Few people consider Germany as a destination for a tropical getaway. Fewer still would expect an abandoned airfield to be home to sandy beaches, over 600 varieties of tropical plants, and exotic animals like flamingos, turtles, and peacocks.
Tropical Islands is a one-of-a-kind vacation destination that stretches across 100,000 square meters (about 1,076,000 square feet), nestled inside an old, Nazi-era airfield and hangar. It is the third-largest building in the world and is home to a rainforest and tropical village, as well as a free-floating balloon experience that takes visitors high above the facility’s many attractions.
The resort features an assortment of indoor water slides and a relaxing lagoon – complete with a waterfall and grotto. The water is kept at a balmy 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit) to ensure the comfort of visitors year-round. Patrons can even take diving lessons, renting equipment at the resort and practicing in the facility’s “Tropical Sea” under the guidance of a licensed instructor.
For visitors seeking a drier experience, Tropical Islands boasts a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment and group classes. After a vigorous workout, visitors can take advantage of the spa with a soothing massage or detoxifying cosmetic treatment.
The facility is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and boasts a wide variety of accommodations. From luxury suites to tents and outdoor camping, it suits budgets and preferences of every size and taste.
Located in the middle of the German countryside, just an hour outside of Berlin, Tropical Islands is easily accessible to visitors and a welcome escape from the gray days of winter. With indoor lighting that mimics the sun, carefully controlled humidity, and a spectacular array of palms, sea creatures, and white beaches, it is an unexpected piece of paradise that hardly feels like the airfield from which it was born.