Our Honest Review of Tropical Island Resort in Germany

We found a family holiday that's giving Center Parcs but better!

When I spotted a deal to stay in an old airship hangar in Germany, I honestly thought sign me up. A few weeks later, we were boarding a flight to Berlin to visit Tropical Islands Resort and it turned out to be one of the most unique family holidays we've ever been on.

So if you're wondering whether Tropical Islands is worth the hype, here's everything you need to know.

What is Tropical Islands Resort?

Tropical Islands is a huge indoor waterpark and holiday resort located just outside Berlin, Germany. It's housed inside a former airship hangar, meaning everything inside is absolutely massive. It's actually one of the largest freestanding halls in the world. The entire dome is heated year-round, giving it a tropical feel no matter what the weather is doing outside.

What’s actually there?

Inside you'll find:

• Indoor beaches

• Heated swimming pools

• Hot tubs

• A lazy river

• Germany's largest waterslide tower

• Jungle Splash which is a children's water play area with eight slides

• Amazonia outdoor pool complex

• A 250-metre white water river

• Mini golf

• Soft play

• Bowling

• Restaurants and cafes

• Shops

• Spa facilities

It genuinely feels like you've stepped onto a tropical island, except you're only a couple of hours from the UK.

How easy is it to get there?

One of the biggest surprises was just how easy it was. Our flights cost around £60 per person and took less than two hours from the UK. From Berlin Airport, the resort is only around 30 minutes away by car, making it really convenient if you’re not a fan of a long transfer after travelling.

Where we stayed

We stayed in one of the lodges located just outside the main dome.

Our lodge included:

• A separate children's bedroom

• Full kitchen with oven and hob

• Dishwasher

• Lounge area

• Outdoor seating area

• Highchair

• Comfortable beds

One thing we always look for when travelling as a family is flexibility, and having a self-catering option made the trip so much easier. We could do breakfast in the lodge, head out for the day and then decide whether we wanted lunch or dinner out. The only downside was the pillows. I don't think I've ever spoken so much about pillows on holiday, but they genuinely weren't great!

Food & self-catering tips

Before arriving, we did a supermarket shop at Aldi, which is around a 15-minute drive away.

We spent about £100 on: breakfast supplies, lunch items, snacks, drinks and a few evening meals. As we’d got the full kitchen, we kept things simple with things like: ready-made lasagne, salads and pizzas. For us, self-catering always feels less stressful than eating every meal in restaurants, especially with children. But there are also plenty of restaurants inside the resort if you'd rather not cook.

What are the pools like?

This is where Tropical Islands really shines. The pools are warm, clean and well-maintained, with plenty of lifeguards around at all times. There are areas suitable for kids of all ages with everything you could think of to keep them entertained. It was lovely being able to swim indoors in May while feeling like you were abroad somewhere much warmer.

Can you stay inside the dome?

Yes! One of the things that surprised us most was the variety of accommodation options.

You can stay in lodges outside the dome (like we did), in beach huts overlooking the pools, in rainforest-style accommodation inside the dome and in indoor camping tents. If I came again staying inside the dome could be a really fun option because everything is right on your doorstep.

So is Tropical Islands better than Center Parcs?

This was the question we kept asking ourselves throughout the trip. For us, Tropical Islands came out on top. But it’s very much centred around the dome and water attractions, whereas Center Parcs offers more outdoor experiences.

Our biggest highlights were the variety of pools and slides, how family-friendly everything felt, the cleanliness of the resort and the fact that there was always something to do.

But no holiday is perfect, so here are a few things worth knowing before you book:

• Some attractions require additional payment

• The sauna area follows traditional German rules and is clothing-free

• There aren't as many outdoor activities as Center Parcs

• Some accommodation extras can be expensive

• The pillows definitely need upgrading!

Other than that, we genuinely struggled to find many negatives.

My top tip:

Don't miss Berlin while you're there! One of the best things about Tropical Islands is it’s location. Berlin is only around an hour away, making it easy to add a city break onto your holiday. During our trip we visited the Berlin Wall and the Natural History Museum. It's a fantastic opportunity to combine a fun family resort holiday with some sightseeing and history.

How much does Tropical Islands cost?

We found deals starting from around £215 per person for three nights with flights included so compared to many UK family holidays, especially during school holidays, it’s surprisingly good value.

Would we go back?

Absolutely. The kids loved it, the travel was easy, there was loads to do and it felt completely different to anywhere we've stayed before. If you're looking for a family holiday that's a little bit different, combines waterpark fun with a city break, and doesn't involve a long flight, Tropical Islands is definitely worth considering. It's giving Center Parcs but with giant waterslides, tropical temperatures and an old airship hangar thrown into the mix. And honestly? We'd happily go back again.

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