Tropical Islands
Despite the opening of the Suntago park near Mszczonów in Poland, it is worth going to the more famous and longer functioning park “Tropical Islands” in Germany.
This park can be a destination for one-day trips from Poland or a place that we will visit during a trip to Berlin or Dresden.
1. From airships to the water park
There were military airports in the area of today’s park, including those belonging to the Soviet army in East Germany. After German Reunification, it was decided that the airport would be closed and a hall for the construction of airships would be erected on its premises. The project was to be handled by CargoLifter AG, but it filed for bankruptcy very quickly and the production of airships was not launched.
The land and the hall were purchased by a company from Malaysia, which decided to build the “Tropical Islands” park on this site. The park was officially opened on November 19, 2004 – last year it celebrated its 15th anniversary.
2. Almost like in Asia
The entire Park has been designed to resemble places from Southeast Asia – temples from Bali, houses from Borneo or Thai temples. In the center there is a Tropical Forest with about 50,000 plants – paths and places where you can sit with a view of the entire Park are marked out.
The Sauna and Wellness Zone refers to the Asian climate, in particular to the Indian grottos from Elephanta and the Angkor Wat complex (previously paid separately and it was possible to move from one zone to another for a one-time surcharge, currently this Zone is available only for guests with an overnight stay) with numerous saunas, baths and caves.
3. Are there any attractions there?
“Tropical Islands” park consists of 3 zones: the Sauna and Wellness Zone (currently not available to guests without an overnight stay), the Amazonia and the Tropical Zone (entry to the last two is with the same ticket).
The Amazonia is an outdoor zone with sun loungers and places to rest and a 250-meter long “wild river” with a gutter with an artificial flow, on which we can slide down to the pool below.
The Tropical Zone includes attractions such as:
– the South Sea with a sandy beach 200 meters long and with water temperature around 28 degrees C (as we were, the water was rather cool),
– 27 meter high tower with 4 water slides, including a super fast turbo slide,
– Laguna – swimming pool with slides, waterfalls and jacuzzi.
In addition, other attractions are payable, e.g. mini golf or a balloon ride.
4. How to get there?
The best solution is access by your own car – located only about 90 km from the border with Poland in Brandenburg in Krausnick and only 70 km from the center of Berlin, and 130 km from Dresden. You should leave the A13 motorway at the Staakow exit and take side roads for about 3 km.
You can also take a train from Berlin to Brand Tropical Islands station (approximately 24 minutes) and then take the free bus to the park.
4. What to eat there?
There are buffet restaurants to choose from (Mondial Food Court) and more expensive serviced restaurants with e.g. Thai cuisine. Payment is made by means of a wristband, which is given at the entrance and everything is settled at the exit from the park.
5. Where to sleep?
It is possible to stay inside the hall in rooms or bungalows (from 100 euro per person). In addition, it is possible to spend the night in a tropical forest camp with safari tents (from 75 euro per person and it includes park entrance).
For people who want to save, the best solution is accommodation in Agroturystyka pod Brzoza in Olszyna – www.pod-brzoza.com (from PLN 45 per person) – located almost at the border with Germany and only about 1 km from the A4 motorway (about 1 hour drive from Tropical Islands). Next to agritourism there is a bar called “Nuta Smaku” in Olszyna, where you can eat, for example, scrambled eggs for … PLN 6.90.
6. Expensive is it?
Currently, tickets can only be purchased online. Standard one-day entry (up to 11.30 p.m. – a penalty of EUR 300 is charged for leaving the park after midnight) costs EUR 46 per adult and EUR 35.50 per child. Children up to 5 years old enter for free.
There are also promotional tickets – a family ticket for 2 adults and a maximum of 3 children aged 6-11 years for 115 euro or a Best Price ticket for a specific day for 39.50 euro / adult and 29.50 euro / child.
In summary, it is worth going to the park “Tropical Islands” to experience a bit of rest in tropical Asia, at least for a moment. It’s like tropics in a closed hall, but with the travel restrictions associated with Coronavirus, the stay in the park has become even more attractive.
