Summer is slowly coming to its official end, but that doesn’t mean the time for outings is over. From Berlin’s most extraordinary swing experience for kids to the largest nonprofit children’s and family center, we’ve already introduced you to a few special places. But today we’re adding a new top tip: The Alte Fasanerie is located in Lübars, a neighborhood in northern Berlin that, with its fields and expansive green spaces, feels surprisingly rural by capital city standards.
The Elisabethstift’s children’s, youth, and family farm is located at Fasanerie 10 in Reinickendorf. It’s less of a traditional petting zoo or animal park and more of an educational farm where nature, animals, crafts, and community activities come together. What makes it particularly appealing for a spontaneous family outing is that there is generally no admission fee to visit the Alte Fasanerie. Families can explore the grounds and visit the animals living there without having to buy a ticket in advance. Only for certain workshops and recreational activities may there be small material costs or participation fees.
The farm is home to a variety of animals that you’d normally expect to find outside the city. These include ponies and horses, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, and poultry. Interaction with the animals is part of the farm’s educational concept, as children are encouraged not only to observe nature and agriculture here but also to experience them as directly as possible. This makes a visit feel like a little trip to the countryside, even though you haven’t left Berlin at all.
On weekends, a rotating program for families called “FARMZEIT” is also offered. Here, children and parents can participate together in various activities centered on nature, creativity, and farm life. Depending on the weekend, the program might include crafts and creative workshops or other activities. However, the specific activities offered are subject to change.
Even during the week, the Alte Fasanerie offers a variety of open recreational activities. Depending on the current schedule, children can, for example, try their hand at pottery, get creative in the woodshop, or ride bikes. Many of these open activities do not require prior registration , so families can drop by spontaneously during the designated times and join in. Since both the activities and the times are subject to change, it’s worth checking the current schedule before your visit.
If you need a break from the animals, nature, and workshops, you don’t have to leave the grounds either. On the farm is the Café schöngrün, which offers specialty coffees as well as homemade cakes and pies , among other things. This makes it easy to combine a visit to the farm with a cozy coffee break.
It’s not just the Alte Fasanerie itself, but also its surroundings that make this outing special. Although Lübars is still part of Berlin, it has retained a distinctly village-like character. Green spaces, fields, and paths stretch out around the farm, perfect for a stroll afterward . Surrounded by farm animals and open countryside, you can quickly get the feeling that you’ve driven out to Brandenburg for a few hours—even though you’re still within Berlin’s city limits.
