How to Visit Berlin Peacock Island on a Day Trip

If you’re looking for a day trip from Berlin that’s filled with whimsy in a beautiful natural setting, Peacock Island is for you. This island, called Pfaueninsel in German, is located on the edge of Berlin but feels like a world away. In this article, I’ll tell you how to get to Pfaueninsel, what you can do and see on Peacock Island Berlin, and more.

And in case you were wondering, yes, there are actual peacocks roaming around the island. It’s just one of the reasons visiting Berlin’s Peacock Island is such a fun day trip.

Why you should visit Berlin Peacock Island

Berlin is an amazing city to explore, but sometimes the grime and grit can be a bit much. It’s those times when it’s great to escape into nature for a little while.

And luckily Berlin is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes that are easy to reach. There are lots of good options for day trips from Berlin, and a day trip to Peacock Island is an easy choice if you’re looking for a contrast to the city.

Pfaueninsel is a quiet island only accessible by ferry. Cars are not allowed (except for a few official vehicles) so it’s great for some leisurely walks.

The Peacock Island Palace was built here in the late 1700s for King Frederick William II and his mistress Wilhelmine Encke. It’s been called a pleasure palace, and was meant to be a romantic setting.

This fairy tale palace is a highlight of the island, and one of several castles in Berlin you should see. It’s actually part of the UNESCO Site entitled Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin, one of Berlin’s 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Note: The castle on Peacock Island is currently under construction until late 2023/early 2024, and it’s covered in tarps and scaffolding so you can’t even see the outside. The island is pretty, but if you’re main reason for visiting is the castle, I’d skip it until the renovations are completed.

The design of the island was inspired by islands in the South Pacific, including exotic trees and other plants. You’ll also see a few peacocks roaming freely on the island, hence the name Peacock Island.

Later Queen Luise and King Frederick Willhelm III changed the island to have more of a mock farming theme with a dairy.

As you explore on foot, you’ll see a few other buildings, though more interesting are the pretty fountains, a memorial temple for Queen Luise, and an aviary with a variety of gorgeous birds.

This is definitely a day trip for relaxing. Spend a few hours wandering along the footpaths, admiring the landscapes, and watching the peacocks, buffalo, sheep, and other animals.

How to get to Pfaueninsel

Peacock Island is located in the southwest corner of Berlin, technically still within city limits. It’s pretty easy to reach, but you will have to take several forms of transportation.

Assuming you’ve timed your route so you don’t have to wait too long for the bus, it should take about 50 minutes to get from Alexanderplatz to the Pfaueninsel bus stop. From there, it depends on how long you have to wait for the ferry.

Leave yourself at least an hour to get from central Berlin to Peacock Island. Below I have details on exactly how to get to Pfaueninsel.

Step 1: Sbahn

From central Berlin, take the S1 or S7 to the Wannsee station. The S1 is more direct and will get you there a little faster, so that’s the better line to get, unless where you’re staying makes the S7 more convenient.

You want the S1 going towards Potsdam, and the Wannsee station is a few stations ahead of Potsdam. But if you do take the S7, it ends at the Wannsee station.

Step 2: Bus 218

At the Wannsee station, exit the station and go to the opposite side of the street to catch the bus 218 going towards Pfaueninsel. It’s not a frequent bus, so it’s usually not even listed on the electronic sign, but you should see a timetable with the 218 bus route on it to let you know you’re in the right place.

The last stop on the 218 bus in this direction is Pfaueninsel, so you can’t miss it.

A word about the bus schedule: Bus 218 is a historical route, and sometimes you’ll even see the old historical bus itself. But it doesn’t run all that often outside of summer, sometimes as infrequent as once an hour in the offseason.

Always check the route timing on the BVG or VBB app, or on bvg.de/en/ to avoid waiting for a long time for the bus.

Step 3: Ferry

Get out and walk over to the ferry. Here you’ll be able to buy a ticket for the ferry for 4 euros round trip per person.

The ferry takes about a minute to a minute and a half to get across the water to the island. The schedule is sort of connected to the bus, but not exactly. Don’t worry, it runs often enough, you won’t ever have to wait too long.

Pfaueninsel ticket info

Peacock Island is in Berlin transport zone B, so you only need an AB ticket to get here, plus the 4 euro ferry ticket. The ferry ticket is also your entrance ticket onto the island.

Tickets can only be purchased online ahead of time or at the machines (credit/debit card only) at the ferry terminal. The person operating the ferry cannot sell you tickets.

Things to do on Peacock Island

Here’s what to do on a day trip to Peacock Island from Berlin. You’ll find enough things to do on Peacock Island to enjoy yourself without ever feeling rushed.

Admire the Pfaueninsel Palace

The Pfaueninsel Palace is a fairy tale castle built in a romantic ruin style. It’s made out of wood, though you might not guess it due to its design and white color.

Once you get off the ferry, the castle is just a few minutes away in the southern part of the island. It’s a great first stop as you begin exploring Peacock Island.

As previously mentioned, the palace is currently closed due to restoration work, and you can’t even see the outside of it. The island is still worth visiting, but if your main goal is to see the palace, wait until after it reopens.

See the peacocks

When King Frederick William II had the island designed based on islands from the South Pacific, peacocks were brought in to live there. Descendants of those birds still live in Pfaueninsel today, and it’s highly likely you’ll see at least one or two while you walk around.

Check out more birds at the aviary

Aside from the free roaming peacocks you’ll encounter on Pfaueninsel, there’s a lovely bird enclosure on the island. You’ll see more peacocks here, but also several other types of birds, and they’re quite interesting.

Watch animals roam

Come for the peacocks, but don’t forget to check out the sheep and the buffaloes. They’re not roaming as free as the peacocks, but they have quite a lot of territory behind their fences.

See historical buildings

Besides the castle on Peacock Island, there are several other historical buildings to see. They add to the charm of Pfaueninsel.

The Kavaliershaus (Cavalier House) is lovely, though it’s closed to the public. Beelitzer Jagdschirm is a former hunting hut, and you’ll also see a horse stable and a dairy building.

Check out the Queen Luise temple

On the northern end of Peacock Island, near where you’ll also see lots of buffaloes, there’s a temple with Greek-looking columns. It was built to honor the memory of Queen Luise, and even though it seemed a bit odd, it’s still pretty.

Have a picnic

Roughly in the middle of the island, you’ll wander out from the trees and into a big open field. This is the perfect place for a picnic lunch if you’ve packed something to eat for your day trip to Peacock Island.

Eat at the cafe/beer garden

Didn’t bring any food? No worries! In that same field as mentioned above, there’s a cafe/beer garden where you can get so food and a drink.

They have sausages, potato salad, and several other typical German foods on offer. You can also get cake if you’re not interested in a full meal, and they had beer and other beverages.

Go for an easy hike

One of the best things to do on Peacock Island is hiking. But this is not hardcore hiking by any means.

Peacock Island has footpaths all over, and it’s flat, so you simply have to walk and enjoy the scenery. Whether you’re among the trees, in open fields, or hugging the coast, wandering around on Pfaueninsel is a breath of fresh air, quite literally.

FAQs about visiting Berlin Peacock Island

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you plan your trip to Pfaueninsel in Berlin.

How long do you need to visit Peacock Island?

My friend and I spent about 3 hours on Peacock Island, including stopping for some food. That felt like plenty of time to see all the sights and enjoy wandering through several trails through the trees and along the water.

You should plan on around 3 or maybe 4 hours on Pfaueninsel, plus transport time.

What are the opening hours of Peacock Island?

The opening hours vary by season and are based on when the ferry runs. The website currently lists opening hours as 10am to 6pm.

When is the best time to visit Peacock Island?

Since visiting Pfaueninsel mostly depends on the bus and ferry schedules, summer is the best time to go. This is when the bus is most frequent.

However, springtime is also good, even if the bus runs a little less often. There’s a rose garden on the island, and you’ll see lots of other spring flowers.

Autumn is also lovely since there are so many trees. I really enjoyed walking around the island with all the fall colors.

>>Read: When is the Best Time to Visit Berlin?

Are there bathrooms on Pfaueninsel?

This is a protected area, so no one wants you going to the bathroom behind a tree. Luckily there are bathrooms near the cafe in the middle of the island.

Can you stay overnight on Peacock Island?

No, there is no overnight lodging for visitors on Peacock Island. Camping is not allowed either.

Are dogs allowed on Peacock Island?

Sadly no, dogs are not allowed on the island. Since this is a protected flora and fauna habitat area, you can’t bring your pet with you.

Are bicycles allowed on Pfaueninsel?

Nope, bikes are not allowed either. If you cycle to the ferry, you will have to lock up your bike before getting onto the ferry.

How much does it cost to go to Peacock Island?

The ferry ticket costs 4 euros round trip per person, and it’s also your entry ticket onto the island. You will also need a Berlin transport ticket covering zone B in order to get to the ferry, unless you are walking, cycling, or driving.

What to do near Peacock Island

If you spend a few hours on Pfaueninsel, you can either go back into the city to see more of Berlin’s top sights, or you can explore this region a bit more. Here are a few things to do near Pfaueninsel.

Restaurants near Peacock Island

Peacock Island does have a small cafe where you can get enough food for a hearty meal. But if your timing didn’t work out quite right to eat there and you want something before heading back into the city, you do have one option.

Across the street from the ferry terminal and not far from the bus stop is Wirtshaus zur Pfaueninsel. This restaurant serves standard German food and beer. Stop here for lunch or even a just quick beer while waiting for the bus.

Glienicke Bridge

Glienicke Bridge is also nicknamed the Spy Bridge. It sits on the border between Berlin and Potsdam, and during the Cold War, it was on the border between East Germany and West Berlin.

This wasn’t a common crossing point, but in 1962, the bridge was used for the exchange of a KGB agent for an American pilot. This was the basis for the movie Bridge of Spies starring Tom Hanks.

To get here from Pfaueninsel, take the 218 bus back towards Wannsee, but get out at Pfaueninselchaussee/Königstr. From there, take the 316 bus towards Potsdam and get out at the Glienicke Lake stop.

Check out more Cold War attractions in Berlin.

Berliner Mauerweg

The Berliner Mauerweg, or Berlin Wall Trail, is a hiking and cycling trail that follows where the Berlin Wall once stood. It’s roughly 160km (100 miles) long and basically circles West Berlin.

The road the 218 bus takes from the Wannsee station to Pfaueninsel is on the Mauerweg, and you can see trail markers as you walk from the bus to the ferry. If you want, you could continue walking past the ferry terminal and eventually end up by the Glienicke Bridge.

Walking from the Pfaueninsel ferry to Glienicke Bridge is 3.5km (2.2 miles) and should take 45 minutes to an hour 15 minutes depending on how fast you walk. Take the 316 bus back to the Wannsee station to get the Sbahn back to central Berlin.

Schloss Glienicke

Not far from the Glienicke Bridge is the Glienicke Palace, which is also part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin UNESCO World Heritage Site. Use the same directions as getting to the bridge, but get out earlier at the Schloss Glienicke stop.

House of the Wannsee Conference

This luxury villa was the location of the infamous Wannsee Conference in 1942. Nazi government officials met here to discuss the so-called “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”.

Today this location serves as a museum documenting this awful meeting and how they put their plan into action. It’s also a Holocaust memorial where you can learn about the genocide of the Jewish population.

This is an worthwhile place to visit if you’re interested in Berlin’s World War II history.

To get there, take the 218 bus from Pfaueninsel and get out at Am Kleinen Wannsee. Switch to the 114 bus going towards Heckeshorn and get out at Haus der Wannsee-Konferenz.

Grunewald Tower

If you’re looking for more nature, the Grunewald Forest can’t be beat. The Grunewald Tower is a gorgeous brick tower in the forest that you can climb for fantastic views of Berlin, including the forest, the Havel River, and beyond.

The tower is connected to a restaurant and beer garden, which is also where you pay the small fee to climb it. Across the street from the tower is one of many hiking trails in the forest.

The Grunewaldturm is on the historic 218 bus route, so you can hop on the bus at Pfaueninsel, and about 25 minutes later, get out at the Grunewaldturm stop.

Read my full guide to visiting the Grunewald Tower for more info.

Platform 17 Memorial

The Grunewald station was used by the Nazis in the early 1940s to transport Jews to concentration camps. Today there’s a memorial at the station at platform number 17, and no trains run from this platform anymore.

The S7 goes to the Grunewald Station, so you can hop out here on your way back to central Berlin and see the memorial. Then catch whichever S7 comes next.

Potsdam

If you’re really ambitious, you could technically combine Pfaueninsel with a day trip to Potsdam, which is one of the most popular day trips from Berlin. You’ll probably only have half a day left, but that’s enough time to see Sanssouci Palace and a few others.

You also might be better off visiting a few palaces in Potsdam first since you can go earlier. Then you can have lunch in Potsdam and hop on a train to Wannsee to get over to Peacock Island.

To get to Potsdam from Peacock Island, take the 218 bus back to the Wannsee station, and then switch to either the S7 or the RE1 regional train. The RE1 is a tiny bit faster but runs less frequently, so get whichever one is coming next.

If you’re planning on visiting Potsdam while you’re in Berlin, be sure to read my full guide to what to do on a day trip to Potsdam from Berlin and how to get to Potsdam from Berlin.

Berlin Travel Resources

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