Zeiss Planetarium and Archenhold Observatory in Berlin: shows, tickets and opening hours
Berlin has two major places to look at the sky, run by the same foundation (Stiftung Planetarium Berlin): the Zeiss-Großplanetarium, a modern planetarium in Prenzlauer Berg, and the Archenhold-Sternwarte, Germany's oldest public observatory, in Treptower Park. The first is for shows under the dome, films and concerts; the second for its giant telescope from 1896. Both make good outings on a grey day, with children or for the curious. Prices and hours below are those read on planetarium.berlin in October 2026.
Highlights
The Zeiss-Großplanetarium
The big silver dome stands in Ernst-Thälmann-Park, at Prenzlauer Allee 80. Under the dome, the "science" shows tell the story of the cosmos, and the "music and entertainment" programme pairs the starry sky with concerts and light shows.
Shows and cinema
The planetarium offers popular-science programmes, cinema and 3D cinema screenings, and music evenings. The programme changes all year: check the day's shows before you come, and the language of the show (many are in German).
The Treptow Great Refractor
At the Archenhold-Sternwarte, opened in 1896, the great refractor is presented as the longest movable refracting telescope in the world: a focal length of about 21 m and a 680 mm lens, for some 130 tonnes. It still works.
The Einstein Hall and the exhibition
In the historic building, the lecture hall is named after Albert Einstein, who gave a lecture on relativity there in 1915. The observatory also holds an astronomy exhibition and a small planetarium of about thirty seats.
Practical info
Tips
- Prices seen in October 2026 for the Zeiss-Großplanetarium: "science" programmes €12 (€8 reduced), "music and entertainment" €16 (€12 reduced), cinema €10 (€7 reduced), 3D cinema €11 (€8 reduced), family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) €31.50. Book online on planetarium.berlin for weekend evenings and concerts, which fill up fast; the box office is open on show days. At the Archenhold-Sternwarte, tickets for shows and tours are bought on site on the day; the programme (tours of the telescope, sky observations) varies by day and weather, so check planetarium.berlin before you set out. The planetarium and the cinema hall are wheelchair accessible; some historic parts of the Archenhold are less so. To combine with a walk, see Treptower Park and the Spreepark right by the observatory, or the Prenzlauer Berg district around the planetarium. For more ideas, our guides Berlin with children and Berlin on a rainy day. For tickets and zones, see our guide to getting around Berlin.
How to get there
Zeiss-Großplanetarium: Prenzlauer Allee 80, 10405 Berlin. S-Bahn S41, S42, S8 or S85 to Prenzlauer Allee; tram M2 (Fröbelstraße stop) or M10 (Prenzlauer Allee/Danziger Straße); bus 156. Archenhold-Sternwarte: Alt-Treptow 1, 12435 Berlin. S-Bahn S41, S42 or S85 to Treptower Park, or S8/S9 to Plänterwald; bus 165, 166, 265 or N65 to Alt-Treptow.
Opening hours
Nearby
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