Come to Tierpark Berlin for a full day of animals and parkland, with room to slow down between encounters.
Come to Tierpark Berlin for a full day of animals and parkland, with room to slow down between encounters. Its 160 hectares surround Schloss Friedrichsfelde in eastern Berlin. Start by choosing two or three priorities on the visitor map: the giraffes and elephants, the Rainforest House, or the uphill Himalaya world. Trying to tick off every enclosure is a quick way to wear out small legs. This is Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, a separate destination from Zoologischer Garten Berlin in the west of the city.
The African Savannah is a good first focus. Its raised, 120 m Giraffe Trail brings you closer to giraffe head height and includes an 8 m suspension bridge. Pause to watch a Rothschild’s giraffe use its tongue to pull leaves from a branch, then look across the mixed savannah landscape. African elephants returned in June 2026 after the rebuilding of their home; their Elephant Embassy area pairs naturally with time at the neighbouring giraffes.
The change of scene is part of the pleasure. The Rainforest House occupies the historic Alfred Brehm building, with Sumatran tigers, sun bears and a planted tropical hall. Farther into the park, Himalaya turns the walk into a climb past red pandas and snow leopards. Leave time for the palace gardens as well: the older estate still gives this zoo much of its character.
There is local nature here, too. Wild green toads breed within the Tierpark grounds, which provide ponds and places to shelter on land. They are different from the animals in the zoo collection, and a daytime visit is no promise of seeing one. Keep that quiet conservation story in mind without searching pond edges or leaving visitor paths. Enhance your adventure: download the Snappit app to identify the local species you encounter.
Tierpark Berlin opened in 1955 under its founding director Heinrich Dathe. Divided Berlin already had its established zoo in the western sectors, so East Berlin developed a separate animal park in the grounds of Friedrichsfelde’s historic estate. The palace itself dates back to 1685 and reopened after restoration in 1981. The Alfred Brehm building, opened in 1963, is another surviving chapter of the park’s history; its 2020 transformation into the Rainforest House shows how those older buildings continue to change.
For a manageable first visit, follow the current map from Bärenschaufenster towards the Rainforest House, continue to the elephants and giraffes, then decide whether everyone has enough energy for Himalaya. If the climb would take the fun out of the afternoon, give the savannah more time and choose a playground stop instead.
Turn animal watching into a little comparison game. How does an elephant pick something up, and how does a giraffe reach its food? In the Rainforest House, choose one of the six discovery stations and explore how everyday products connect with rainforest conservation. On Himalaya, ask children to find a feature that helps an animal cope with cold or climbing.
Check the day’s feeding and talk programme before setting off. Picking one session gives your day an anchor without sending you back and forth across the grounds. Younger children may prefer the petting zoo by Kiekemal Waldbühne; let the animals approach, and respect their private retreat. In warm weather, the nearby seaside-themed water playground can easily become the day’s main event.
The Tierpark opens throughout the year, with shorter winter hours. Animal houses and restaurants close 30 minutes before the park. Treat outdoor shows and water play as seasonal extras and check the day’s programme. Check access before planning on the pheasantry or the affected domestic-animal areas: the Tierpark announced their closure from 1 February 2026. The petting zoo was excluded. Check current restrictions before travel.
Both entrances are accessible, and much of the path network is step-free. The Giraffe Trail and Savannah have wide, step-free access. Himalaya is also step-free, but gradients reach 10%, and a companion is recommended. The Rainforest House’s tropical-hall paths are not fully accessible; accessible viewing of the bear and tiger enclosures is via the outdoor areas. The petting zoo has uneven ground and an entrance about 80 cm wide. The palace interior is reached only by stairs. Accessible toilets and benches are available, and a limited number of manual wheelchairs can be reserved free of charge with a deposit. Choose areas to suit your group rather than assuming every experience has the same access.
A raised viewing path brings a different perspective on the African Savannah.
Spend an unhurried stop watching the African elephants in their renewed home.
Red pandas and snow leopards make the uphill walk an animal-adaptation lesson.
Tropical planting, big cats and hands-on discovery inside the Alfred Brehm building.
An official raised viewing trail within the Savannah, including an 8 m suspension bridge. The 120 m length is for this attraction alone, not your walk through the park.
The park lists the Giraffe Trail and Savannah as step-free. Follow the current on-site access signs.
Allow roughly 3–4 hours. Choose the Rainforest House and the elephants/Savannah as your two main areas, with one play or food break. Use Bärenschaufenster if collecting a cart, and allow time to return it.
Allow roughly 5–7 hours. Add Himalaya while your group still feels energetic, then slow down around the palace gardens or a playground. If the slopes are unsuitable, keep to your chosen step-free areas instead; there is no need to cover the entire grounds.
Watch how a trunk explores, grasps and carries. If an elephant flaps its ears, there is a practical reason: the blood vessels in those large ears help it lose heat. Give the group time rather than expecting constant action.
Look for a tongue curling around browse, then follow the long neck down to the widely spaced legs. The raised trail changes your viewing angle, but where a giraffe chooses to stand will decide your photograph.
Scan the branches as well as the ground. A resting red panda is doing something entirely normal: eating bamboo and resting occupy much of its day. If one is feeding, notice how it holds the food with its paws.
Pause at the snow-leopard viewing area and look carefully before moving on. A good view of the thick tail is a lesson in cold-weather survival: the cat can wrap it around itself while resting.
The tigers here are Sumatran tigers. Watch how their stripes break up the outline of the body against vegetation and shade. Keep your camera ready, but let a hidden or sleeping animal stay undisturbed.
The sun bear is the smallest living bear species and an accomplished climber. Look upwards as well as at ground level when checking its enclosure. Its long claws help it grip while climbing.
Take a slow look at the crocodilian habitat rather than expecting movement. False gharials have an ingenious nesting trick: decomposing vegetation over the eggs releases warmth. A still animal can be a good prompt for that conversation.
This is a wild resident, with no guaranteed visitor sighting. Its presence makes the park’s ponds and nearby land important together. If you happen to notice an amphibian from a visitor path, watch without touching or following it.
Each card links to a full Explore page with photos, traits, and fun facts.
Start with the big picture, then zoom in to explore individual wildlife observations around this place.
Arrive at the right gate
U5 station Tierpark serves Bärenschaufenster. Trams M17, 27 and 37 also serve the park; check your connection with BVG.
Tickets first
Online tickets cost less than gate tickets. Use Bärenschaufenster for staffed ticket sales. Book the required free ticket for children under four too.
Carry a map
Save the current official plan before arriving. Mark your exit and a toilet stop before committing to another distant animal area.
Help for tired legs
Reserve a handcart ahead if needed. Collection and return are at Bärenschaufenster; bring photo ID for the deposit.
Pack for water play
A towel and spare clothes are useful if the fountains are operating. Keep a dry change for the journey home.
Leave animals a choice
Wait quietly when an animal is resting or out of sight. A few patient minutes can be more rewarding than rushing to the next enclosure.
Mar 3, 2026
Mar 3, 2026
Mar 1, 2026
Feb 26, 2026
Feb 26, 2026
North Carolina, US
You might spot American Robin and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
View guide →
Florida, US
You might spot Anhinga, American Alligator, and Wood Duck.
View guide →
New Mexico, US
You might spot Wood Duck, Duck, and Canada Goose.
View guide →
Michigan, US
You might spot African Lion, Komodo Dragon, and Brown Bear.
View guide →
Take the discovery with you
Identify the wildlife you spot, learn as you go, and keep a collection of the adventure.
