Wilhelm-Foerster-Observatory

The Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte is located at the top of the Insulaner in Berlin-Schoeneberg. Here, when the weather is clear, you can look through the large telescope, the “Bamberg refractor”, and observe numerous celestial objects.

At the foot of the hill is the Planetarium am Insulaner, which will be expanded into a modern educational centre from July 2023 until probably 2026, and is therefore temporarily closed.

Observable celestial objects

For example, in the daytime sky, the waxing moon, bright fixed stars or the planet Venus may be observed. The »star«, of course, is the sun. Here the image of the sun is projected onto a screen mounted behind the telescope, because looking directly at the sun with a telescope is very dangerous.

If the tour begins at dusk, the brightest objects are viewed first. Depending on visibility, the waxing or full moon, bright planets such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and fixed stars can be shown. As it becomes darker, fainter objects are added if the brightness of the sky permits.

In the dark sky, for example, double stars (which look like just one star to the naked eye) and star clusters, which are called »planetary nebulae«, or the brightest galaxies are the objects to be observed.

The comprehension level of the tours depends primarily on the age of the audience.

Getting here

Planetarium am Insulaner / Wilhelm-Foerster Sternwarte | Munsterdamm 90 | 12169 Berlin

Note: The observatory is located on Insulaner Hügel – about a 7-minute walk from the planetarium / car park. Please note that the path is not illuminated.

S-Bahn
S2, S25, S26 → Priesterweg (10-minute walk)

Bus
187 → Planetarium
143 → Schöneberg, Planetarium
M76, 170, 246 → Insulaner

Car
There are no parking lot. We recommend arriving by public transport.

Accessibility

Unfortunately, the Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte is not wheelchair-accessible.

Information and ticket hotline

Tel. +49 (30) 421 845-10
(Mon & Tue: 9:00 – 17:00 | Wed – Fri: 9:00 – 20:00 | Sat: 10:00 – 20:00 | Sun: 10:00 – 17:00)
info@planetarium.berlin

Opening hours

The Wilhelm Foerster Observatory is only open for events. The cash desk of the observatory opens half an hour before the start of the event.

Price of admission

Observations: € 7,50 / reduced price* € 5,50

Family ticket: € 20

Other prices may apply for special events.

*Reduced prices of admission

Reduced prices of admission are possible on presentation of proof or appropriate identification. Students; trainees; holders of the "berlinpass" as well as recipients of social welfare, basic income support, unemployment benefit II, social assistance and benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act; recipients of unemployment benefit, housing benefit or child allowance; school leavers without an apprenticeship or job; persons doing voluntary military service and persons doing voluntary cultural, social or ecological service.

Groups of 20 or more pay the reduced price.

Free admission

On presentation of appropriate proof or ID, the following are admitted free of charge: persons accompanying severely disabled persons with a "B" in their ID; up to two teachers or educators accompanying a school class, children's or youth group; representatives of the press; employees of planetariums, observatories and museums, members of ICOM (International Council of Museums) and DMB (German Museums Association); members of the Friends of the Stiftung Planetarium Berlin for all offers in the Learning category.

Information on online tickets

Family tickets, group discounts and reductions/free tickets in the context of cooperations (e.g. Berlin Family Pass) cannot be booked in the online shop, but are only available at the ticket office on site. A refund of differences resulting from the purchase of regular online tickets is not possible.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Do you have any further questions about a planned visit? You can find our FAQS here.
You are also welcome to contact our information hotline with your questions:
Tel. +49 (30) 421 845-10
(Mon: 9:00 – 17:00 | Tue – Fri: 9:00 – 20:00 | Sat: 10:00 – 20:00 | Sun: 10:00 – 17:00)

Current visitor information

In order to protect you and our staff as well as possible during your visit, please observe our current hygiene and safety concept, which you can read here.

The »Wilhelm-Foerster-Institut« started up shortly after the end of the Second World War, when it was set up in a half-ruined officers' mess. Shortly afterwards, the Wilhelm-Foerster-Institut was transferred to the Verein Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte e.V., and in 1955 received a large refracting telescope on permanent loan from the former Urania-Sternwarte, which today is still the main instrument of the observatory on the Insulaner: the 12- inch Bamberg refractor.

In the autumn of 1961, the foundation stone for a new observatory was laid on a pile of rubble. Two years later, the Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte was officially opened and operated by the Verein Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte e.V..

The Stiftung Planetarium Berlin was founded on 1 July, 2016, bringing together all of Berlin's astronomical institutions, including the Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte, under one roof. The observatory has been a listed building since 1991 and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. It can look back on more than 1.5 million visitors to date.

At the Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte, numerous celestial objects can be observed with the »Bamberg refractor«, a 12-inch refracting telescope. The two smaller domes also house a 6-inch double refractor and a ZEISS RC reflecting telescope.