Things to do with kids in Berlin

Things to do with kids in Berlin

1. SeeMitte

   Alte Nationalgalerie

   Old National Gallery

   Specializes in 19th-century painting and sculpture; Monet, Manet, Cézanne, C. David Friedrich and other important 18th- and 19th-century artists are well-represented.

   Admission: €10, discounted: €5, children under age of 18 free

2. SeeMitte

   Altes Museum

   The main floor houses the antiquities collection in an ongoing exhibit called "Neue Antike im Alten Museum" (New Antiquities in the Old Museum). Directly through the front door, entering from the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden, now under reconstruction), there is a domed rotunda with red and white cameos, Greek-style, with statues of the gods. To reach the Hildesheim silver collection, go to the back of the rotunda, turn left, walk through the long gallery and turn left into a small room at the end.

   Admission: €10, discounted: €5, children under age of 18 free

3. SeeMitte

   Aquarium

   The largest aquarium in Germany with over 9000 animals that are presented on three storeys in a historic building. Aquarium Berlin is found on the premises of the Zoo, but can also be visited separately. One of the best places on a rainy day with children.

   Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow·Adult €15.50, student €10.50, family ticket €41

4. DoCity West

   Artemis

   When the unpredictable weather in Berlin isn't favourable to explore the city's cultural gems, Artemis makes up for it with its wellness facilities. Aimed at relaxation, no children or electronic devices are allowed to make a full disconnection from real world worries possible. Amenities include indoor and outdoor (heated) swimming pools and saunas, whirlpools, cinemas, and so on. Lunch and dinner are included in the entrance fee. Bring €1 coins for the lockers. Open year round.

   11:00-05:00 daily·€90 for a day pass

5. EatCity West

   Bellucci

   Great pizzas and professional service. Not a family restaurant, but kids are welcome and well cared for.

6. SeeMitte

   Bode-Museum

   The museum’s treasures include the sculpture collection with works of art from the middle ages to the 18th century. The Bode museum is best known for its Byzantine art collection and the coin cabinet.

   Fri–Wed 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–20:00·Admission: €10, discounted: €5, children under age of 18 free

7. SeeEast Central

   Boxhagener Platz and surroundings

   Boxhagener Kiez

   The area around Boxhagener Platz is filled with bars, cafes and small shops. Boxhagener Platz itself is a small park with a playground and a cafe, and the nearby Simon Dach Straße is filled with cheap bars and restaurants. At the weekend you can find many places that serve the famous, cheap Berliner brunch. On Sundays there is a small flea market worth strolling around

8. DoTempelhof and Neukölln

   Britzer Garten

   A 90-hectare garden and former national garden show place (1984); public park with great flora and big playgrounds for kids; popular amongst children and seniors on weekends.

9. EatCity West

   Charlottchen

   Buffet breakfast and institution for parents and prepared for children of all ages, indoor play room!

10. EatMitte

    Chay Viet

    Vegetarian Vietnamese family restaurant, many dishes are Vegan.

    Mon-Fri 11:30-22:00, Sun 13:00-22:00·mains from €6.90, lunch offer €5.90 incl. dessert

11. DoEast Central

    Der Kegel

    At this outdoor climbing area which is on the RAW Gelände you can do rope climbing at a cone-shaped high-rise bunker from World War II, called the Kegel (cone). The venue also offers an indoor and outdoor bouldering area. In the Kegel shop you can rent or buy climbing gear and book rope climbing or bouldering courses. In summer, there is also an open-air cinema and a beergarden right next to the Kegel.

    Mon–Fri 09:00–23:00, Sat Sun 10:00–23:00·Day ticket €7, rope climbing after 15:00 €5, kids €4

12. DoTreptow-Köpenick

    FEZ Berlin

    Pionierpalast Ernst Thälmann

    While the former Palast der Republik in Berlin-Mitte has been demolished in favor of the reconstruction of the Berliner Schloss, its counterpart for kids, pupils and "young pioneers", the Pionierpalast Ernst Thälmann can still be seen at the Volkspark Wuhlheide. The large building complex which was built from 1976 to 1979 is a contemporary testimony for architecture in the socialist German Democratic Republic and of the 1970s. It included a cosmonaut training center, a large indoor swimming pool, a theater, restaurants, event locations, and a launch site for model rockets. Today it is called FEZ Berlin and the usage as a center for kids, the youth and families remains the same, with most of the original facilities such as the indoor swimming pool and the space flight training center still in place.

    Mon-Fri 08:30-16:00, Sat Sun 12:00-17:00

13. SeeMitte

    Fernsehturm

    Television tower

    At 368 metres, the Fernsehturm is Berlin's tallest and indeed EU's second-tallest building, complected between 1965 and 1969. The main function of the building is television broadcasting, but the shiny sphere atop the tower houses a viewing platform, a restaurant and a Berlin Tourist Information point. The viewing platform sits 203 metres above ground, affording views of as much as 42 km away and featuring a bar. Given how flat Berlin is, it's not a very interesting view however and the state of the glass means that you can't get good photos either. The Sphere restaurant at 207 metres rotates at a speed of one full spin per 30 minutes. There are two lifts from the base to the platform and cafe, taking 40 seconds to reach the top, as well as a 986-step staircase. The Fernsehturm is not accessible to wheelchair users. Not all of the Berliners liked the tower and the overall composition of the Alexanderplatz afforded by the socialist city planners. East German T.V. tried to establish the nickname "Telespargel" ("television asparagus") which however doesn't seem to have caught on. During certain times of day, sunlight reflecting from the top caused a large cross-shaped light to shine down on the city. Called the Rache des Papstes (Pope's revenge) by nominally atheist East Berliners, the light-cross was an ironic result of socialist architecture. Rumour has it the architect was deprived of more than his next commission after that fiasco. At night, the Fernsehturm sometimes appears to be shooting light beams from the tower section, giving the impression it's a Death Star à la Star Wars.

    Mar–Oct 09:00–00:00, Nov–Feb 10:00–00:00·€13, children €8.50 (if prebooked, slightly more walk up). Discount with voucher from other attractions

14. DoCity West

    Grips Theater

    Famous children's theatre with a light political touch, European recognition for the musical Linie 1.

15. DoMitte

    Großer Tiergarten

    Berlin's largest park. In the summer and on weekends you will see loads of families with their barbecues.

16. SeeEast Central

    Görlitzer Park

    K36

    150-200 m along the Wiener Straße (bypassing the fire house and the public swimming pool) from U-Bahn Görlitzer Bahnhof, the park is famous for the Turkish families barbecuing on summer weekends, failed contemporary art and relaxed atmosphere of students. It does have a reputation of being full of pickpockets and drug dealers though and the police makes regular visits to this place to check on the situation.

17. DoMitte

    Legoland Discovery Centre

    An educational attraction for children, featuring a LEGO replica of Berlin

    Adult and children: €18

18. DoCity West

    Lietzensee-Park

    Lie in the grass and unwind at Lake Lietzensee, especially if you are with children - most of Charlottenburg children know and love the playground there.

19. SeeEast Central

    Museum in der Kulturbrauerei

    Find out how it felt to live in East Germany in this modern and well-presented exhibition. The museum is a good starting point if you only have a few minutes to sneak a quick peek inside an East German family's living room, but you can spend hours diving further into the stories behind each exhibit by flicking through the documents on display or listening to contemporary witnesses' accounts (English translations available). The museum opened in November 2013 and is housed inside a beautifully restored former brewery; make sure to take a stroll through the courtyards!

    Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, Thu until 20:00·Free

20. EatMitte

    Papa Pane di Sorrento

    Italian family restaurant where supposedly stars like Brad Pitt and Katie Holmes have been sighted. It has the decor of a waiting hall and is often crowded and slightly hectic, but the pizzas and the tiramisu are still worth it.

    Mon-Fri 12:00-open end, Sat Sun 09:30-open end·pizzas from €8

21. SeeMitte

    Pergamon Museum

    There are three huge collections housed within this grand building: the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of Near Eastern Antiquities and the Museum of Islamic Art. The Pergamon Museum was the last museum built on Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and was intended to house the great acquisitions brought to Germany by archaeologists of the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The museum's best-known attraction is the Pergamonsaal. The Pergamon Altar (165 BC), from the eponymous Asia Minor city-state, is three stories high and served as the entrance gate to an entire complex. It is astounding both because of its size and extremely precise detail, especially in a frieze which shows the gods battling giants. The entire room is the same colour as the building's stone, making the details on the frieze section stand out even more. Facing the stairs, on the left hand side of the room there is a small-scale model of the altar which allows the viewer to see where the frieze segments would have been mounted. A 1:300 scale model of Pergamon city is on the right side of the room. The monumental market door of Milet has just been restored. Every first Sunday of the month, many museums in Berlin are free of charge. Sometimes a reservation is necessary in advance. For more information, see Museums Sonntag Booking. Since 2018 there is also a huge 360° panorama of Pergamon in another museum building, which is included in the Pergamon-only ticket.

    Fri–Wed 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–20:00·Admission: €19, discounted: €9.50, children under age of 18 free

22. SeeCity West

    Planetarium am Insulaner

    In the very southeast of Schöneberg, there are daily shows for children and grown-ups alike. Projection is into a drawn Berlin skyline. Several guided tours to the obervatory daily with sky observation, conditions permitting.

23. SeeReinickendorf and Spandau

    Schloss Tegel

    A remarkable medium-sized classical castle by the famous K.F. Schinkel built 1820 to 1824, also called "Humboldtschlösschen", because Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt (and their family) lived here once. Still privately owned.

    Guided tours Mondays from May to Sept

24. SeeEast

    Schloss and Schlosspark Biesdorf

    A small castle in late classical style. It was built 1868 by Martin Gropius (uncle of the Bauhaus-founder and other architects, the von Siemens family changed the castle a bit around 1900 and they enlarged the dimensions of the park, which is today renovated and nice to wander around when the sun is shining. Located within a few minutes' walking distance from Biesdorf station (take the S5 from the city centre) or Elsterwerdaer Platz station (U5).

25. SeeSteglitz-Zehlendorf

    Schloss und Schlosspark Glienicke

    Glienicke Palace, Casino and Garden

    This castle is one of Berlin's oldest castles and where Prince Carl used to reside. Be sure to check out Glienicke Bridge, the bridge that became renowned for the exchange of Western and Eastern secret agents. You can also visit Glienicke Park.

    Apr-Oct: Tue-Sun; Mar Nov-Dec: Sat Sun holidays·Single €6, reduced €5, family €12

26. EatCity West

    Shayan

    This is a family run Iranian restaurant with excellent Persian cuisine. Marinated lamb kebabs and the vegetarian khoreshteh esphinaj (stew) are recommended. Don't forget to order the delicious tea at the end of your meal!

    Lunch €7-10

27. SeeEast

    Stasi Museum

    This museum describes the procedures applied by the East German secret police. Every Friday to Monday, there is a guided tour in English at 15:00 (5€).

    Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 11:00-18:00·€10 adults, €7.5 students/seniors/unemployed, 5€ children <12y.o

28. EatTempelhof and Neukölln

    Tabibito

    Japanese restaurant, family-run, very friendly (sometimes you get a snack for free), since it's little, can be very crowded in the evenings.

    Open now · closes 11 pm

29. SeeTempelhof and Neukölln

    Tempelhof Airport

    The "mother of all airports", according to Sir Norman Foster, is a huge relic of the interwar era. The terminal building, built between 1936 and 1941 immediately south of the city centre, was the hot spot of the Berlin airlift (Berliner Luftbrücke) in 1948-49, but closed as an airport on October 30, 2008. In 1951 a monument was added to its entrance square - then renamed "Airlift Square" -to commemorate the airlifts over the Berlin Blockade. The airport was featured in movies like Billy Wilder's One Two Three. Nowadays, the airfield is a spacious park with many visitors in summer and fall. The terminal building is still fascinating - the halls and neighbouring buildings, intended to become the gateway to Europe, are still some of the largest structures in the world. The terminal building is used as a venue of fashion weeks or fairs. In the 21st century, the former airport was a hot-button political issue: First Tempelhof Airport was the subject of a failed ballot measure to keep it open as an airport. A few years later, a ballot measure to prevent new construction on its outskirts was successful, thus preserving the urban open space at the cost of an exacerbated housing shortage.

    Sunrise to sunset·The park is free; guided tour of the building €15 for adults, €10 for students, €7 for children 14 and under

30. DrinkMitte

    The Barn

    A small cafe that takes coffee very seriously. Or, to say it in their words: "Please be aware that we have certain preferences when serving a coffee the way we believe it tastes best." Children are not really welcome, there is only a restricted area for laptops. Good sandwiches.

    08:00–18:00

31. SeeEast

    Tierpark

    The zoo in the former East Berlin is more spacious than its West Berlin counterpart, the historic Berlin Zoo and has been open for some 50 years. The Tierpark has nearly as many animals, but fewer reptiles and aquatic animals. It appears rather like a park with animals than a classic zoo, in fact it is one of the biggest zoos in Europe. There is an old castle from the late 17th century in the northeast of the Tierpark (Schloss Friedrichsfelde).

32. BuySteglitz-Zehlendorf

    Werken, Spielen, Schenken

    A great place for kids. With a toy store in the front and a craft store in the back, you will find everything you need for playing or crafting.

33. EatTreptow-Köpenick

    Westernrestaurant Richtershorn am See

    Old style Western restaurant at the waterside with a log cabin, outdoor terrace, dancehall, wharf, zoo and winter garden as well as a beautiful view over the Langer See lake.

    Tue-Fri 14:00-18:00, Sat Sun 12:00-18:00

34. SeeMitte

    Zoological Garden

    Zoologischer Garten

    The largest zoo in the world, both in terms of number of species (1500) and animal population (14,000). It is especially famous for its pandas. The Elephant Gate (Budapester Straße), one of the two entrances and next to the Aquarium, is a traditional photo stop for most visitors because of the architecture.

    Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow·€13, Zoo & Aquarium €20, students €10/€15, children 5-15 years €6.50/€10, family ticket: €35/€50, annual tickets available

35. SeeReinickendorf and Spandau Not mapped

    Borsigwerke and Borsigturm

    Ex-industrial buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century, nice clinker-architecture and the first (mini) highraiser of Berlin, the Borsigturm, 65 m high, built 1922-24. The area houses now offices, a shopping mall and some places for entertainment. The company Borsig has a very turbulent and storied history and while it has long since ceased being a "German" company or connected to the family of the same name, the investors that bought the name and assets after a bankruptcy keep producing in Berlin-Tegel.

36. SeeSteglitz-Zehlendorf Not mapped

    Museumsdorf Düppel

    museum village Düppel

    This museum is perhaps something you wouldn't expect in a major metropolis and truth be told it owes its existence in part to partition (when West Berlin schoolkids couldn't go to the surrounding Brandenburg countryside to experience rural life). Opened in 1975 it is an attempt to recreate as faithfully as feasible a medieval farming village from roughly the era of Berlin's founding (12th or 13th century). The village that existed at this place 800 years ago was not called "Düppel" back then as that name was only applied in the 1860s after the Prussian victory over Denmark at Dybbøl which was rendered into German as "Düppel" and applied to the area to honor a member of the Prussian royal family who owned land there.

37. SeeSteglitz-Zehlendorf

    Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem

    Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem

    The garden is part of the Free University of Berlin.

    Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow·Adults €6, reduced €3, family €12

38. EatCity West

    Curry 36 (Bahnhof Zoo)

    Hardenbergpl. 9

39. SeeMitte

    Deutschlandmuseum

    An immersive history museum, opened in 2023

    Sun–SA 10:00–20:00·adults €11–12.50, children €8.00–€15.50

40. SeeMitte

    Neues Museum

    Museumsinsel

    Fri–Wed 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–20:00·Admission: €12, discounted: €6, children under age of 18 free

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Berlin (CC BY-SA 4.0).