03:00 the next day).
The emblem of the city. It marks the place where Karl Wilhelm was buried, and is somewhat unremarkable.