There are no animals in the city? As if! Foxes, crows, rabbits, even wild boars are among the frequently sighted animal co-inhabitants. In addition, there are sheep grazing between solar fields or on the Tempelhofer Feld and over 100,000 dogs as well as countless other pets. If you don't have a pet at home, we recommend a trip to a petting zoo or a children's farm. If you are lucky, there will even be offspring now in spring!
Tip 1: Find new animal friends at the Children's farm Mauerplatz
Once a plot of rubble at the Berlin Wall, the Mauerplatz Children's Farm is now home to ducks, chickens, geese, sheep, goats, donkeys, ponies. Volunteers take care of the animals, which are seen here not only as livestock, but as creatures for peaceful coexistence. After all, people need animals, according to the makers' credo.
Where: Leuschnerdamm 9 / entrance Adalberstraße, Kreuzberg
When: daily 8 am - 5 pm, Wednesday closed
Children's farm Mauerplatz
Tip 2: Get your hands dirty at Tierhof (Animal farm) Alt-Marzahn
The listed three-sided farm is run as it was in 1900. Go on a journey back in time and walk past the paddocks where horses, ponies and goats graze. Visit cackling chickens and quacking ducks. One of the goals is to preserve endangered breeds of farm animals that are threatened with extinction.
Technophiles will love the agricultural machinery, where you can marvel at agricultural equipment from the past to the present day. And you can even get your hands dirty in the activity field in the cereal teaching garden.
There is also a large specialised library focusing on topics such as agricultural science and animal husbandry. And in the farm shop you can find souvenirs such as delicious jam, honey or handmade items from the tailoring workshop
Where: Alt-Marzahn 63, Marzahn
When: Monday to Friday 8am - 12 noon and 1pm - 3.45pm; Saturday, Sunday & public holidays: 11am - 3pm
Tierhof Alt-Marzahn
Tip 3: Britzer Garten
In addition to large playgrounds, flowering beds and great playgrounds, you will find a large animal enclosure on the grounds of the Britzer Garten. At the petting zoo sheep, goats, donkeys and ducks cavort - and around Easter time, you might be lucky enough to spot sweet little lambs. Around the year, some of the animals are occassionally allowed to roam the grounds and enjoy the grass in large closed in enlcosures. Foxes and raccoons have also been spotted.
Where: Sangerhauser Weg 1, Britz
When: daily from 9 am - 6 pm (starting April till 7 pm)
Tip 4: Kinderbunter Bauernhof (Colorful Children's Farm)
The Kinderbunten Bauernhof in Wedding is primarily aimed at neighborhood children, who can also adopt animals. Goats, sheep and ponies bring a little country air to the city. Ducks and chickens also feel at home here, and a few guinea pigs are waiting to be petted. Next door, an adventure playground invites you to romp around.
Due to the renovation work, the ponies are currently enjoying a pasture in Brandenburg.
Where: Luxemburger Straße 25, Wedding
When: Tuesday to Friday from 1 - 6 pm, on weekends from 10 am - 6 pm.
Tip 5: Enjoy fresh country air at Domäne Dahlem
A visit to Domäne Dahlem is like a trip to the countryside. Here you can walk between fields and paddocks and meet horses, cows and pigs. In addition to the rural idyll, you can enjoy healthy dishes (currently only available to take away). During workshops and project days, you will learn more about the local nature and wildlife, as well as traditional agriculture, and you can also lend a hand yourself.
Where: Königin-Luise-Strasse 48, Dahlem
When: daily 7 am - 10 pm
Tip 6: Lend a hand at Charlottenburg goat farm
Originating 30 years ago from a citizens' initiative, the Charlottenburg goat farm is still organized today as a neighborhood association. Above all, of course, many goats live here, but also a few chickens. An apiary is housed on the farm. Feeding the goats is unfortunately no longer allowed due to the death of a goat, but you can pet the animals and also lend a hand on action days.
Where: Danckelmannstraße 16, Charlottenburg
When: all year round / no detailed information
Tip 7: Get creative and enjoy some cake at the Old pheasantry
Do you know how wool is spun from sheepsfur? Or how you make a stick of butter from milk? At the Old Pheasantry Fasanerie (formerly Family Farm Lübars) you can try it out for yourself. As a place of learning and encounter, the operators offer numerous programs, workshops and guided tours of the grounds. Pottery, working with wood or repairing bicycles, you will find numerous offers on the site, it is best to find out about the respective times directly on the website.
And for a family outing, a visit to the Schöngrün café (Friday to Sunday 12 - 5 pm) is a good idea. Here you can enjoy delicious cakes and fair-trade coffee. And you can stock up for dinner in the farm shop.
When: Monday to Friday from 9 am - 5 pm
Where: Fasanerie 10, Lübars
Tip 8: Be an explorer at the House of Nature and Environment (Haus Natur und Umwelt)
Adventure Nature, that's what the House of Nature and Environment offers on the grounds of the FEZ. Here you can go on a discovery tour indoors and outdoors and learn more about the local flora and fauna. Roam through forest and meadow and get samples from the pond. Discover the creatures that live in the water under the microscope. There is also a petting zoo and a deer enclosure on site.
Where: At the Wuhlheide, Schöneweide
When: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (April to September), Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (October to March)
House of Nature&Environment
Tip 9: Learn old crafts at the Moritzhof youth farm
Cuddle guinea pigs and rabbits, stroke sheep and cuddle goats: You can do just that at the Moritzhof youth farm. In small groups, children and young people aged between six and 16 can also learn ancient crafts such as felting, pottery, spinning, basket making and blacksmithing. Of course, there is also gardening and cooking.
You can also discover some future-oriented environmental projects and learn more about green roofs, solar systems, insulation with sheep's wool, composting toilets or the underground rainwater collection basin for irrigation water.Cuddle with guinea pigs and rabbits, pet sheep and cuddle goats: You can do that at the Moritzhof Youth Farm.
Where: Schwedter Strasse 90, Prenzlauer Berg
When: Monday to Friday from 1 - 6:30 pm, Saturday 1 - 6 pm
Tip 10: Feed the animals at the Knirpsenfarm children's farm
Over 160 animals welcome you here at the Malchow Green Campus. In addition to native farm animals, you can also get to know some exotic animals such as chinchillas and zebra finches and adopt animals. The Knirpsenfarm children's farm is a registered association. You can arrive by bike or bus - and then let off steam on the 1,000 square metre site.
Where: Malchower Chaussee 2, Hohenschönhausen
When: Monday to Friday from 9 am - 5.30 pm (in winter until 4.30 pm), weekends & public holidays 9 am - 4 pm | Animal feeding to join in daily 2.30 pm
Tip 11: Visit the petting zoo at Tierpark Berlin
Cute mountain goats and a wide variety of fluffy sheep can be pampered with a few strokes at Tierpark Berlin. Among other things, you can get to know real rarities here. The zoo also breeds and preserves domestic animal species that are otherwise threatened with extinction.
Where: Am Tierpark 125, Friedrichsfelde
When: When: daily 9 am - 6 pm
We also recommend a trip to the:
- Kinderbauernhof Pinke Panke, Am Bürgerpark 15-18, Pankow (visit animals, help out, build huts, campfire, playground)
- Moabiter Kinderhof, Seydlitzstraße 12, Moabit (focus on gardening & many workshops during the school holidays)
