How to Get From Berlin to Tropical Islands +Tips for Your Visit
Germany is not the place you think of when you imagine a tropical resort, palm trees, and year-round balmy temperatures. But you can get all of that and more at Tropical Islands, an aqua park that’s only 60km (37 miles) from Berlin. In this blog post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know for visiting Tropical Islands on a day trip from Berlin, including how to get from Berlin to Tropical Islands, what to do there, and more.
There are so many great options for day trips from Berlin, but if you’re looking for something warm in the winter, or you want a fun day for your kids, Tropical Islands is a great choice. You can even stay overnight if you want a unique experience and a little more time there.
Where to stay in Berlin
Berlin has lots of great neighborhoods for you to stay in and explore. If you’re visiting Berlin for the first time, it might be best for you stay somewhere central.
Many of the attractions are in Mitte or easily connected to Mitte by Berlin’s public transport, so you should stay somewhere in that region. Here are a few hotels we recommend.
For a more detailed look at the different neighborhoods and our hotel recommendations, check out our guide to where to stay in Berlin.
Or read my full review of the 25Hours Hotel in Charlottenburg with fantastic views of the Zoo and Tiergarten.
Here’s how to get from Berlin to Tropical Islands plus info for your visitWhat is Tropical Islands?
Tropical Islands is Europe’s largest tropical resort. It’s located in a former Zeppelin hangar, and the temperature is controlled so the air is always approximately 26C/78.8F. This makes it quite pleasant even in the winter.
There’s also an outdoor section, called Amazonia, which features the longest whitewater channel in Germany, and a surf simulator, plus other pool and sunbathing areas. The outdoor section is open year round.
As you wander through the indoor section, you’ll see live palm trees and sandy beaches, giving you the feeling that you really are in another world. They’ve really gone all out to make you feel like you’ve been immersed into a tropical paradise.
You can even stay overnight at Tropical Islands. There are several different types of accommodation, which I’ll explain later in this post.
Tropical Islands Berlin is in a former Zeppelin hangarTropical Islands for kids
This resort is also a water park, so kids can enjoy water slides, including the world’s longest double racer water slide. There are several swimming areas too. The water temperature in the lagoon is 32C/89.6F, and it’s 28C/82.4F in the Sudsee area.
And there’s lots more for kids to enjoy, such as a ball pit, go karts, a climbing playground, remote control pirate ships, air hockey, an arcade, and more. There’s also a 22 hole miniature golf course and balloon rides.
Tropical Islands for adults
What about activities for adults? No worries, there’s lots to appreciate at Tropical Islands even if you don’t have kids.
Tropical Islands also has a large spa and sauna area. There’s a stone sauna and a wood sauna, a healing clay bath, a salt cave, a steam bath, and more. You can also book a variety of beauty treatments, such as exfoliating clay and masks.
The spa facilities also have several different types of massages to choose from. You can book a Thai massage, Hawaiian massage, hot stone massage, foot massage, and more.
We’ve also simply sat by the pool and enjoyed the warm temperatures while reading a book. Berlin winters can be really cold, so spending a day wearing shorts is a nice bit of pleasure.
When is the best time to visit Tropical Islands
Tropical Islands water park is open year round, so you can visit any time you want. Different times of the year have different advantages.
If it looks like this in Berlin, the warmth of Tropical Islands is very appealingWe like to go in the winter to get a little break from the cold weather. Since the air temperature inside Tropical Islands is kept around 26C/78.8F, it always feels really nice in there.
If you’re traveling with kids, they will probably appreciate being able to have fun at a water park even in the middle of winter.
Summer has its advantages too. Since Tropical Islands resort is a water park, this is prime time for splashing around in the pool, going down water slides, and in general, soaking up fun summer vibes.
Weekends are usually busier than weekdays, so if you can plan to come during the week, it’s likely to be less crowded. School holidays are another popular – and crowded – time to visit, though that might be harder to work around since families from four different German states could realistically go to Tropical Islands for a day trip.
How to get from Berlin to Tropical Islands
From Berlin to Tropical Islands is only 60km (37 miles) so it’s a reasonable distance for a day trip. Here’s how to get to Tropical Islands from Berlin.
Driving
If you are driving to Tropical Islands, take the A13 and take the Staakow exit, then follow the signs for another 3km. Need a rental car? Get a quote here.
By train
You can easily get from Berlin to Tropical Islands by train. The most important thing to keep in mind is that Tropical Islands is NOT located in any of the Berlin transport zones. It is outside of zone C, so a normal Berlin transport ticket will NOT work. And trust me, the ticket checkers on the train love to come by and check right after you cross the line.
Using the train to get to Tropical Islands from Berlin is easy and inexpensiveTo get to Tropical Islands from Berlin, you will need a ticket to Brand Tropical Islands. That is the name of the train station where you will get out.
Usually you can take either RE2 or RE7 from several stations in Berlin (Zoo, Central Station, Friedrichstrasse, Alexanderplatz, Ostkreuz, among others) all the way to Brand Tropical Islands. From Berlin Hbf to Brand is about 55 minutes.
However, sometimes there is rail maintenance or other reasons why the RE2 and RE7 don’t start in the middle the city. You should always check the Deutsche Bahn site or app, or either of the Berlin transport apps (BVG or VBB). Enter your starting point and destination and the date, and you will get the route that you need for that day.
Once you get off the train at Brand Tropical Islands, there is a free shuttle bus that takes you to the water park. The bus schedule is linked to the train schedule, so you shouldn’t have to wait long.
Catch the free shuttle bus from the Brand train station to Tropical IslandsTickets for solo travelers
If you are going to Tropical Islands by yourself, there is a VBB ticket that costs 9.50 euros one way. For your starting point, put in wherever you’re starting in the city. That way the ticket will be valid from where you’re staying all the way to Brand Tropical Islands.
There’s another ticket called Tageskarte Gesamtnetz, which is a day ticket for the either VBB network (Berlin and Brandenburg). It costs 25 euros, and you can use it starting at 9am Monday through Friday, or all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. So you could use this ticket to get to and from Tropical Islands, plus transport in Berlin for the rest of the day until 3am.
Tickets for 2 or more people
If there are at least two people, the better option is to buy a Brandenburg Berlin ticket. This ticket costs 33 euros and covers up to 5 people. All adults must be listed on the ticket, and your group can’t change.
Here’s an example of a Brandenburg-Berlin ticketYou can also have up to three children aged 6-14 with an accompanying adult at no extra charge, and they don’t count against the 5 person limit, so they don’t need to be named on the ticket. Children under age 6 are completely free anyway.
So if your group consists of 5 adults and 3 kids aged 6-14, you can all ride on one Brandenburg Berlin ticket for 33 euros. This lets you travel on regional trains (trains starting with RE and RB) and all public transport within the region. You cannot use ICE, IC, or EC trains.
The Brandenburg Berlin ticket is valid from 9am on weekdays, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Read more about how the Brandenburg Berlin ticket can save you money, or buy a ticket here.
Staying overnight at Tropical Islands
Even though Tropical Islands is easy to reach from Berlin, it can be a fun experience to stay overnight. You can stay right inside the dome in rooms or tents. Tropical Islands offers hotel rooms with all the amenities (and air conditioning), or for a more adventurous experience, sleep in a tent. With either option, there are several different types to choose from.
Tropical Islands resort also has lodging options just outside the dome. There are camping options, holiday homes, and spots for RV travelers.
Check out the Tropical Islands rooms and tents here or the Tropical Islands Campingplatz here.
Important info for visiting Tropical Islands Berlin
Here’s more information about tickets, hours, towel rentals, and more for your visit to Tropical Islands.
Visit Tropical Islands Berlin and pretend you’re in the tropics for a dayTropical Islands tickets
There are several different options for Tropical Islands tickets: adult, children, weekdays, weekends/holidays, etc. It’s also slightly cheaper if you book your ticket online as opposed to buying at the ticket office in person.
Sometimes there are specials or family tickets, so be sure to check the site for more info. I’m only listing the online prices here, but you’ll pay 1-2 euros extra if you wait to buy the tickets on location.
Weekday ticket prices:
Adult, Tropics (without sauna): 47.90 euros
Children ages 4-11, Tropics (without sauna): 37.90 euros
Adult, Tropics + sauna: 57.90 euros
Children ages 4-11, Tropics + sauna: 43.90 euros
Children ages 0-3: Free
Weekends and holidays ticket prices:
Note: This includes any public holiday in Berlin or Brandenburg or Saxony.
Adult, Tropics (without sauna): 49.90 euros
Children ages 4-11, Tropics (without sauna): 38.90 euros
Adult, Tropics + sauna: 59.90 euros
Children ages 4-11, Tropics + sauna: 44.90 euros
Children ages 0-3: Free
Tropical Islands opening hours
For normal day guests, opening hours are 8:00am to 11:30pm. If you’re staying overnight, Tropical Islands is open 24 hours, although certain attractions might have limited operating hours.
Tropical Islands is open 365 days a year. Yes, you can even visit on Christmas Day if you want to.
What to wear
As I mentioned before, Tropical Islands regulates the air temperature, so it’s comfortably warm inside. I recommend wearing summer clothing, and especially a bathing suit for enjoying the pools and other water activities. If you’re coming in the winter or any other time when it’s not shorts weather, pack clothes to change into once you arrive.
A good portion of the roof of the dome is clear and lets in up to 80% of the suns rays. If you’re visiting Tropical Islands during the summer or at any other warm and sunny time of year, you should use sunscreen to prevent getting sunburned.
The sauna and spa area is textile free, meaning clothing and bathing suits are not allowed. It’s acceptable to walk around in a bathrobe or with a towel wrapped around yourself.
>>Read: What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List
Why yes, the rain forest area of Tropical Islands does have real flamingosWhere to keep your stuff
Since you probably want to change out of your normal clothes and into a bathing suit to enjoy the water park, there are lockers and changing rooms where you can store your things.
Can you rent towels or bathrobes?
Tropical Islands can rent you a towel or bathrobe for a fee and a deposit.
Towels: 3.50 euros for the fee, plus 30 euros for the deposit
Bathrobes: 5 euros for the fee, plus 60 euros for the deposit
Food at Tropical Islands
You’re not allowed to bring in your own food or drinks, except for baby food or in the case of allergies. But Tropical Islands has a wide variety of food choices. From sit down restaurants to the buffet, Asian cuisines, German cuisine, meat lovers or vegetarians, ice cream or cocktails, you’ll find just about anything to eat or drink here.
Book a tour for your trip to Berlin
Berlin Travel Resources
I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide to Tropical Islands and how to get from Berlin to Tropical Islands is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!
- 101 Best Things to do in Berlin
- 23 Impressive Castles in Berlin (And Nearby)
- 27 Best World War II & Cold War Sights in Berlin
- 29 Fun Day Trips From Berlin
- 75 Things to Know Before Visiting Berlin: Essential Berlin Travel Tips
- What to Wear & What to Pack for Berlin, Germany: Your Ultimate Berlin Packing List
- How to Get Around in Berlin: An Easy Guide to Berlin Public Transportation
Book a local photographer
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Ali is originally from the US, but she’s been living in Germany since 2011. In 2015, she and her husband moved to Berlin where they now live with their small dog. They even bought an apartment in Berlin in 2021 – Berlin is definitely home now! Ali’s goal is to show you everything you need to know for enjoying a trip to Berlin.
