Often called the “world capital of techno,” Berghain reigns supreme among Berlin nightlife institutions, drawing devotees from far and wide who are eager to experience the world’s best—and most notoriously exclusive—club. Upstairs, the house-focused Panorama Bar is a destination in its own right, while the downstairs main room is where world-class DJs (Marcel Dettmann, Ben Klock) spin tunneling techno at parties that stretch days long. It’s not easy to get in, so have a backup plan.

This kitschy club, housed in an old apartment building in Friedrichshain, is one of Berlin’s more tourist-friendly options. With three distinct dance floors—for techno, house, and disco, respectively—and an airy beer garden surrounded by tall trees, it works for more spontaneous hangs. The interior is industrial and Alice in Wonderland-esque (a ceiling blanketed in disco balls, an indoor tree house), with lots of small rooms and hidden nooks that give it a labyrinthine, house-party feel.

Famous for open-air, festival-style parties that can test the endurance of even the most tenacious clubbers, this sprawling, remote spot in Lichtenberg is beloved by old-school Berliners. It feels, in some ways, like a dystopian amusement park with dance floors, a sandy beach, and a psychedelic, sculpture-filled garden littered with sofas, fire pits, and abandoned cars. Shows are a marathon, often lasting for several days, but you only need one pass to hang out all weekend long.

Compared to the moody, industrial ambience that defines many of Berlin’s most famous techno venues, Watergate is a breath of fresh air, offering a big terrace with a breezy view of the Spree. When the weather is chilly, floor-to-ceiling windows offer the same impressive views, as crowds bask in the LED-lit radiance of the dance floor. Expect sets of techno, electro, and house on a schedule that includes top-flight talent like Âme, Oliver Huntemann, Andhim, and Scuba.

Founded in 1991 in the vault of a former East Berlin department store, this iconic club started a new chapter after taking up residence in an abandoned power plant in 2007. The space—with towering ceilings, concrete pillars, and an immaculate sound system—is a magnet for techno fans from around the world who come to see electronic music’s finest in the booth. Recent bookings include Wata Igarashi, Helena Hauff, Function, and Octave One.

Arguably more friendly and low-key than Berlin’s biggest clubs, ://about blank is a gloriously gritty spot right next to the Ostkreuz train station. Two dance floors play a mix of techno, house, disco, and bass music (past headliners include Roman Flügel and Acid Pauli), and the recurrent Golosissima party is a fixture of the city’s queer nightlife scene. In the summer months, clubgoers flock to the sprawling garden, which becomes an open-air party all weekend long.

Ritter Butzke has the hallmarks of other Berlin techno institutions: It started as an illegal party, is located in a former factory, and draws top DJs from around the world. But the low cover, cheap drinks, and playful decor make the club an inviting option for those who are exploring Berlin’s storied nightlife for the first time, and the calendar often features more commercial headliners that international crowds are familiar with (Digitalism, Will Clarke, and Dom Dolla are a few).

A night at this Spree-side club is a trip through the looking glass; wandering its warren of hallways leads to room after room of playfully anarchic kitsch and heavyweight techno, house, and electro. DJs like Joyce Muniz, Timo Maas, and Marvin & Guy play alongside an impressive cast of local resident DJs. On warm nights, the action spills out onto the deck of a boat anchored on the river, and sometimes the party lasts for days.

Blurring the boundaries between a nightclub, a multimedia art space, and a creative workshop, Anomalie Art Club breaks the mold of Berlin’s storied techno venues. Tech-house often fills the site’s two floors, but the scene varies night by night; the schedule curated by the Stay Free Kollektiv is a provocative and exciting mix of art events, fashion, sports, installation, and live performances. They’ve hosted shows by Boston 168, Darin Epsilon, and Hans Bouffmyhre.

KitKatClub has seen more than its share of wild parties over the past 30 years; founded by an adult filmmaker, the club is known for its anything-goes policy about sexual activity and an “undress code” that suggests patrons strip down to as little as possible. Recurrent club nights—like the epic Electric Mondays—are beloved by locals, and trance and techno headliners include high-caliber acts like Mark Dekoda and Berlin’s own LOVRA.