Berlin Zoo and Aquarium

The Berlin Zoo and Aquarium is located at the western edge of the Tiergarten and houses the world’s most diverse collection of animals in unique and innovative exhibits. Admission to the Zoo and Aquarium in one day is €21 for adults and €10,50 for children ages 4-15. Show your GLS student card for discounted admission. If you have a full day and can move at a quick pace, it is possible to see both the Zoo and the Aquarium in one day, but if you truly want to enjoy the exhibits and observe the animals, I suggest taking two days and doing each attraction separately.

There are two entrances to Zoo Berlin: the Löwentor and the Elefantentor. Don’t get confused, these names reference the classic statues at their respective entrances and not the zoo animals exhibited by each. Ironically, the elephant exhibit is right inside the Löwentor! The ornate Asian-inspired elephant statues at the Elefantentor are worth taking a moment to appreciate, as it is one of the most iconic zoo entrances in the world. These elephants, carved of sandstone, support a redwood roof with gold ornaments and green tiles. While this entrance was rebuilt in the 1980s, it models the original entrance to Zoo Berlin which was destroyed during World War II.

The Elefantentor pays homage to two of Zoo Berlin’s two biggest attractions; the Asian Elephants and the Giant Pandas. As zoos worldwide become more concerned with animal welfare, finding elephants in an expansive, well-provisioned enclosure is a rarity. Visitors at Zoo Berlin can appreciate the magnitude and gentle nature of bull and cow elephants from a broad walkway that offers great sight lines into the exhibit. The Giant Panda exhibit is home to Berlin’s superstars Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, who--like all Giant Pandas in zoos worldwide--are on loan from the Chengdu Research Base in China. These fuzzy comedians entertain guests as they rollick through their beautiful enclosures eating zoo-grown bamboo, but they also serve as a symbol of the conservation mission and initiatives of Zoo Berlin.

In addition to these big-ticket attractions, Zoo Berlin is home to a huge diversity of animals spread across their winding grounds. It’s easy to feel like the zoo is much smaller than it actually is; paths twist through exhibits, offering places to watch the animals without being stuck in a crowd. The Hippo House offers great views of both Nile and Pygmy hippopotamus, and the World of Birds is a fun place to admire the colors and diversity of birds across all different continents. Pro tip: the cafe and bakery  in the World of Birds has delicious pastries and cappuccinos.

Zoo Berlin is also involved with zoo breeding and conservation efforts. These are coordinated efforts among zoos across the world to protect and conserve endangered species through high-quality science and zoo breeding programs. Zoo Berlin is involved with European Preservation Breeding Programs (EEPs) for many of their animal residents, and manages the stud books (the offical, global breeding records) for both species of African rhinoceros (White Rhinos and Black Rhinos) as well as the guar, an Asiatic species of wild cattle). These breeding programs are among our best tools to make sure that these species don’t become extinct, and supporting ethical, accredited participating zoos is a great way to contribute to saving the planet!

The Berlin Aquarium is worth spending several hours. The exhibits are divided across three floors. The first floor is fish from around the world, the second floor houses the reptiles, and the top floor has an amazing collection of amphibians and invertebrates. You can enter the Aquarium from the zoo side (follow the signs throughout the park ) or from Budapester Straß. The entrance from the street is narrow and accessibility is limited, but once you get through the door, you are transported to a celebration of life both under and above the water.

There are two prominent touch pools where children can pet large Japanese Koi or smaller goldfish. When petting these fish, make sure to look up! You can catch a glimpse of the turtles upstairs through the strategically placed underwater viewing windows. Tanks range in size and display, but the certain highlight of the fish exhibits is the alcove at the far end of the building where the Amazon tanks house giant Arapaima. This area has excellent benches for enjoying any snacks you bring and kids are able to get up-close-and-personal with the fish. There are two additional large tanks in this area that house a diversity of sharks, sting rays, and fish. Most of the signs have some English translations making it easy to learn about what you’re admiring, too!

Navigating the elevators can be tricky, so I suggest parking your stroller (if you have one) downstairs and taking the stairs to the second floor where you will be greeted by a large python exhibit. These amazing creatures are likely to be sleeping, but you’ll certainly see some action from the tortoises or lizards that are also housed on the second floor. Make sure to walk through the crocodile exhibit. This is the world’s oldest walk-through exhibit, and it is interesting to see these powerful creatures up close and personal. Also, take a moment to appreciate the irony that the first exhibit someone decided would be good for humans to walk through is that of a sleeping crocodile. Regardless, the lush and humid enclosure brings a bit of the tropics to even the coldest of Berlin days.

Upstairs from the reptiles, you’ll find the smallest exhibit by size, but certainly not lacking in interesting things to see. Anyone with paralyzing fears of bugs should focus on the diversity of frogs, newts, salamanders, and toads that can be found near the staircase. Those who can admire the unlikely appearance of a stick bug or become enraptured with the diligence of leaf-cutter ants will appreciate the thoughtful exhibits that highlight the weird and amazing diversity of invertebrates in our world.

If possible, visiting The Berlin Zoo and Aquarium is most enjoyable when you can beat the crowds. Weekdays during the cooler seasons are excellent opportunities to see the animals engaging in some of their more interesting behaviors. Like I mentioned previously, the winding nature of the Zoo paths gives visitors the feeling of being in a small space even when there are many other guests. The Aquarium fills up on weekends as well as during poor weather, but there is certainly enough space to see some interesting things if you’re limited to those times.