Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Museum
Discover the enchanted world of plants at Berlin’s Botanic Garden!
In 1889, Adolf Engler, the original head of the modern Botanic Garden in Berlin, set out to establish “the world in a garden”. Today, you can appreciate his wonderful success – a splendid diversification of plants, from herbaceous and medicinal plants to roses, marine and marsh plants, an arboretum including American trees, an Italian garden, an extraordinary art nouveau Tropical Greenhouse. The Botanic Garden in Berlin is a world leading garden, home to a collection of 20,000 plant species flowering on site drawing close to half a million guests annually.
Berlin’s Botanic Garden – from Arboretum to Tropical Greenhouse, the Botanic Garden offers 43 hectares for guests to roam and explore. Created between 1897 and 1910 by architect Alfred Koerner, the garden has three areas: the Arboretum (woody plants and rose collection), plant formations from similar geographic areas, and an area devoted to systematic botany comprising around 1500 varieties of plants.
The landmark Tropical Greenhouse offers an outstanding example of late nineteenth-century art nouveau style in glass and steel. Twenty-five metres high and set on the eastern boundary of the garden, it towers over another 14 display greenhouses placed around it.
The Botanic Garden is not merely popular in summer. In winter too, you can walk the Seasonal Trails to view the plants of Africa, Australia, East Asia, the tropics and the Mediterranean basin. It's important to note that they permit no dogs other than registered disability assistance dogs.
The Victoriahaus
One treasure in the Botanical Garden is the over 100-year-old Viktoriahaus greenhouse. I refer to the romantic greenhouse after the giant water lily Victoria, and the glass pavilion is home to tropical marsh and water plants.
Botanical Museum
Berlin’s Botanic Garden is also home to a museum devoted only to botany – the sole museum of its kind in central Europe. The Botanical Museum has housed the former royal collection of plants since 1906. This collection has been steadily enlarged and has an impressive assortment of models revealing plant structures imperceptible to the human eye – and an entire forest in a shoe box! You can even find out which plants were presented as funerary goods in the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs.
Events in the Botanic Garden – Concerts, Perennials Market and Tropical Nights
When the weather turns freezing in January, the Botanic Garden opens its gates to celebrate its Tropical Nights. On Friday and Saturday evenings, guests can escape winter to experience music and drinks under the palm trees in the Tropical Greenhouse. The Botanic Garden presents many recitals and markets during the year – with summer concerts, the Botanical Nights, the Berlin Perennials Market and the Orchid Show heading the popularity rankings for visitors.
Tours available many days of the year provide the opportunity to gain a deeper awareness of the gardens and their splendid diversity of plants. Highlight or themed tours, by knowledgeable guides, are available in German and English for both the garden and the museum. They are popular so it’s advisable to book well in advance (more details at https://www.bgbm.org/en/guided-tours).
Botanic Garden – Accessibility
The Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum provide wheelchair accessible toilets and lifts. The 3000 square metre Fragrance and Touch Garden is designed for visually impaired visitors. It features scents of eucalyptus, rosemary and chives. Visitors are encouraged to touch the plants!
If you haven’t seen enough plants already, adjacent to the Botanical Garden on Altensteinstraße is the Königliche Gartenakademie, a gardening school with a pleasant café in the greenhouse. The centre of the district, Dahlem-Dorf, is a pleasant place for a walk. On Königin-Luise-Straße the bustle of the city seems distant. In the Luise beer garden, students from the FU Berlin sit under shade trees discussing recent lectures.
It’s busier when the Domäne Dahlem hosts mediaeval festivals or during the annual Christmas market. The manor house is now an agricultural open-air museum with a farm shop. Nearby is the Dahlem museum complex.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesBerlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Address: Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 83850100
Official Website: Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden
Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden Reviews
Rated out of 5
This is an absolutely stunning place!
Sadly, when we went (17.3.24) there was renovations and construction going on in 80% of the Gardens but the inside of the massive greenhouse was so beautiful and just lovely! I got the tickets online the night before and there was absolutely no queue (partly due to the constructions and the closure of another entrance). If you got the tickets in advance, you just scan them at the entrance and walk in! It's very easy. The greenhouse is also very easy to navigate due to multiple maps. There is a cloakroom which is just a couple of hanging racks which does the job but it is not very secure so I suggest carrying your bag with you! Overall, it was a lovely experience and I can't wait to come back then the entire complex is renovated and ready.
Yoana Nikolova - 2 weeks ago
One of to do list in Berlin was to go to Christmas Garden. So here I am in Christmas Garden for the first time. Security guards at the main gate were not very friendly but full of attitude. Anyhow It was nice light show and decor is top class. We were thrilled by the beautiful ambience, the magical lights and sound effects, the cozy stands where refreshments were provided. Even it was bit freezing but for us, it was the perfect end of the day. We really enjoyed the light trail in garden. Even at the end, light show at glasshouse was awesome.
Bad thing is after paying very expensive entry fee, you’ll have to pay for the toilet as well. That was totally unfair. Hope next time they’ll arrange things better for basic facilities.
win task - a month ago
Botanic Grader in Berlin is a wonderful destination for anyone who enjoys plants. The Greenhouse, in particular, stands out as a highlight of the experience. Inside, you'll find a diverse collection of plants from different parts of the world, creating a tranquil and soothing atmosphere. Whether you're strolling through the pathways or simply sitting and taking in the surroundings, it's a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. The variety of plants adds to the charm, offering something new to discover with each visit. Overall, Botanic Grader's Greenhouse is a delightful place to spend some time and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Timur Dzhergeniya - a month ago
The greenhouse gardens (glasshouses) alone were well worth the small entrance fee (4€)! It didn't bother me that most of the outdoor gardens are temporarily closed for renovations right now on my visit, since it's the off-season and there isn't much plant-wise to see outside anyway. They are separated by climate zones but also then by country and plant categories. This is the 2nd largest botanical garden in the world, which is noticeable in the large grounds and very extensive and well-laid-out collection of plants from around the world. Impressive! The cacti collection is quite large too.
A lot of the plants from different zones were blooming; they were healthy and well-maintained. There were also smaller houses with begonias, Japanese plants, carnivorous plants, plants and their uses, etc.
Be aware that while there were some signs with interesting information, almost all of them, and all the plant names, are in German (and Latin for the names) only!!
Highly recommended for plant lovers and those who want a little peace and quiet!
Bethany - a month ago
The botanical garden in Berlin is an enchanting oasis boasting an incredible variety of plants in diverse microenvironments. Exploring the expansive greenhouses was a journey through different climates, each displaying a stunning array of flora. Outside, the park surrounding the garden was equally captivating, with a multitude of plant species and majestic trees. We also spotted two foxes! A truly unforgettable botanical experience in the heart of Berlin. 🌿🦊🍺
Cosmin Butnarasu - a month ago
Directions
How to get to Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden by S-Bahn
Nearest S-Bahn Line(s): S1, U9, U3
Nearest S-Bahn Station(s): S Botanischer Garten, S+U Rathaus Steglitz, U Dahlem Dorf
From S Botanischer Garten Station on S1, exit and walk to your right along EnzianstraBe. Go right again at Unter den Eichen and continue to the entrance. Total walking time is about 10 minutes.
From S+U Rathaus Steglitz Station on U9, take Bus X 83 - Königin-Luise-Str. or M 48 - Zehlendorf.
From U Dahlem Dorf Station on U3, take Bus X 83 - Lichtenrade.
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