Can we see the penguins without attending a feeding?

Yes. Their enclosure has views from above and an underwater window, so there is something to watch between sessions too. A feeding is a useful anchor for your day rather than the only reason to stop.

Is this a good choice for a rainy day?

Expect a mainly outdoor visit. Choose a shorter circuit and take a meal break if needed. Confirm Urwaldhaus access directly before making it the centre of a wet-weather plan.

Are there useful ticket concessions for families?

The family day ticket covers two adults and up to four children. Children aged 0–3 are free, and visitors of any age get free entry on their birthday with proof such as an ID or birth certificate. Check the current tariff before travelling.

Illustration

ZooBrandenburg, Germany

Zoo Eberswalde

Visit Zoo Eberswalde for animal watching from unusual angles: through glass among the lions, above the wolves and beneath the surface of the penguin pool.

Official website

About

Visit Zoo Eberswalde for animal watching from unusual angles: through glass among the lions, above the wolves and beneath the surface of the penguin pool. The 15-hectare site sits in mixed woodland, so the day feels like a forest walk punctuated by animal encounters and playground stops. Start by looking at the zoo map and choosing a few must-sees; trying to collect every enclosure can crowd out the best moments.

The lion exhibit is the signature stop. A tunnel leads into a glazed viewing chamber within the enclosure, giving you a protected, close-up perspective if a lion comes past. Elsewhere, common marmosets and ring-tailed lemurs range freely through parts of the zoo. Keep watching the branches as well as the enclosures, but let the animals choose their distance. They remain zoo animals and should never be lured over with food.

This is also a place to connect animals with bigger questions. Around the Amur tiger exhibit, an Ice Age-themed landscape, climate trail and playground introduce environmental ideas in a way children can explore between animal stops. The zoo participates in European conservation breeding programmes; use the interpretation boards to talk about why keeping a species in a zoo and protecting its habitat in the wild both matter. Explore the grounds like a pro—download the Snappit app to instantly identify animals and plants.

The woodland outing came before the zoo. In 1795, David Schickler created landscaped waterfall grounds here, with bridges and a grotto. A small wildlife park developed beside the restaurant in the late 1920s under Bruno Schulz. After destruction in 1945, his son Günter took on planning for the revived animal park in 1957. Later changes shaped the experience visitors recognise today: common marmosets began roaming freely in 1992, and natural-looking enclosures increasingly used stone and timber. That history helps explain why paths, trees and changing viewpoints are such a large part of a visit.

What to do here

Build your visit around a penguin feeding, then leave the rest flexible. Humboldt penguins can be watched from above the pool and through an underwater window: ask children to compare how the same bird moves on land and in water. Keeper feedings happen daily; check the day's times when you arrive. Small-clawed otter feedings are offered from May to September.

Make time for the 200 m Baumwipfelpfad, starting by the Brauner Bär restaurant's viewing tower and passing over the wolf and fallow-deer enclosures. Pause at more than one viewing position rather than expecting animals to be directly beneath you. The elevated walkway gives the woodland zoo a different scale, while the walk-through deer and kangaroo areas offer a ground-level change of pace. Follow the signs and give resting animals space.

Alternate those quieter stops with proper play time. The adventure playgrounds include treehouses, crawl-through tubes and a suspension bridge; the giant hillside slide is for children aged seven and over. Younger visitors can spend time with the donkeys, goats and ponies in the petting area. Follow the instructions there, and keep snacks packed away around animals.

Seasonal info

Spring through early autumn gives you more room for an outdoor day, with the seasonal otter feedings adding another possible stop. Handcart hire runs from April to October. In winter, bring warm layers and plan around the shorter daylight window. For wet weather, waterproofs and a shorter circuit are the practical choice. Check with the zoo whether the Urwaldhaus is accessible during renovation before relying on it as an indoor stop.

Accessibility

Outdoor routes use paving and concrete blocks, with ramps and slopes across the grounds. Step-free routes to the animal enclosures are available, and the zoo describes the 200 m treetop path as barrier-free. Some other areas have steps, so ask at the entrance for a route that suits your wheelchair or pushchair rather than following every shortcut. Accessible toilets, designated parking and free wheelchair loans are available. Call +49 3334 22733 beforehand if you need a loan chair or specific access arrangements; discuss the gradients as well as step-free access.

Plan your visit

Suggested duration: The official map suggests 1–1.5 hours for its green circuit and 2–3 hours for the purple circuit. Choose the shorter option for a brief animal-focused visit; for a relaxed family outing with feeding, food and play stops, allow roughly 3–5 hours. The 200 m treetop walkway is one part of the visit. Decide which animals matter most before setting off, and leave time to return to a favourite enclosure.
Best time to visit: Arrive in the morning if you want a feeding, a longer circuit and playground time without watching the clock. The zoo opens daily from 09:00, including public holidays, and closes at dusk. Check the official opening-hours page for the day's last admission, especially in autumn and winter; a late ticket purchase leaves little time for a relaxed visit.
Location: Brandenburg, Germany
Species in this guide: 8

Best for

Families Combining Animal Watching And Adventurous PlayVisitors Interested In Unusual Enclosure ViewpointsA Woodland Half Day Outing From Eberswalde Or Berlin

Official website

Don't miss

The lion tunnel and glass viewing chamber, with the enclosure around you.

A 200 m treetop walkway above wolves and fallow deer.

Humboldt penguins seen through the underwater window and at keeper feedings.

Amur tigers beside the Ice Age-themed climate trail and playground.

Walks and routes

Green zoo-map circuit

Purple zoo-map circuit

Baumwipfelpfad treetop walkway

Wildlife and habitats

Watch from the glazed chamber or the public viewing edge. A quiet pause gives you time to notice how a lion rests or moves; never tap on the glass.

Look across the tiger enclosure from the public viewpoints, then explore the neighbouring climate trail. A resting tiger is still worth watching; there is no need to provoke a response.

Scan nearby branches as you follow the visitor paths. Keep food out of sight and let these small primates pass without approaching, touching or trying to attract them.

Look for the ringed tail in the zoo woodland and at the map’s lemur stops. Stay on the path and give the animals room even when they come close.

Use the treetop walkway for a view into the enclosure, then try another public viewing angle. Look carefully before moving on; woodland cover can make an animal easy to miss.

Compare the overhead view with the walk-through area if it is open. Keep a calm distance and watch from the visitor route rather than following a deer that moves away.

The map places servals in the same numbered area as lions and Chinese leopards. Read the enclosure sign carefully and give the smaller cat its own unhurried observation stop.

Find the enclosure using the Wisent label in map area 18. This is a useful quieter stop for watching how a large grazing animal uses its space.

Sources and useful links

Wildlife you might spot

Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.

African Lion

Tiger

Gray Wolf

Fallow Deer

Serval

European Bison

Snap map for this place

Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.

Loading map…

Good to know before you go

Head to Am Wasserfall 1, 16225 Eberswalde. Free car parking is available at the zoo; follow the local zoo signs on the approach.

Coming by train, change at Eberswalde Hauptbahnhof to bus 865 from the nearby bus station and get off at Zoo. Check the current journey planner for both your outward and return trips.

Buy admission at the zoo ticket office; there is no online ticket reservation. Compare the family ticket if you have two adults and children with you. Children aged 0–3 enter free.

For a handcart, ask at the ticket desk on arrival between April and October. Carts cannot be reserved, and a hire charge plus deposit applies; bring cash or an acceptable pledge for the deposit.

Leave balance bikes, scooters, tricycles and similar ride-on toys at home. Children under 12 must visit with an adult.

Do not feed animals with your own food. Use zoo feed dispensers only where permitted, stay on visitor paths and respect every barrier. Private photos are allowed without flash.

Dogs may come free of charge on a short lead. Follow the no-dog signs within the zoo and plan to take turns wherever an area excludes them.

For a meal break, there is a zoo restaurant and the Zoobaude by the Urwaldhaus. Baby-changing facilities and bottle warming are available through the catering service; larger groups should arrange meals in advance.

Frequently asked questions

: Yes. Their enclosure has views from above and an underwater window, so there is something to watch between sessions too. A feeding is a useful anchor for your day rather than the only reason to stop.
: Expect a mainly outdoor visit. Choose a shorter circuit and take a meal break if needed. Confirm Urwaldhaus access directly before making it the centre of a wet-weather plan.
: The family day ticket covers two adults and up to four children. Children aged 0–3 are free, and visitors of any age get free entry on their birthday with proof such as an ID or birth certificate. Check the current tariff before travelling.