Lustgarten

Locals and visitors relax around the fountain in Lustgarten Berlin
Locals and visitors relax around the fountain in Lustgarten Berlin

The Lustgarten (which means Pleasure Garden in English) is a pleasant neoclassical park on Museum Island. It is smack dab in the midst of several iconic landmarks.

The rectangular park faces the spectacular Berliner Dom and Altes Museum. It is across the street from the Berlin Palace, across the Spree River from the German Historical Museum. You can easily see the Fernsehturm TV tower from here.

The central location makes this a popular people space to show up and relax on the green grass or benches. You can enjoy music played by buskers, sit and read a good book, or simply people watch. It is close enough to the museums that you can connect with their free WiFi too.

A water fountain forms a focal point near the center of the garden.

Closer to the Altes Museum stands a giant solid granite bowl weighing in at 70 tonnes. A primary attraction in 19th century Berlin, it was transported up the River Spree in 1828 and inaugurated in 1834. Berliner’s often refer to it as the Berlin soup bowl.

History

Lustgarten had a lengthy and turbulent history.

It appeared in the 16th century as a vegetable garden for the adjacent City Palace. Friedrich Wilhelm converted it to a Dutch style royal garden featuring flower gardens, aviaries, fountains, and sculptures.

In the 18th century, Friedrich Wilhelm I had other ideas. He paved it over to create a military parade square. It wasn’t until 1790 that green lawns were planted again.

When the Altes Museum opened in 1830, the garden was further enhanced to present a pleasing landscape in front.

But that was not going to last. Military aspirations of the Nazis led to the park being paved again in 1934. With opposition to the regime now outlawed, Hitler addressed mass rallies of nearly one million people here. Immediately following WWII the park was nothing but a bombed wasteland.

Stuck in East Germany following the war, it wasn’t until after the reunification of Germany in the late 1990s that the park was at last restored to closely match its design prior to the WWII.

There are good bus connections to the Lustgarten with a stop right in front. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn are only a short walk.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No

Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays

  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours

Address: Unter den Linden 1, 10178 Berlin, Germany

Official Website: Lustgarten

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating What a lovely place! Large open area of grass. Many people stop here to grab photos of the cathedral. Along the river there are some trees and benches. This was a beautiful place to sit and hardly anyone here. Particularly right now (November 3) with all the leaves falling from the trees, it’s very picturesque.
Anna R - 4 months ago

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5 Star Rating It is a beautiful are with museums, galleries, historical building and overall beautiful feel with musicians often playing outside. I recommend going but also to one or the of the museums.
Roman Dostál - 3 months ago

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5 Star Rating Beautiful place, full of life and color. You will find around you, specially on weekends, people entertaining others. Juggling, playing music, singing, dancing. In the summer it is specially crowded, but only on weekends. Nearby, a couple of steps from here you will find the Arts Flea Market , here you will find the most exquisite works from the artist that sells their work here.
Alessandro Stefan - 8 months ago

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5 Star Rating Magnificent park with a lot of different museums on site. Very good place to have a drink with friends or having a picnic and laying on the grass. The surrounding architecture is splendid.
Dérek Arguin (Derek0120) - 9 months ago

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5 Star Rating It is a vibrant place to chill out and if you want to click beautiful photos, this is the right place. One can see lovely water square in the middle of the garden which catches everyone attention.
Tanima bector - 7 months ago

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Directions

How to get to Lustgarten by U-Bahn, S-Bahn

Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Line(s): S1, S2, S3, S5, S7, S9, S25, S26, S75, U6
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Station(s): S+U Berlin Friedrichstraße

Exit from Friedrichstraße Station. Walk one block south on Fredrichstrasse and go left (east) onto Dorotheenstrasse. When you get to the river, go right onto Am Kupfergraben and cross the bridge just ahead. Lustgarten is on your right.

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