Berlin's Botanic Garden has a lot going for it: it is one of the oldest and largest botanic gardens in the world, with a collection of 22,000 species and an area of 43 hectares. It is also home to Europe's only botanical museum. But that's not for kids — they're more interested in the birds of prey and the living rocks.
The Greenhouse Complex consists of 16 houses open to the public, offering a journey through tropical and subtropical vegetation. These living collections, together with the preserved collections, form the basis for the continued expansion of scientific study of the plant kingdom, with the aim of deepening the knowledge necessary for the use and protection of plant diversity on Earth.
The Main Tropical Greenhouse (Great Pavilion), an architectural masterpiece in the Art Nouveau style, has been faithfully restored to its original state.
There are many surprises to be found in the vast grounds. The Tropical Orangery is particularly impressive when it's cold: it's always +30°C and colourful butterflies flutter about in the lush greenery. Live cactus-like pebbles can be seen here. Ferns, vines, bamboo and other plants grow in the greenhouses. In the medicinal herb beds, children can see what the marshmallow and liquorice that make up that nasty (or nice) cough mixture taste like. And in the Fragrance Garden, spicy herbs grow — coriander, rosemary and many others.
The Berlin Botanic Garden also has plants that prefer boggy soils and grow in water. And there are plants that are used to stony soil — the Alpine Garden reproduces parts of the Alps, the Caucasus and the Carpathians.
And who used to live in the empty pond? This is the question asked by visitors who look at the floor covered with dry leaves, not noticing the moss growing around the edges. It's a veritable garden of mosses now, and it's easy to climb down into the former pool to have a closer look at these tiny plants. The Botanical Museum is also an interesting place to visit with children. Here you can see fossils with imprints of ancient ferns, rare plants, flowers that can only be admired once in many years, and learn more about the world of flora.
Many people admire the Botanic Garden's rose garden, but the staff say that the garden has no off-season — something is in bloom at any time of the year. The frost-resistant cacti, for example, stick out from under the snow, and the Amur daisy blooms in yellow as early as February.
Legoland Discovery Center is located just 9 km from the Botanical Gardens. Take your children there too.
Guided Tours through the Garden
Explore the Botanic Garden in Berlin with the experienced guides (botanists). You can choose to visit particular highlights or points of interest. Special themes can also be arranged. Please let us know the type of tour you are interested in when you make your reservation.
Tours are available in English and German. We recommend booking well in advance.
Booking and information:
Phone: +49 30 838 50-100
E-mail: [email protected]
Regulations
- Children under the age of ten must be accompanied by an adult.
- The following are not permitted in the Botanic Gardens: animals (except registered assistance dogs), bicycles, sledges, rollerblades, skateboards and scooters, and dangerous or inconvenient objects. (Bicycles can be left in the bicycle racks near the entrances; the Botanic Garden is not responsible for bicycles left in the racks).
- Sporting activities are not permitted in the Botanical Gardens.
- Visitors are not permitted to bring large bags, noisy objects or bouquets of flowers into the gardens or museum.
- Visitors are permitted to take photographs for personal use only.
