Tropenhaus im Botanischen Garten

About the Tropical House in the Botanical Garden Berlin

The Botanical Garden in Dahlem is one of the largest and most significant of its kind worldwide. Approximately 20,000 plant species grow on 43 hectares. Its centerpiece is the Great Tropical House. It was built between 1905 and 1907 according to plans by the Royal Building Councilor Alfred Koerner and is considered an architectural marvel. With a volume of 40,000 cubic meters and a floor area of 1,750 square meters, it is one of the largest self-supporting greenhouses in the world.

Inside, visitors can expect a completely different world. Giant palms and ferns thrive in the warm, humid climate. Aerial roots and lianas hang from the glass dome. The plant world is organized by continent: through the Caribbean, one reaches Central and South America, then Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Particularly extraordinary: some of the plants growing there are over 150 years old.

Those who want to explore more will also find plenty in the rest of the garden. In addition to the Great Tropical House, a total of fifteen display greenhouses house plants from Australia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region, carnivorous plants, ferns, cacti, and orchids, among others. The open-air grounds are also a feast for art lovers, as numerous sculptures line the paths. Right next door, in the Dahlem district, is also the charming village of Dahlem with the Luise beer garden and the Domäne Dahlem as an excursion destination.

During the spring and summer season from April to September, the greenhouses are open daily from 10:00 to 19:00. Since March 2025, the Botanical Garden has slightly raised its entrance fees, which is also due to increased cost pressure and cuts by the Berlin Senate. Compared internationally, admission remains affordable.

Why is the Tropical House a great place for a first date?

If you want to make an impression on a first date, you don’t need an expensive restaurant visit. The Tropical House in the Botanical Garden beats almost everything. Because it offers something that bars and cafes simply don’t have: genuine wonder. In the Great Tropical House, you feel like you’re in a tropical jungle. Especially in winter, it’s almost like a small trip to a distant land. And that’s exactly what’s golden on a first date, because shared wonder connects people.

Furthermore, there’s plenty of conversation material here. Visitors can discover the largest flowers in the plant kingdom, as well as grass with stalks 15 centimeters in diameter and 26 meters high. If you happen to come at the right time, you might even experience the famous Titan Arum, which opens its flowers and produces a beastly stench of carrion, intended to attract flies in nature. While unromantic, it’s guaranteed to be unforgettable. If that’s not an icebreaker.

Moreover, the atmosphere in the Tropical House is inherently intimate. The humid warmth, the canopy of leaves, the subdued light through the glass dome. It’s loud enough that no one can eavesdrop, but quiet enough for genuine conversation. If desired, you can also take a guided tour through the garden or the greenhouses, which provides even more talking points for later. Afterwards, a stroll through the extensive garden grounds or a stop at the sun terrace is recommended. The Berliner Kaffeerösterei can be found on the sun terrace of the Botanical Garden from Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 to 20:00. A first date with jungle, history, and coffee afterwards. It hardly gets better.