Zoo/Aquarium

Berlin Zoological Garden

Berlin's zoo, founded in 1844, is open every day of the year and sits right by the S-Bahn and U-Bahn at Zoologischer Garten, with a petting zoo for the youngest.

Typical visit
Full day
Ages
Booking
Ticket required
Opening hours
Open daily from 9:00; closing time varies by season between 16:30 (winter) and 18:30 (30 March to 20 September).
Last entry
17:00 from 23 February to 25 October, 15:30 the rest of the year.
Supervision
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Handcarts and bikes
Handcarts are allowed, as are balance bikes and scooters for children up to age 5.
Indoor closing
Animal houses and restaurants close 30 minutes before the zoo.
Getting there
S-Bahn and U-Bahn Zoologischer Garten (S3, S5, S7, S9, U2, U9) or U-Bahn Kurfürstendamm (U1, U9).
Parking
No zoo car park; a few paid spaces at Hardenbergplatz by the Löwentor entrance and several garages nearby.

Zoo Berlin was founded in 1844 and is a listed cultural heritage monument in the city. It is open 365 days a year, and the opening hours shift with the season, longest in summer and shortest in midwinter.

The trade-off is the indoor part of the day. All animal houses and the restaurants close before the zoo itself does, so a family arriving in the afternoon should do the houses first and leave the outdoor enclosures for the end.

Tickets bought online are dynamically priced and cheaper the earlier you book, while the ticket-booth price is fixed and higher. Toddlers go free but still need their own free online ticket, so book one for each of them along with the rest of the family. Younger children must stay with an adult at all times.

Small legs are catered for: handcarts are allowed, as are balance bikes and scooters for the youngest, and there is a petting zoo. Several accessible public restrooms are spread around the grounds, and manual wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge by reserving by e-mail. Dogs are not allowed in, apart from certified assistance dogs.

The zoo has no car park of its own, and public transport is the easy way in.

Family FAQ

How much does Berlin Zoological Garden cost?

Children under 4 go free, but each needs a free online ticket booked in advance.

What are the opening hours of Berlin Zoological Garden?

Open daily from 9:00; closing time varies by season between 16:30 (winter) and 18:30 (30 March to 20 September).

Is there parking at Berlin Zoological Garden?

No zoo car park; a few paid spaces at Hardenbergplatz by the Löwentor entrance and several garages nearby.

Why kids will love it

A big-city zoo you can reach straight off the train, open every day, with a petting zoo, room for handcarts and balance bikes, and free entry for toddlers.

Tips & tricks

Arrive at opening (9am in summer) to see animals active before midday heat sends them into shade. Buy combined zoo + aquarium tickets online to skip the ticket-office queue. The Elefantentor (Elephant Gate) on Budapester Straße is the more dramatic entrance for photos; the Lion Gate at Hardenbergplatz is closer to Zoologischer Garten station.

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