Back to nature was the dictum in the 18th century, so Friedrich Wilhelm II had this little island turned into an idyllic playground, perfect for retreating from state affairs and for frolicking with his mistress in a snowy-white fairy-tale palace . To heighten the romance factor, he brought in a flock of peacocks that gave the island its name and that are still strutting their stuff to this day. A stand-out among the smattering of other buildings is the Meierei , a dairy farm in the shape of a Gothic monastery at the island's eastern end.
The island is a nature preserve, so no smoking, cycling or swimming. Picnicking, though, remains legal. There are no cafes or restaurants. The island is about 4km northwest of S-Bahn station Wannsee, from where it's served several times hourly by bus 218.
