Schaugewächshäuser
(17 Reviews)

Paradiesgarten, Maulbeerallee 2, Potsdam-Westliche Vorstadt

Paradiesgarten, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam, Germany

Show Greenhouses | Admission & Opening Hours

The show greenhouses in Potsdam are one of those places where one forgets how close they are to the city after just a few steps. Entering the facility on Maulbeerallee, one moves through a botanical world that combines research, collection, garden art, and visitor experience in a compact space. The Botanical Garden of the University of Potsdam was established in 1950 on the grounds of the former terrace area of the Sanssouci court gardening and now covers about 5 hectares with approximately 10,000 plant species. In the 9 show greenhouses, nearly 4,000 species from tropical and subtropical regions await guests who want to experience palms, orchids, aquatic plants, cacti, and crops up close. Especially on gray days, this is a strong contrast: warm, humid air and lush greenery inside, outside the Potsdam park landscape and historical surroundings. The facility is not only exciting for plant enthusiasts but also for anyone looking for a quiet, informative, and comparatively inexpensive outing. Particularly convincing is the mix of freely accessible outdoor areas, clear opening hours, good location reference to Sanssouci, and the great variety of thematic houses and outdoor areas. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten))

Opening Hours, Admission, and Visit Planning

For planning, it is important to note that the Botanical Garden is open daily, but the show greenhouses have seasonal hours. From April 1 to September 30, they are accessible from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and from October 1 to March 31 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. On December 24 and 31, as well as January 1, the greenhouses remain closed. The ticket sales end and the last admission are each 30 minutes before the Botanical Garden closes, which is particularly important for late afternoon visits. Therefore, those visiting the facility in winter should not wait until the last minute, as the warm houses are especially popular during the cooler season. The visit is also attractive in terms of pricing: adults pay €2.00, reduced admission is €1.00, and school classes and groups receive further tiered prices. Children up to 6 years of age have free admission. Particularly pleasant for a walk or a longer round is that the outdoor facilities can be visited free of charge. This includes the Paradise Garden, which is open year-round from 8:00 AM until sunset. So, if one consciously plans the garden as a day trip, admission, tranquility, time slots, and thematic focuses can be very flexibly combined. For SEO searches around show greenhouses in Cologne or show greenhouses in Hamburg, this facility is of course not the right place; the clear local search intention lies here with Potsdam, Botanical Garden, admission, and opening hours. That is exactly why the visit is so search-strong for users: The answers to the most important questions are clear, concise, and officially documented. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/besuch-planen/oeffnungszeiten))

Directions and Parking at Maulbeerallee

The official address is Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam. For public transport, the Botanical Garden recommends bus 695 to the Orangerie stop; starting points include Potsdam Central Station and Sanssouci Station. This is the simplest solution for many guests, as the location in the vicinity of Sanssouci and the historical garden landscape can be easily combined with a walk. Those arriving by car should consciously plan for the parking situation, as car parking spaces are only available in limited numbers on weekends according to the official site. This clearly speaks for arriving early or directly relying on bus and train. Especially for visitors who only want to spend an hour in the greenhouses, public transport is often more relaxing than searching for a free parking spot. The address is also easy to find for groups, school classes, and families, as Maulbeerallee is known as a landmark in Potsdam and the surrounding area of Sanssouci. Those who want to combine the garden with other destinations in the city also benefit from the location on the western edge of the historical park and the opportunity to combine the visit with walks in the vicinity. Additionally practical: The admission and outdoor structure allows for a visit that does not necessarily depend on a long stay with parking search. This makes the show greenhouses a location that remains surprisingly easy to reach despite its historical backdrop. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/besuch-planen/adresse-und-anfahrt?utm_source=openai))

Palmenhaus, Orchideenhaus and Victoriahaus: the great crowd favorites

To understand the show greenhouses of the Botanical Garden, one best starts with their most famous houses. The Palm House conveys a subtropical ambiance and was built between 1908 and 1912; today it is a listed building, and the total renovation required in 1998 was carried out according to the original plans. Inside, the house showcases the diversity of tropical and subtropical tree forms such as palms, giant bamboo, and banana plants. Particularly noteworthy are the two multi-stemmed dwarf palms, which at about 140 years old are among the oldest plants in the greenhouses and still originate from the former court gardening of Sanssouci. The Orchid House, on the other hand, shows why orchids have always been among the most fascinating greenhouse plants: The family Orchidaceae includes an estimated 27,000 species, making it the largest plant family in the world. In the garden, both large-flowered varieties and large and small-flowered wild species are displayed. The text from the university also describes that some species attract their pollinators through deception, such as through flower shapes that imitate insects or nectar sources. The Victoria House sets a different accent: It ties into a long tradition of Victoria houses that have been established in botanical gardens since the 19th century to showcase giant water lilies and other aquatic plants. In Potsdam, this tradition was adopted in 1953 with the conversion of the former carnation house. The Victoria cruziana displayed there comes from Paraguay and northern Argentina; its leaves reach about 1.40 meters in diameter, and the flowers only open for two nights, initially white, then pink on the second evening. Ant trees of the genus Cecropia also belong to the house. This creates a very strong SEO and experience value: Those searching for show greenhouses in Potsdam, Palm House Potsdam, Orchid House Potsdam, or Victoria House Potsdam find not only names but indeed very different botanical worlds. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/unser-garten/gewaechshaeuser/palmenhaus))

Other Show Houses, Outdoor Facilities, and the Paradise Garden

The show greenhouses are much more than three well-known rooms. The official overview lists a total of 9 show greenhouses, including Palm House, Fern House, Orchid House, Victoria House, Succulent House, Crop House, Greenhouse Connector, Side Greenhouse, Leaf Variants House, Aquarium Hall, Cold House, and Epiphyte House. This variety makes the Botanical Garden Potsdam so interesting for visitors because one can jump from the tropical rainforest to drought-loving plants to aquatic plants and cold house cultures in a short distance. The facility explains not only what grows but also why plants are adapted to certain habitats. The garden text emphasizes that tropical and subtropical species need temperatures well above freezing in winter, and conditions are recreated in the houses that correspond to their natural habitat. Outside the buildings, the Paradise Garden north of Maulbeerallee is particularly worth visiting. There, the systematic plant department and the habitat department are located, as well as the Stibadium, which has been shining in new splendor since 2009 after an elaborate restoration. In the outdoor areas, visitors can discover, among other things, an alpine garden, steppe and prairie garden, bulb flower meadow, rhododendron slope, heath garden, as well as water and shore gardens. This is important for the search intention because many users are not only searching for the building itself but for botanical diversity, walking paths, plant areas, and seasonally attractive greenery. Particularly convincing is also the connection between historical origin and current use: The Botanical Garden was established in 1950 on the grounds of the former court gardening of Sanssouci, covering an area of about 5 hectares and showcasing around 10,000 plant species. Thus, the location is very strongly positioned as both a garden facility and a place of knowledge. So, those searching for show greenhouses botanical garden, botanical garden potsdam, or paradise garden potsdam find here a combination of architecture, nature experience, and scientific collection that is exceptionally dense in the Potsdam context. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/unser-garten/gewaechshaeuser))

Events, Tours, and Special Occasions Throughout the Year

The show greenhouses are not only a place to look but also a place with a regular program. The University of Potsdam refers to tours, the Green Classroom, birthday offers, and various special events. On the official event page, there are formats such as exhibitions, tours, and action programs for children, which often take place directly in the show greenhouses. Typical are, for example, themes around azaleas and camellias, orchids, photo exhibitions, or plant markets with advice and sales. This fits very well with the character of the facility, as the Botanical Garden aims, according to its own description, not only to show plants but also to give people insight into the plant world and to connect nature experience with cultural experience. This makes the location suitable not only for a quiet walk but also for repeated visits, as the program changes seasonally and always offers new occasions. For families, it is particularly attractive that there are special children's formats, such as action programs or tours with educational relevance. For plant enthusiasts, winter and early spring are often particularly interesting, as orchids, camellias, or other early bloomers are then in focus. Overall, this creates a location that draws its SEO relevance from several strong search queries: opening hours botanical garden potsdam, admission show greenhouses, directions botanical garden potsdam, exhibitions botanical garden potsdam, and tours botanical garden potsdam meet here with a real, officially maintained offering structure. This mix of education, research, culture, and visitor experience makes the show greenhouses a lasting recommendation for Potsdam. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/))

Sources:

  • University of Potsdam – Botanical Garden: Homepage and Overview. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/))
  • University of Potsdam – Plan Your Visit: Opening Hours, Admission Prices, and Directions. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/besuch-planen/oeffnungszeiten))
  • University of Potsdam – Greenhouses and individual houses such as Palm House, Orchid House, and Victoria House. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/unser-garten/gewaechshaeuser))
  • State Capital Potsdam – Botanical Garden as an Urban Attraction. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten))
  • University of Potsdam – Events and Tours in the Botanical Garden. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/aktuelles/veranstaltungen?utm_source=openai))
Show more

Show Greenhouses | Admission & Opening Hours

The show greenhouses in Potsdam are one of those places where one forgets how close they are to the city after just a few steps. Entering the facility on Maulbeerallee, one moves through a botanical world that combines research, collection, garden art, and visitor experience in a compact space. The Botanical Garden of the University of Potsdam was established in 1950 on the grounds of the former terrace area of the Sanssouci court gardening and now covers about 5 hectares with approximately 10,000 plant species. In the 9 show greenhouses, nearly 4,000 species from tropical and subtropical regions await guests who want to experience palms, orchids, aquatic plants, cacti, and crops up close. Especially on gray days, this is a strong contrast: warm, humid air and lush greenery inside, outside the Potsdam park landscape and historical surroundings. The facility is not only exciting for plant enthusiasts but also for anyone looking for a quiet, informative, and comparatively inexpensive outing. Particularly convincing is the mix of freely accessible outdoor areas, clear opening hours, good location reference to Sanssouci, and the great variety of thematic houses and outdoor areas. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten))

Opening Hours, Admission, and Visit Planning

For planning, it is important to note that the Botanical Garden is open daily, but the show greenhouses have seasonal hours. From April 1 to September 30, they are accessible from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and from October 1 to March 31 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. On December 24 and 31, as well as January 1, the greenhouses remain closed. The ticket sales end and the last admission are each 30 minutes before the Botanical Garden closes, which is particularly important for late afternoon visits. Therefore, those visiting the facility in winter should not wait until the last minute, as the warm houses are especially popular during the cooler season. The visit is also attractive in terms of pricing: adults pay €2.00, reduced admission is €1.00, and school classes and groups receive further tiered prices. Children up to 6 years of age have free admission. Particularly pleasant for a walk or a longer round is that the outdoor facilities can be visited free of charge. This includes the Paradise Garden, which is open year-round from 8:00 AM until sunset. So, if one consciously plans the garden as a day trip, admission, tranquility, time slots, and thematic focuses can be very flexibly combined. For SEO searches around show greenhouses in Cologne or show greenhouses in Hamburg, this facility is of course not the right place; the clear local search intention lies here with Potsdam, Botanical Garden, admission, and opening hours. That is exactly why the visit is so search-strong for users: The answers to the most important questions are clear, concise, and officially documented. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/besuch-planen/oeffnungszeiten))

Directions and Parking at Maulbeerallee

The official address is Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam. For public transport, the Botanical Garden recommends bus 695 to the Orangerie stop; starting points include Potsdam Central Station and Sanssouci Station. This is the simplest solution for many guests, as the location in the vicinity of Sanssouci and the historical garden landscape can be easily combined with a walk. Those arriving by car should consciously plan for the parking situation, as car parking spaces are only available in limited numbers on weekends according to the official site. This clearly speaks for arriving early or directly relying on bus and train. Especially for visitors who only want to spend an hour in the greenhouses, public transport is often more relaxing than searching for a free parking spot. The address is also easy to find for groups, school classes, and families, as Maulbeerallee is known as a landmark in Potsdam and the surrounding area of Sanssouci. Those who want to combine the garden with other destinations in the city also benefit from the location on the western edge of the historical park and the opportunity to combine the visit with walks in the vicinity. Additionally practical: The admission and outdoor structure allows for a visit that does not necessarily depend on a long stay with parking search. This makes the show greenhouses a location that remains surprisingly easy to reach despite its historical backdrop. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/besuch-planen/adresse-und-anfahrt?utm_source=openai))

Palmenhaus, Orchideenhaus and Victoriahaus: the great crowd favorites

To understand the show greenhouses of the Botanical Garden, one best starts with their most famous houses. The Palm House conveys a subtropical ambiance and was built between 1908 and 1912; today it is a listed building, and the total renovation required in 1998 was carried out according to the original plans. Inside, the house showcases the diversity of tropical and subtropical tree forms such as palms, giant bamboo, and banana plants. Particularly noteworthy are the two multi-stemmed dwarf palms, which at about 140 years old are among the oldest plants in the greenhouses and still originate from the former court gardening of Sanssouci. The Orchid House, on the other hand, shows why orchids have always been among the most fascinating greenhouse plants: The family Orchidaceae includes an estimated 27,000 species, making it the largest plant family in the world. In the garden, both large-flowered varieties and large and small-flowered wild species are displayed. The text from the university also describes that some species attract their pollinators through deception, such as through flower shapes that imitate insects or nectar sources. The Victoria House sets a different accent: It ties into a long tradition of Victoria houses that have been established in botanical gardens since the 19th century to showcase giant water lilies and other aquatic plants. In Potsdam, this tradition was adopted in 1953 with the conversion of the former carnation house. The Victoria cruziana displayed there comes from Paraguay and northern Argentina; its leaves reach about 1.40 meters in diameter, and the flowers only open for two nights, initially white, then pink on the second evening. Ant trees of the genus Cecropia also belong to the house. This creates a very strong SEO and experience value: Those searching for show greenhouses in Potsdam, Palm House Potsdam, Orchid House Potsdam, or Victoria House Potsdam find not only names but indeed very different botanical worlds. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/unser-garten/gewaechshaeuser/palmenhaus))

Other Show Houses, Outdoor Facilities, and the Paradise Garden

The show greenhouses are much more than three well-known rooms. The official overview lists a total of 9 show greenhouses, including Palm House, Fern House, Orchid House, Victoria House, Succulent House, Crop House, Greenhouse Connector, Side Greenhouse, Leaf Variants House, Aquarium Hall, Cold House, and Epiphyte House. This variety makes the Botanical Garden Potsdam so interesting for visitors because one can jump from the tropical rainforest to drought-loving plants to aquatic plants and cold house cultures in a short distance. The facility explains not only what grows but also why plants are adapted to certain habitats. The garden text emphasizes that tropical and subtropical species need temperatures well above freezing in winter, and conditions are recreated in the houses that correspond to their natural habitat. Outside the buildings, the Paradise Garden north of Maulbeerallee is particularly worth visiting. There, the systematic plant department and the habitat department are located, as well as the Stibadium, which has been shining in new splendor since 2009 after an elaborate restoration. In the outdoor areas, visitors can discover, among other things, an alpine garden, steppe and prairie garden, bulb flower meadow, rhododendron slope, heath garden, as well as water and shore gardens. This is important for the search intention because many users are not only searching for the building itself but for botanical diversity, walking paths, plant areas, and seasonally attractive greenery. Particularly convincing is also the connection between historical origin and current use: The Botanical Garden was established in 1950 on the grounds of the former court gardening of Sanssouci, covering an area of about 5 hectares and showcasing around 10,000 plant species. Thus, the location is very strongly positioned as both a garden facility and a place of knowledge. So, those searching for show greenhouses botanical garden, botanical garden potsdam, or paradise garden potsdam find here a combination of architecture, nature experience, and scientific collection that is exceptionally dense in the Potsdam context. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/unser-garten/gewaechshaeuser))

Events, Tours, and Special Occasions Throughout the Year

The show greenhouses are not only a place to look but also a place with a regular program. The University of Potsdam refers to tours, the Green Classroom, birthday offers, and various special events. On the official event page, there are formats such as exhibitions, tours, and action programs for children, which often take place directly in the show greenhouses. Typical are, for example, themes around azaleas and camellias, orchids, photo exhibitions, or plant markets with advice and sales. This fits very well with the character of the facility, as the Botanical Garden aims, according to its own description, not only to show plants but also to give people insight into the plant world and to connect nature experience with cultural experience. This makes the location suitable not only for a quiet walk but also for repeated visits, as the program changes seasonally and always offers new occasions. For families, it is particularly attractive that there are special children's formats, such as action programs or tours with educational relevance. For plant enthusiasts, winter and early spring are often particularly interesting, as orchids, camellias, or other early bloomers are then in focus. Overall, this creates a location that draws its SEO relevance from several strong search queries: opening hours botanical garden potsdam, admission show greenhouses, directions botanical garden potsdam, exhibitions botanical garden potsdam, and tours botanical garden potsdam meet here with a real, officially maintained offering structure. This mix of education, research, culture, and visitor experience makes the show greenhouses a lasting recommendation for Potsdam. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/))

Sources:

  • University of Potsdam – Botanical Garden: Homepage and Overview. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/))
  • University of Potsdam – Plan Your Visit: Opening Hours, Admission Prices, and Directions. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/botanischer-garten/besuch-planen/oeffnungszeiten))
  • University of Potsdam – Greenhouses and individual houses such as Palm House, Orchid House, and Victoria House. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/unser-garten/gewaechshaeuser))
  • State Capital Potsdam – Botanical Garden as an Urban Attraction. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten))
  • University of Potsdam – Events and Tours in the Botanical Garden. ([uni-potsdam.de](https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/botanischer-garten/aktuelles/veranstaltungen?utm_source=openai))

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reviews

XL

Xuerun Li

27. August 2022

The surprise visit we got in the castle area. Ticket is very cheap in my mind - 2 euro per person. This is a great place to see different plants and flowers. The staff there is very friendly. We also found some chairs and tables inside for drinks and snacks. There are high quality and very reasonably priced drinks and snacks sold from the automatic machine - i.e. 1.2 euro for 500 ml apple juice or cola. There is also a toilet close to the automatic machine which is very helpful.

MG

Michael Greenguy

8. August 2023

top

AK

Andreas Kleinke

24. January 2026

Always a worthwhile stop to warm up: Since it's January, there are a few things to keep in mind: The Palm House & Orchid House: These are the best places to visit in winter. It's warm and humid here. The orchids often bloom beautifully, especially in winter, and the lush greenery of the palms and ferns is a welcome relief when it's gray outside. The Victoria House (Giant Water Lilies): You'll need to adjust your expectations here. The famous Victoria water lily is an annual plant. It's removed every winter and reseeded in spring. Therefore, the large pond is often empty or sparsely planted in January. Its full splendor isn't seen again until midsummer (June-August). Cacti/Succulents: These also thrive in winter and are well worth seeing.

JO

Josep

20. September 2025

Potsdam's Schaugewächshäuser are a fascinating corner within the Botanical Garden, where you can explore different climates and ecosystems without leaving the city. The greenhouses are very well maintained and allow you to observe tropical, subtropical, and desert plants up close, with clear explanations that make the visit both educational and entertaining. It's a peaceful place, ideal for leisurely strolling, learning, and enjoying the world's plant diversity in a well-maintained and pleasant environment.

Lara ¡ Æd

28. March 2025

A really beautiful greenhouse. Entry costs €2 per person. I think that's fair. You get to see such beautiful plants. I highly recommend it.