Visit the zoo in Berlin
The Berlin Zoo is one of the oldest and most beautiful zoos in the world. A perfect destination for an excursion, with or without children. Comfortable travel to the Berlin Zoo by train starts from € 38 one-way.
The train will take you directly from Amsterdam Central Station to Berlin Spandau in about 6 hours. From here, it is just an 8-minute journey on a local train to the zoo's entrance. Below, you will find information about the opening hours, admission prices and why the Zoologischer Garten Berlin is so unique.
The Berlin zoo: Zoologischer Garten Berlin
The Berlin Zoo, the Zoologischer Garten Berlin, is the oldest and, according to many, the most beautiful zoo in Germany. Here, you can discover more than 20,000 animals of an unprecedented number of different species.
No other zoo in the world has so many different animal species. The zoo opened in 1844 as the ninth zoo in Europe. Much of the zoo was destroyed in the Second World War and then rebuilt to its present form.
Even on rainy days, a visit to the zoo is worth your while. In the large, covered aquarium, you will find more than 1,000 animal species that live under water. Want to see even more animals after visiting the zoo? In East Berlin lies affiliated Tierpark zoo, which is smaller and less frequented.
Opening hours Zoologischer Garten Berlin
Berlin Zoo is open all year round. The opening hours of the Berlin Zoo vary throughout the year:
1 January to 21 February | 09.00 - 16.30 hrs |
22 February to 28 March | 09.00 - 18.00 hrs |
29 March to 26 September | 09.00 - 18.30 hrs |
27 September to 31 October | 09.00 - 18.00 hrs |
1 November to 31 December | 09.00 - 16.30 hrs |
For the most current opening hours, please visit the zoo's website. Admittance is closed an hour before closing time. Opening hours may vary on public holidays. We recommend you arrive early to have enough time to see the many animal species.
Prices & admission Zoologischer Garten Berlin
The entrance fees to the zoo are relatively low compared to those of Dutch zoos. Tip: book your tickets online in advance to make sure you can get in (quickly) when you want.
Admission for children under 4 is free. There is a discount for school children, students and disabled people aged 16 and over. Visitors with a Berlin WelcomeCard also receive a nice discount.
Spending the night in Berlin
Would you like to have plenty of time to enjoy your visit to the zoo? Then it's advisable to stay the night in Berlin. You can do that with the Train & Hotel package. In that case, you will be spending the night near a train station, so that you will not have to walk far with your luggage. Of course, you can also book a hotel at Booking.com.
Other activities in Berlin
Combine your zoo adventure with a visit to other Berlin highlights. For example, go shopping at the Kurfürstendamm or other shopping streets in Berlin. Or visit Berlin museums such as the new Humboldt Forum or the German Historical Museum.
In between, enjoy the atmosphere and culinary delights on one of the many terraces. Visit a flea market on Sunday or take a walk in a city park.
View more travel tips for visiting Berlin
Take the train to the zoo in Berlin
Do you want to start your visit to the zoo well-rested? Then take the Intercity Berlin for a relaxing journey. In 5.52 hours, you can travel from Amsterdam Central Station to Berlin Hauptbahnhof. The last station before Berlin Hbf is Berlin Spandau.
From here, a local train will take you to Berlin Zoologischer Station in eight minutes, where you can directly enter the zoo. This comfortable and direct way of travelling makes it easy to take your children with you on the train.
You can book a train to Berlin from as little as € 38. From Amsterdam and Amersfoort, you will travel directly to Berlin. Do you want to start your journey in Rotterdam, Schiphol, Utrecht or Arnhem? Then you have to change trains on the way. You can find more details about the best trip in our booking system.
Visit the zoo in Berlin
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