Tiergarten (Animal Garden)

Tiergarten (Animal Garden) Review

The quiet greenery of the 630-acre Tiergarten is a beloved oasis, with some 23 km (14 mi) of footpaths, meadows, and two beer gardens. The inner park's 6½ acres of lakes and ponds were landscaped by garden architect Joseph Peter Lenné in the mid-1800s.

Café am Neuen See. On the shore of the lake in the southwest corner of the park, you can relax at the Café am Neuen See, a café and beer garden. Lichtensteinallee 2, Tiergarten, Berlin, 10787. 030/25449300. www.cafe-am-neuen-see.de/.

Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Off the Spree River and bordering the Kanzleramt (Chancellery) is the former congress hall, now serving as the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. It is fondly referred to as the "pregnant oyster" because the sweeping, 1950's design of its roof resembles a shellfish opening. Thematic exhibits, festivals, and concerts take place here, and it's also a boarding point for Spree River cruises. House of the World Cultures, John-Foster-Dulles Allee 10, Tiergarten, Berlin, 10557. 030/397-870. www.hkw.de. Daily, 10 - 7.