Leisure Pursuits In Berlin:
BIOSPHERE POTSDAM:
The youngest park in Potsdam, which opened in 2001, is the Volkspark, and one of its most interesting attractions is the tropical garden “Biosphere”. This is a corner of the jungle in the middle of Europe, where every child can feel like Indiana Jones.
The territory of the “Biosphere” is a huge greenhouse, in which conditions are created as close as possible to the natural tropics – humidity, heat, soil, lighting. A special microclimate has been created here: lush thickets, imitation of active geysers, waterfalls, mangrove swamps and even tropical rainfalls, which occur on a special schedule. In this small paradise, guests can see about 20,000 plants from the tropics, as well as 350 species of animals. The “Biosphere” has become home to various reptiles, insects, animals and even fish living in warm waters. Animals that are not dangerous to humans (parrots, butterflies) are found everywhere, but poisonous inhabitants of the garden can be seen in special terrariums or enclosures. Guests can see representatives of the deep sea in a submarine – there are aquariums inside it.
Also in the “Biosphere” there is a Butterfly House, the territory of which is 60 square meters. More than twenty species of butterflies live here, which were brought from Latin America and Asia. In the Butterfly House you can follow the entire life cycle of these amazing insects – from a caterpillar to a beautiful fluttering “flower”. One of the main differences between the “Biosphere” and other similar gardens is that they try to make it as interactive as possible. Young visitors to the “Biosphere” will certainly like the fact that many animals can be touched, flowers and butterflies are allowed to be examined with a magnifying glass, and the most inquisitive guests are even offered to make their own geyser. Next to the exhibits suitable for inspection and experiments, there are special signs with instructions. Perhaps the most interesting entertainment for children in the garden is an adventure program to find treasure in the jungle. For young nature lovers, the Biosphere offers a theme birthday party service. By the way, adults also have an interesting option – “romantic nights” in the tropics.
The best time to visit the Biosphere is midday on Saturday or Sunday. At this time, the garden begins feeding its inhabitants. Guests are allowed not only to watch how experienced employees work, but also to feed some animals under supervision. In addition, on some days the garden holds theme excursions, the schedule of which can be found on the website. One of them is “Exotic Flora and Fauna”. During the walk, the guide tells interesting information about tropical plants and animals. Another excursion is called “Journey to the World of Tropical Spices and Cultures”. Here, guests are told about the fruits and seasonings that we get from warm countries. As a gift, tourists will be given some spices and a recipe for homemade chocolates. The garden also invites guests to the “Butterflies of the Tropics” and “Medicinal Plants of the Tropics” sightseeing tours. Each tour lasts about an hour and a half and requires an additional fee. A walk through the park can be combined with a visit to the Filmpark Babelsberg, which is located just 250 meters from the Biosphere.
DINOSAUR PARK, ZOO “GERMENDORF”:
If your child is interested in archeology and especially the part that studies ancient animals, then you should definitely visit the unusual dinosaur park Germendorf, located in the small town of Oranienburg, which is only 35 kilometers from Berlin. Its territory is truly impressive: you will walk here for several hours and still not necessarily see everything that is here. And there is a lot. But first of all, the park is the home of dinosaurs, of which there are a great many. The giant animals are made so realistically that it seems that ancient animals are really standing, walking, running, flying or crawling next to you. Some individuals even roar if you approach them at an unsafe distance. Do not forget to take a camera with you – you will take a lot of interesting pictures next to the dinosaurs.
The figures of ancient giants are surrounded by well-groomed European lawns with soft emerald grass, on which visitors relax with such pleasure. Here you can even have a cultural snack, it is not for nothing that locals come here on weekends for a picnic with their entire families. Almost at every step in the Hermendorf Park there are comfortable benches, spacious gazebos, so guests, as a rule, do not have problems with choosing a place to relax. Be sure to get to the local observation deck, stylized as a volcano. It offers gorgeous panoramas of the park.
From above, you and your young traveler will be able to examine the territory in all details – special stationary binoculars are installed on the platform. By the way, in this vast open-air dinosaur house not only huge models of ancient animals “live” comfortably – live animals coexist very peacefully with them. A small zoo is also equipped here on the territory of the park. Of course, you won’t find African tigers and Indian elephants here, but geese, chickens, goats, deer and ostriches are abundant. And, by the way, you can pet and feed them all.
The animals appeared here almost by accident. After all, once this was not a beautiful, landscaped area, but an ordinary piece of land with overgrown lakes and an uneven landscape. The owner who bought the land improved it, improved it and gave shelter to many animals that were periodically abandoned by neighboring farmers. That’s how a whole zoo grew out of foundlings. Today, Hermendorf Park is a whole world in which you can meet not only ancient and modern animals, but also ride carousels and slides to your heart’s content, climb in a children’s town, take kids for a ride on a miniature railway, swim in a special area and sit in one of the many cafes or restaurants offering guests delicious local cuisine.
SEA LIFE BERLIN AQUARIUM:
SeaLife is located near the Berlin Alexanderplatz stop, which is next to the Lustgarten park. By the way, from here you can get to the zoo by transport in half an hour, so you can combine a visit to two attractions at once.
At the entrance to the oceanarium, guests are greeted by fairy-tale characters with whom the child can take a photo. At the end of the excursion, everyone can buy photos as a keepsake. Taking photos with your own equipment is allowed, although you can’t use a flash everywhere. The oceanarium has quite a lot of fish, octopuses, moray eels, and starfish. The aquariums are beautifully decorated, like small fragments of underwater life. In addition, there are open water tanks, the inhabitants of which guests can watch from above. In total, the SeaLife territory occupies 2,000 square meters, there are many aquariums with fresh and salt water, hundreds of species of fish and other sea creatures.
If you are not too keen on walking around on your own, you can book a tour in the centre of the hall, which lasts about an hour. One of the main tasks of the aquarium is the ecological education of young guests, so a lot of attention is paid to children’s entertainment. For example, some of the inhabitants of the complex are allowed to be touched. There are also magnifying glasses, through which it is interesting to look at the fish. Finally, every child can feel like a treasure hunter, participating in the game “Find the treasure” and digging up a small prize.
Information for visitors:
- SEA LIFE Berlin has 2 toilets, which you will find at the beginning of the exhibition. There are no other toilets in the exhibition. The toilets also have changing facilities.
- For reasons of space, it is not possible to park a baby stroller at the entrance. However, if necessary, you can take it with you into the aquarium, as it is barrier-free. Please be considerate of other guests and ensure that they can also freely and unhindered explore the aquariums.
- Please note that children under 15 years old are only allowed into the aquarium halls when accompanied by adults.
- Photography is permitted. Please remember to turn off the flash as it may frighten the inhabitants.
TROPICAL ISLANDS AQUAPARK:
How can you, while on holiday with a child in Berlin or in nearby towns, miss one of the largest indoor water parks in Europe and the world? Of course, no way, so be sure to plan a visit to the “Tropical Island”, located 70 km from the capital. The truly huge man-made territory of the institution amazes with its size. The building of the water park is a hangar of a former military base, where airships were once parked.
The area of ​​the “tropical island” is equal to eight football fields! Now can you imagine the scale of fun in the water park? Do not put off visiting Tropical Island for later, especially since the entertainment center is open around the clock.
What awaits you beyond the threshold of this institution? First of all, this is:
- An absolute imitation of a hot tropical beach, surrounded by exotic trees, palms, vines. Here and there you can see houses with thatched roofs and, like oases, shallow and deep pools;
- tropical birds and animals freely roaming the territory;
- comfortable temperature for relaxation: the water in the water park does not fall below +28ºС, and the air is always at least +25ºС.
The “Tropical Island” water park is divided into several thematic zones, each of which is incredibly interesting. So, in the territory of large pools called “Bali Lagoon” and “South Sea” you can swim and soak in the jacuzzi, admire the waterfalls, play volleyball on the sandy beach and test your courage on an unprecedented attraction about 25 meters high! There are also several water slides of medium and high complexity.
The zone called “Flower World” is created for lovers of lush vegetation. Here you can enjoy a walk under mangrove trees, palm trees, between magnificent orchids and other equally bright representatives of tropical forests.
The “Tropical Village” zone is the embodiment of the culture and life of some Eastern countries. Here you will see how the indigenous people of Thailand, Bali, Congo, Malaysia, Amazon live, and you will be able to try the national cuisine of each country.
There is also plenty of entertainment for the youngest visitors to Tropical Islands. In addition to the spacious children’s pool equipped with fountains, children can have a great time on the beach, creating sand castles, or, for example, in the children’s club Tropino Club.
The pirate water zone is especially popular among children, where you can swim in special boats and shoot at each other from water cannons. Children are also offered rides in mini-cars and bumper cars. If you respect active recreation, and your child is already quite old, then you can try your hand at Brazilian dancing or aqua aerobics together. In the evenings, the Tropical Island water park hosts bright water shows, in which the spectators themselves take part. If you like a bathhouse, then here you will have a place to roam. The water park has the largest bathhouse complex in all of Europe. Jacuzzis, saunas, Finnish and Russian baths, a hamam, and ice-cold plunge pools are spread out over an area of ​​10,000 square meters. Entrance to the bath complex is paid additionally at the entrance to the water park.
AMAZONIA, the open area of ​​the Tropical Islands, is available all year round: 35,000 square meters, numerous water attractions, extensive sunbathing and sports areas, as well as wellness, sports and leisure for the whole family. In addition to the pool area, the main attractions are the Whitewater River, the longest water sports canal in Germany, and Pororoca, a surfing simulator.
By the way, if a day is not enough for you to swim and relax in this unusual water park, you can spend the night in one of the hotels that are part of the complex. It is worth taking care of booking a room in advance, since there are plenty of people who want to relax and continue having fun. Tropical Islands has wide walkways, toilets, changing rooms and wheelchair accessible areas. Ramps and lifts make many areas of the water park accessible. Paved paths and slopes in the rainforest are also wheelchair accessible. The campground offers specially equipped cabins in the forest for guests with disabilities.