This area of wonderful natural beauty combines forests, meadows and ponds to create an oasis of calm right next to the city centre.

Tiergarten (or “animal garden” in English) refers to the name given to the area when it was a private hunting ground for Prussian royalty. There are no wild animals hiding in the woods today, but the rugged, natural beauty of this 200-hectare area of landscaped gardens and lawns has been fully retained. In fact, the expanse of land here is so extensive that the name Tiergarten has also been given to the entire surrounding suburb in central Berlin.

The Tiergarten also contains a number of nature trails, which are perfect for a strolling or cycling along. The park contains many attractive historical statues and monuments for you to view and explore as well. Those with a keen interest in history will particularly enjoy the memorial related to the Soviet War. This massive marble-columned structure was constructed at the end of the Second World War as a tribute to Soviet soldiers killed in the Battle for Berlin.

Not to be missed is the 70-metre high Victory Column. This 17th century monument was originally sited in front of the Reichstag, but was moved here by Hitler during Third Reich, which spared it from destruction by the bombs that fell during the Second World War. Another statue that draws a lot of attention is the one dedicated to Richard Wagner, one of the world’s great composers.

The Tiergarten offers stunning views of the entirety of the city of Berlin, from the panoramic viewing platform. The panorama is well worth the 285 steps to reach the top.

This is an attractive spot for visitors, whatever the season. In winter, enjoy a coffee and cake in one of the cafés, in summer bask in the sunshine. The Tiergarten can be reached on foot from the city centre, and is serviced by convenient S-Bahn and U-Bahn train stations.