Berlin Zoo since 1841

Your hotel at the Berlin Zoo: Central location in the capital

The hotel is located in the central district of Charlottenburg, near the Zoological Garden. You can look forward to a variety of attractions, exciting visits for the whole family, and the proximity to the train station and Kurfürstendamm.

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The Zoological Garden of Berlin

Connection road “Dammweg” from 1542

The Berlin Zoological Garden covers an area of 33 hectares and is home to over 20,000 animals representing around 1,100 species. There is also an aquarium. Together, the zoo and aquarium attract well over 2 million visitors per year, making it one of the most visited attractions in the city.

Furthermore, it is also the namesake of the Berlin Zoologischer Garten railway station. It is located at Hardenbergplatz, across from the administrative building and the Lion Gate. Attractions such as the Berlin Gedächtniskirche and the historic Ku’damm are also easily reached on foot from here, making the hotel’s location very central.

The story

In 1841, Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein, the zoologist of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin, managed to persuade the king to establish a zoo. With the support of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, he not only received a loan but also a portion of the Fasanerie grounds in the Berlin Tiergarten for his use. Thus, on January 31, 1841, the Zoologischer Garten was founded. It was opened on August 1, 1844, with Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein serving as its first director.

A new destination for day trips

By 1888, the animal collection could already be compared to that of the London Zoo. Initially, it was surrounded by a simple wooden fence, but in 1905, a wall was erected. There were plans to build an exhibition hall for trade fairs and similar events, but the public opposed it. They did not want the zoo to lose its character as a place for animals.

Expansion and destruction

From 1939, a dark period in the zoo’s history followed. Under Lutz Heck, Jews were no longer allowed to enter the zoo. The zoo suffered extensive damage during Allied air raids, with only 91 animals out of over 3,700 surviving the attacks.

Between 1945 and 1956, Katharina Heinroth was the only female zoo director in Germany. She organized the reconstruction of the Berlin Zoo and initiated many renovations. In the following decades, the zoo focused on breeding rare and endangered species such as black rhinos and Przewalski’s horses. Since German reunification, there has been close cooperation with the Tierpark in Berlin-Friedrichsfelde.

The animal facilities

There is a wide range of animal enclosures, shows, and commented feedings. Special events, children’s birthdays, school activities, and “favorite animal visits” are also offered by the Zoo School and other teams.

These are the animal facilities to admire near your hotel:

• Ibex Rock
• Eagle Gorge with Eagle Rock
• Camel Area
• Bear Rock
• Cattle Area
• Seal Rock
• Hoofed Animals
• Deer Area
• Pheasantry
• Rodent Rock
• Aviaries

Additionally, there is also the petting zoo “Hans im Glück” for children. The zoo also features numerous enclosures and houses for elephants, rhinos, hippos, pigs, carnivores, nocturnal animals, monkeys, pandas, birds, penguins, antelopes, giraffes, as well as the aquarium.

FAQ – Questions?

The Berlin Zoo Station

Next to it is the Berlin Zoologischer Garten station, also known as Bahnhof Zoo. It is an important transit station operated by Deutsche Bahn. It serves S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines, as well as regional and express trains. Numerous buses and night buses operated by BVG depart from the bus station in front of Hardenbergplatz.

Thanks to this excellent connectivity, your hotel is easily accessible. You can reach the station from Berlin Hauptbahnhof (main station) in just a few minutes and then take a leisurely walk to your hotel located in the heart of Berlin-Charlottenburg.

More topics

The Memorial Church | Breitscheidplatz | Berlin Congress Fund | Zoo Station | Kudamm