Guide to Visiting Tiergarten Park in Berlin

Berlin is often seen as a gritty, dirty city. But the city actually has tons of green space, and it really can be a pretty city to explore. Visiting Tiergarten Park in Berlin is a wonderful way to experience a slice of nature within the urban setting.

Loved by both locals and visitors, this huge sprawling park can be compared to Central Park in New York City. Tiergarten is right in the middle of Berlin, and you can almost forget you’re in Germany’s capital city while you’re there.

In this post, I’ll tell you every thing you need to know for visiting Tiergarten park in Berlin, including what to do and see, how to get there, and what’s nearby.

History and Facts about Tiergarten

The name Tiergarten means animal garden or animal park. This leafy park was once a private royal hunting ground dating back to 1527.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the park was designed with French influences. But in the early 19th century, the English style gardens were more popular. This is more of what you see today when you’re visiting Tiergarten park.

Tiergarten is located just west of Brandenburg Gate. For centuries, it was actually located outside the city limits.

The southwestern section of the park was developed into the Berlin Zoological Garten, which opened in 1844. It’s the oldest zoo in Germany.

During World War II, the park suffered damages from bombings. It also became a place for getting necessities, such as firewood and vegetables. After WWII, Tiergarten ended up in West Berlin.

Today the park is a much loved place of leisure. Of course there are open lawns and sections of dense trees, but there’s a lot more to see in Tiergarten.

Throughout the park, there are statues honoring various well known German figures from history, such as Goethe, Karl Liebknecht, and Richard Wagner.

You’ll also find several memorials honoring different groups of victims of the Holocaust, including homosexuals, Roma and Sinti. One of the largest Soviet war memorials is also located in the park.

At the center of the park, where a few major roads intersect, you can see the Victory Column. Not only is it an impressive landmark, but it offers some pretty spectacular views of Berlin once you climb its 285 stairs.

Tiergarten boasts several wonderful Berlin beer gardens, restaurants, and cafes.

Check out more fun facts about Berlin.

Name confusion

As I mentioned before, Tiergarten translates to animal garden or animal park. But the name can get quite confusing, especially for visitors.

Tierpark is the zoo in East Berlin. The more well known Berlin Zoological Garden is located in the West, but can also be confusing since it is, in fact, a Tierpark.

Also, Tiergarten is the name of a district in Berlin. It’s a section of the large Mitte district.

How to visit Tiergarten

Due to its location, Tiergarten is really easy to visit. You’re probably already going to see other Berlin landmarks such as Brandenburger Tor, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Reichstag Building, so adding nearby Tiergarten is simple.

The most popular part of the park is the eastern side since it is so close to these other attractions. This is also where you’ll find the Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism, the Memorial to Sinti and Roma Persecuted Under Nazism, a plaque commemorating Ronald Reagan’s “tear down this Wall” speech, and several other statues.

If you’re only in Berlin for a day or you’re short on time, you could easily take a quick detour from Brandenburg Gate to see a little of the park in this section.

But if you’re spending more time in Berlin, especially if it’s a nice day, I highly recommend going farther into the park to see some of the quieter sections. There are pathways all throughout Tiergarten that make it easy to go for a walk and enjoy being in nature.

If you’re in Berlin on a budget, pack a lunch and have a picnic in the park. You’ll find plenty of open grass in the southeast corner of the park.

Are you visiting Berlin in autumn? Tiergarten is also a great place to see fall foliage, whether you’re looking from the ground level or from the top of the Victory Column.

Another great option is to go to a beer garden in Tiergarten. Cafe am Neuen See and Schleusenkrug are great options with tasty German food, several beer choices, and each has a wonderful atmosphere.

The park has a few ponds and streams running through it, which make for some pleasant scenery. But you can also rent a boat on Neuen See (New Lake) from Cafe am Neuen See and enjoy the park from the water.

The Victory Column is located roughly in the center of Tiergarten Park, and climbing to the viewing platform will give you fantastic views over the park. It’s a great way to get a sense of just how big the park is, and it’s a fun inexpensive activity in Berlin.

What to wear on your visit

Wear comfortable shoes if you plan on walking around a lot in Tiergarten. For picnicking and lounging in the grass, comfortable clothing is a must, and you should of course dress for the weather at the time of year you’re visiting Berlin.

>>Read: What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List

Subscribe to the Berlin Travel Tips Newsletter

Sign up for tips to help you plan the best trip to Berlin, and get a free printable Berlin packing checklist.

First Name

Email

Subscribe

Success! Please check your inbox and spam folder for a confirmation email. You will need to confirm to subscribe to the newsletter.

Subscribe to the Berlin Travel Tips Newsletter

Sign up for tips to help you plan the best trip to Berlin, and get a free printable Berlin packing checklist.

First Name

Email

Subscribe

Success! Please check your inbox and spam folder for a confirmation email. You will need to confirm to subscribe to the newsletter.

How to get to Tiergarten Park

There are many ways to get to Tiergarten depending on which part of the park you want to see. If you’re coming from Brandenburg Gate or the Holocaust Memorial, simply walk across the street (Ebertstrasse) and you’ll be in the park.

To combine the park with other top sights in Berlin, there are several transport stations located around the edges of the park.

Public transport stations near Tiergarten Park

S&U Brandenburger Tor on the east side of the park: This is perfect if you’re coming from Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden.

S&U Potsdamer Platz to the southeast: If you’re doing some shopping near Potsdamer Platz or going to one of the nearby museums, you can walk north from this station.

S&U Zoologischer Garten to the west: For visiting the Berlin Zoo or doing some shopping in Charlottenburg, this is the closest station to the park.

S Tiergarten to the west: There aren’t a ton of tourist attractions near this station, but it’s a good station to use if you want to get to a quieter section of the park.

U Hansaplatz to the northwest: This is probably the least useful station near the park, but if you’re on the U9 it might work for you.

S Bellevue to the north: Again, not a super useful station for getting to Tiergarten, but if you choose this one, you can walk south from the station, detour a bit to pass by Schloss Bellevue, and then a little while later you’ll reach the Victory Column.

U Bundesplatz to the northeast: This station is close to the Reichstag Building, so you can take the U5 here and see the Reichstag before walking south into the park.

Also, the bus 100 has several stops along the northern edge of the park, and the bus 200 has several stops along the southern edge.

Join our Facebook group!

Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

Join our Facebook group!

Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

Things to know before you go

Before you visit Tiergarten, here are a few more pieces of advice to help you enjoy one of Berlin’s favorite parks.

How much does it cost to visit Tiergarten

There is no entrance fee to visit the park, making it a great free activity in Berlin.

Things like eating and drinking at a beer garden, renting a boat, or climbing Victory Column will come with a cost. So it all depends on what you want to do at the park.

Tiergarten opening hours

Since Tiergarten is a public park, you can visit any time of the day, 365 days a year. However, I recommend visiting during daylight hours.

How much time do you need at Tiergarten

The sky’s the limit here really. If you’re short on time, you could spend just a few minutes checking out the very eastern side of the park across the street from Brandenburg Gate.

But you could also go for a one hour walk or spend an hour having a picnic. Or you could spend all day here lounging in the grass, walking the trains, having some beers at a beer garden, or whatever else interests you.

Things to do near Tiergarten

If you’re interested in spending more time in this area, there are lots of other things to do near Tiergarten park.

Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate, or Brandenburger Tor in German, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Germany, and it’s just east of Tiergarten. It was one of the old city gates marking the edge of Berlin, though today it’s very much in the center of the city.

When the Berlin Wall stood, Brandenburg Gate was on the East but only barely. The Wall was built around it, making it inaccessible by residents of either side.

This is a great place for pictures, and I’m betting it’s already on your Berlin bucket list.

Reichstag Building

Opened in 1894, the Reichstag Building is a unique building where the German parliament meets. It’s on located to the northeast of the park.

You can take a free tour of parts of the building, mainly in the glass dome, where you can learn more about the history of Germany. This building also has a rooftop terrace and restaurant with panoramic views of Berlin.

Tours into the glass dome are free, but advanced booking is required.

Holocaust Memorial

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, often referred to as the Holocaust Memorial, honors the large number of Jewish people who were killed by the Nazis. It’s one of the most important World War II sites in Berlin.

The memorial consists of 2,711 concrete blocks of varying heights, and the ground they sit on is an uneven slope similar to a wave. The information center showcases letters, diaries, photographs, and biographies of the victims to help personalize the experience.

The memorial is across the street from the southeastern corner of Tiergarten park and a few minutes south of Brandenburg Gate. Entrance is free. Photography is allowed (no flash inside) but please be respectful.

Do not sit on or climb on the cement slabs or take selfies. This is a place to reflect and remember those who were murdered.

Victory Column

Berlin’s Victory Column, or Siegessäule in German, is one of the more recognizable monuments in the city. It sits at a roundabout in the middle of Tiergarten Park, and it was initially built as a monument to Prussia’s victory in the Franco-German war.

The column stands at 67 meters (about 220 feet) high and has an observation deck you can reach by paying a small entrance fee. After climbing the 285 stairs, the tower provides excellent views of the surrounding park and the city of Berlin.

Berlin Zoologischer Garten

The Berlin Zoo is actually part of Tiergarten, located in the southwestern corner of the park. There are two zoos in Berlin, and this is the more famous one.

This zoo has one of the highest numbers of species in the world, and there’s an aquarium. For animal lovers and those of you traveling with kids, the Berlin Zoo is a fun attraction.

Bellevue Palace

Bellevue Palace sits on the Spree River on the edge of Tiergarten park, a little north of the Victory Column. It was built as a summer residence to Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia.

Despite being destroyed in World War II, it has since been restored. It’s not open to the public since it’s the official residence of the German President (note: the President is NOT the Chancellor) but it’s worth admiring from the outside.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide to visiting Tiergarten Park in Berlin is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!