Zoo Berlin and Aquarium

Zoo Berlin is the oldest zoo in Germany, opened in 1844, and one of the most species-rich anywhere. It sits in the southwest corner of the Tiergarten, right beside Zoologischer Garten station in City West, so it is easy to reach from anywhere in the city and makes a natural family day in a part of Berlin that many visitors otherwise skip. The grounds are leafy and full of character, with historic animal houses and the famous Elephant Gate on Budapester Strasse, an ornate gateway with stone elephants and a pagoda-style roof that has become one of the city's best-known photo stops. The star attractions for most visitors are the giant pandas. Meng Meng and Jiao Qing came to Berlin from China in 2017, and the zoo's breeding success made headlines: twins born in 2019 later returned to China, and a second pair of twins, Leni and Lotti, was born in August 2024 and celebrated their second birthday at the zoo in 2026. Beyond the pandas there are big cats, great apes, hippos in a glass-walled pool where you can watch them underwater, polar bears, elephants, and a huge range of birds and smaller animals. Just inside the Elephant Gate is the Aquarium, a separate attraction with its own ticket or a combined ticket, which spreads across three floors: fish and marine life on the ground floor, reptiles, amphibians and the crocodile hall above, and an insectarium on the top floor. The combination makes a good day out in any weather, since the Aquarium is indoors. Online tickets are considerably cheaper than buying at the gate, and children under four go free.

How to plan your visit: buy tickets online, as the official site sells them well below the gate price and you skip the queue. Decide in advance whether to add the Aquarium; the combined ticket must be used on the same day, and combined tickets are sold only until mid-afternoon. Opening hours follow the seasons, with earlier closing in winter, so check the official opening-hours page for your date, and arrive in the morning to see the animals at their most active. Dogs are not allowed, and children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult. Allow at least half a day for the zoo, and an extra hour or two for the Aquarium.

Getting the most from it: head for the pandas early, before the crowds build around their enclosure, then do a loop of the grounds using the zoo map to find the feeding times that interest you; some feedings can be booked in advance and sell out. The underwater window at the hippo house is a favourite with children. If the weather turns, switch to the Aquarium, which is completely indoors and best for younger children. There are several restaurants and kiosks in the grounds, and the Tiergarten next door is perfect for a picnic or a walk afterwards.

Who it suits and what to pair it with: families above all, for whom it is the obvious full-day plan in Berlin, and couples or first-timers who enjoy zoos and want a break from museums and history. Pair the zoo with the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the shops of the Kurfuerstendamm across the road, the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, whose rooms and bar look straight over the zoo grounds, and a walk through the Tiergarten towards the Victory Column.