The park was established in 1955 in the former East Berlin as a counterpart to the older Berlin Zoo.
It holds one of the largest herds of African elephants in a European zoo.
The grounds include a historic 17th-century palace, Schloss Friedrichsfelde, located in the center of the park.
The landscape design follows the style of an English landscape park with significant old-growth trees.
It is the only zoo in Germany that maintains a dedicated house specifically for crocodiles.
The park serves as a hub for the reintroduction of the European bison into the wild.
It spans roughly 160 hectares, making it significantly larger than the Berlin Zoological Garden in western Berlin.
Tierpark Berlin is the largest animal park in Europe by area, covering 160 hectares of landscaped grounds. Unlike traditional urban zoos, it features vast, open-air enclosures designed to simulate natural habitats for its collection. The park is home to the historic Friedrichsfelde Palace, which serves as a centerpiece within the zoo grounds. It hosts a significant population of elephants, tigers, and monkeys, alongside extensive herds of ungulates. The layout integrates historic parkland architecture with contemporary animal management facilities. It remains an active center for species conservation and European breeding programs.
The terrace overlooking the Friedrichsfelde Palace with the surrounding parkland in the background.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the extensive grounds require significant walking to see all enclosures.
Use the park's electric train service to traverse the long distances between the entrance and the more remote animal exhibits.
Check the daily feeding schedule upon arrival to see the elephants or predators when they are most active.
Do not attempt to see every exhibit on foot in a single visit without utilizing the internal park train, as the size leads to rapid fatigue.
Open daily throughout the year, including weekends and public holidays; extended hours may apply during the summer months.
Do not feed the animals, stay on marked paths, and keep noise levels low near enclosures to avoid stressing the wildlife.
