With free-roaming peacocks, numerous historical buildings, beautiful gardens and lots of opportunities for tree climbing, Peacock Island is a great destination for a family picnic and a day out in Berlin.
A few weekends back the kids and I headed off to a part of Berlin we'd never ventured out to before, Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel). We met friends outside Wannsee S Bahn station and took the short bus ride together to the ferry that takes you across to the island.
Peacock Island can be found on the river Havel & is a nature reserve for rare birds. The island has a rather interesting history dating back to the 17th century. You can find out more about its history on the English Wikipedia page for the Pfaueninsel here.
As well as free-roaming peacocks, the island features numerous historical buildings including a rather fairy-tale looking castle, beautiful gardens, ponies, sheep and lots of opportunities for tree climbing and a lovely picnic.
We took food with us (I would highly recommend doing this as there is a pub located at the ferry point opposite the island but little available on the island itself) and ate a delicious picnic after which we did a tour of the island.
The weather started to look a little dodgy and the children were getting tired so we didn't get to explore the whole island but what we did see was lovely. There are so many hidden buildings and gardens to find as well as large, old farming tools laying around to look at and try and work out their use.
Peacock Island can be found on the river Havel & is a nature reserve for rare birds. The island has a rather interesting history dating back to the 17th century. You can find out more about its history on the English Wikipedia page for the Pfaueninsel here.
As well as free-roaming peacocks, the island features numerous historical buildings including a rather fairy-tale looking castle, beautiful gardens, ponies, sheep and lots of opportunities for tree climbing and a lovely picnic.
We took food with us (I would highly recommend doing this as there is a pub located at the ferry point opposite the island but little available on the island itself) and ate a delicious picnic after which we did a tour of the island.
The weather started to look a little dodgy and the children were getting tired so we didn't get to explore the whole island but what we did see was lovely. There are so many hidden buildings and gardens to find as well as large, old farming tools laying around to look at and try and work out their use.
One of the negatives of the island is that there was a bit of fencing around that had signs on to say it was electric fencing (for the sheep). Milo was in a very mischievous mood that day and managed to touch every single bit of fence and thankfully there was no current running through them but I don't know if that's always the case. If you are travelling there with young children, this is something to consider. Also, if you go by car then you can park near where the ferry is based to take you across to the island, but if you are going by public transport, it is worth checking the return bus times (from the Pfaueninsel stop back to S Bahn Wannsee) before you go on to the island as we just missed a bus and then had to wait half an hour for the next.
All-in-all I really enjoyed Peacock Island. It's not fancy or anything but if you make a day of it, get your exploring cap on and take a picnic with you, it can make a fun little day out. Here are some more photos from our trip and below them are further details about the island and how to get there...
All-in-all I really enjoyed Peacock Island. It's not fancy or anything but if you make a day of it, get your exploring cap on and take a picnic with you, it can make a fun little day out. Here are some more photos from our trip and below them are further details about the island and how to get there...
Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel)
Website: Pfaueninsel website
Where: Nikolskoer Weg, 14109 Berlin
Baby Changing Facilities: no
Food & Drinks: Pub with food & drinks on land opposite the island (where you take the ferry). Ice creams available in the gift shop & basic drinks on the island (at the entrance)
Nearest Transport:
S Bahn Wannsee followed by Bus 218 or 316 then passenger ferry (very short distance)
Ferry Hours of Operation (€3 return)
November - February, 10 am - 4 pm
March and October, 9 am - 6 pm
April and September, 9 am - 7 pm
May - August, 9 am - 8 pm
Car parking is also available nearby
Prices:
Adults: €4
Children under 6: Free
Children over 6: €2
Berlin Pass holders: €2.50
Opening Times:
Palace
April - October
Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 5.30 pm
Closed Mondays
November - March
Closed
Meierei (Dairy)
April - October
Saturdays/Sundays/holidays, 11 am - 5.30 pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
November/ December
Saturdays/Sundays/holidays, 11 am - 3.30 pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
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Website: Pfaueninsel website
Where: Nikolskoer Weg, 14109 Berlin
Baby Changing Facilities: no
Food & Drinks: Pub with food & drinks on land opposite the island (where you take the ferry). Ice creams available in the gift shop & basic drinks on the island (at the entrance)
Nearest Transport:
S Bahn Wannsee followed by Bus 218 or 316 then passenger ferry (very short distance)
Ferry Hours of Operation (€3 return)
November - February, 10 am - 4 pm
March and October, 9 am - 6 pm
April and September, 9 am - 7 pm
May - August, 9 am - 8 pm
Car parking is also available nearby
Prices:
Adults: €4
Children under 6: Free
Children over 6: €2
Berlin Pass holders: €2.50
Opening Times:
Palace
April - October
Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 5.30 pm
Closed Mondays
November - March
Closed
Meierei (Dairy)
April - October
Saturdays/Sundays/holidays, 11 am - 5.30 pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
November/ December
Saturdays/Sundays/holidays, 11 am - 3.30 pm
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Berlin for all the Family can also be found on:
