Britzer Garten

This super-pretty garden puts on a dazzling show from spring to autumn but especially so during ‘Tulipan’, when thousands of tulips in a rainbow of colours brighten early spring, and in summer when the Rose Garden is at its redolent best. But actually any time is a fine time to spend an afternoon amid the greenery, spring-fed lake and flower fields of this fantastic, rambling park that originated as the 1985 Federal Garden Show. It’s so big, there’s even a miniature train to carry around the foot-weary. There are plenty of places for kids to let off steam, including a water playground, a petting zoo and Makunaima, an entire village made of clay. The old windmill on the eastern park edge still produces flour (bread sold Friday to Sunday) and is open for guided tours (adult/child €3/1.50; tours 11am-4pm on the hour on Sunday from April to October). The garden is open till dusk but tickets are sold from 9am to 8pm April to September, to 6pm March and October and to 4pm November to February.