Tropical Islands Near Berlin: Day Ticket, Getting There & Visitor Guide
Sixty kilometres south of Berlin, inside a former airship hangar the size of eight football pitches, someone planted a rainforest. Then added a sandy beach, a lagoon, water slides and a sauna. It has been 26 degrees in there every single day since 2004. Here is everything you need to plan the trip.
At a Glance
Tropical Islands is a year-round tropical resort in a repurposed airship hall near Cottbus. The Pure Tropics Day Ticket covers rainforest, beach lagoon, indoor and outdoor pools, water slides and the sauna landscape. Journey time: 45–60 minutes by car or direct by RE2 train to Tropical Islands station. Ideal for families, couples and groups – fully weatherproof, since everything is indoors.
Tropical Islands – The Complete Day Trip Guide from Berlin
Contents
What is Tropical Islands?
Tropical Islands is not in the Caribbean. It is in Lusatia, a flat, forested corner of eastern Brandenburg, 60 kilometres south of Berlin. The building it occupies was constructed to manufacture Cargolifter airships – a project that went bankrupt in 2002. Two years later, the hangar reopened as something altogether stranger: a tropical resort under a single roof.
The numbers are worth stating. The hall is 360 metres long, 210 metres wide and 107 metres high – large enough for clouds to form inside. On a cold Brandenburg morning you can step through the entrance and find yourself standing under palm trees in 26-degree warmth. That contrast never quite loses its effect.
Inside: a tropical rainforest with real plants and parrots, a sandy beach lagoon with a wave pool, water slides, indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna landscape, restaurants, bars and – for those who want to extend the experience – overnight accommodation directly inside the hall. Tropical Islands has been running this formula for over twenty years, and it works.
The Areas at a Glance
Tropical Islands is divided into distinct zones. First-time visitors should allow at least an hour just to explore before settling somewhere – the hall is considerably larger than photographs suggest.
Restaurants, snack bars and cocktail stands are distributed across the entire resort – from tropical beach bars to family cafés in the rainforest zone. Prices are resort-level. Guests are permitted to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks (no glass bottles). Taking advantage of this saves considerably on a full-day visit.
The Pure Tropics Day Ticket
The Pure Tropics Day Ticket, available through GetYourGuide, gives unlimited access to all main areas of Tropical Islands for a full day – rainforest, beach lagoon, indoor and outdoor pools, water slides and the sauna landscape. There is no time limit within normal opening hours.
Not included in the day ticket: overnight accommodation, spa treatments and massages, sun lounger rental, towel hire, food and drink, and sports equipment rental. Bring your own towel – the hire charge is an unnecessary cost. Swimwear is required in all pool and beach areas.
Booking through GetYourGuide is recommended: instant confirmation, no waiting at the ticket desk on arrival, and free cancellation up to the stated deadline before your visit.
Official Day Ticket
Tropical Islands – Pure Tropics Day Ticket: Full Access to All Areas
Full-day access to rainforest, beach lagoon, outdoor and indoor pools, water slides and sauna landscape. Instant confirmation, skip the ticket queue on arrival. Book via GetYourGuide.
Book Now →Getting There from Berlin
By Car
From central Berlin the journey takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Take the A13 motorway in the direction of Dresden and exit at Brand/Tropical Islands, then follow the signs. Paid parking is available directly in front of the hall.
By Train
The RE2 regional train runs from Berlin Hauptbahnhof directly to Tropical Islands station – a stop named after the resort – in approximately 60 minutes. Shuttle buses connect the station to the hall entrance. Train and shuttle tickets must be purchased separately; the GetYourGuide day ticket does not include transport.
Visitor Tips
What to Bring
- Towel: Hire is available but expensive – a large beach towel from home saves the cost
- Bathrobe: Useful for the sauna area but not required
- Snacks and drinks: Own food is permitted (no glass bottles) – makes a real difference on a full day
- Padlock: Lockers for valuables are available; bring your own lock or buy one on site
- Sun cream: The glass surfaces transmit UV radiation – protection is advisable even indoors
Best Times to Visit
Tropical Islands is a worthwhile trip in any season, but the experience varies. School holidays and weekends bring the largest crowds, and water slide queues can be long. Weekdays outside German school holiday periods are significantly calmer. In winter the contrast – below zero outside, palm trees and warm water inside – is particularly striking and well worth experiencing at least once.
With Children
Tropical Islands is one of the best day trips from Berlin for families with children. The beach and lagoon are shallow and safe, the water slides are sorted by age and height, and the tropical setting is genuinely exciting for younger visitors. For very small children there are dedicated paddling pools. Recommended: arrive early in the morning before the slides fill up, and bring snacks to avoid queuing at the food stands mid-afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Tropical Islands?
An indoor tropical resort built inside a former airship hangar in Brandenburg – with a real rainforest, sandy beach, pools, water slides and sauna. Open year-round, maintained at a constant 26 degrees Celsius.
How far is Tropical Islands from Berlin?
Approximately 60 kilometres south of central Berlin. By car on the A13 motorway in 45 to 60 minutes; by RE2 train in approximately 60 minutes to Tropical Islands station.
What is included in the day ticket?
The Pure Tropics Day Ticket includes full access to the rainforest, beach lagoon, indoor and outdoor pools, water slides and sauna landscape. Not included: overnight accommodation, massages, sun lounger hire, towel hire, food and beverages.
Can you stay overnight at Tropical Islands?
Yes. Tropical Islands offers treehouses, safari tents, lodges and a camping village directly inside the hall. These are booked separately via the Tropical Islands website and are not part of the day ticket.
Is Tropical Islands worth it for adults without children?
Yes. The sauna landscape, rainforest hammock areas and quieter pool zones make it a genuine day of relaxation. Weekdays in term time are especially calm. Many visitors – couples and solo travellers included – spend a full day without once feeling the need for a children's area.
More from Berlin: Day Trips from Berlin · City Tours · All Activities
Book Tropical Islands Tickets
★★★★★ Pure Tropics Day Ticket – official booking via GetYourGuide · Instant confirmation · Free cancellation
Winter Outside. Summer Inside.
Sixty kilometres from Berlin, and you are standing under palm trees. The Pure Tropics Day Ticket – book online, skip the queue, free cancellation.
Rainforest · Beach · Pools · Slides · Sauna · 26°C Year-Round
