Sight guide · Kansas City · United States
Visiting Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Moshe Safdie's 2011 concert complex is made of two stainless-steel-clad shells facing a glass atrium with views south over the city.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rex Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an architectural landmark in Downtown, Kansas City. Allow 1 hour or a performance; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Architecture
- Area
- Downtown
- Time needed
- 1 hour or a performance
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- architecture, art, after dark and couples
- Best months
- March–April and November
About Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Moshe Safdie's 2011 concert complex is made of two stainless-steel-clad shells facing a glass atrium with views south over the city. It is home to the Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera and Kansas City Ballet, and Helzberg Hall's pipe organ is a centrepiece.
Tip: Even without a show ticket, look out for free public tours and free events; the glass lobby view is best at dusk.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour or a performance.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Downtown.
Best time to visit Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- March: 13°C (55°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- November: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- April: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Kansas City has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Kansas City itinerary visits Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on day 3, together with Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Arabia Steamboat Museum and City Market.
- No. 10 of the 17 sights in our Kansas City things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
Near Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Also in Downtown, so you can walk between them:
- Power & Light District — an evening, low cost
If you like Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art — Country Club Plaza, 2–3 hours
- American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room — 18th & Vine Jazz District, 1–2 hours, plus a show
- Union Station and Science City — Crown Center, 1 hour; 3 hours with Science City
- Country Club Plaza — Country Club Plaza, 1–2 hours
Staying near Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Where to stay in Kansas City compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts?
Plan 1 hour or a performance. With Power & Light District nearby, it fits a half-day in Downtown.
+Is Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts?
March–April and November, the quietest of the good months. Even without a show ticket, look out for free public tours and free events; the glass lobby view is best at dusk.
+Do I need to book Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.