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Original poster

Berlin with kids

29 replies

Kakinkankakoo · 09/10/2022 18:25

We are going to Berlin with our kids next month, they are 7, 5 and 8 months. We will be staying in the city centre.

I've gone through all of the old threads but wanted to narrow things down a bit. We are going for 3 days and the second day falls on my 40th birthday so I would love to do something special.

I like museums but don't feel like I can emotionally cope with any of the more sensitive ones, especially not with the kids. I would like somewhere that the whole family can enjoy, and am partial to a modern art type of place. Somewhere a bit different that my kids would be interested in.

I would also love to find a brilliant restaurant in the city centre that we can go to on my birthday evening.

I know there are a lot of Berliners here so please share your inside knowledge! I would just love a special, memorable birthday with my husband and kids in a city we've never visited before.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Kakinkankakoo · 09/10/2022 21:24

Even just a restaurant suggestion would be great 👍

OP posts:
WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 09/10/2022 21:55

Spy Museum & DDR, great for kids. Reichstag worth a visit - there's a restaurant at the top, we had a lovely brunch there.

brainstories568 · 09/10/2022 22:03

No ideas for specific restaurants as we self catered/got take away as our baby was around 5 months when we went, but there are loads of quite cool kindercafes (aka play cafe eseque places) dotted around the city which your younger ones in particular will enjoy. We went to several whilst we were there and whilst we were clearly tourists and spoke little German we were made to feel welcome. I downloaded a map from somewhere (sorry can't remember where!) and it was even handy for things like baby changing.
theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/berlin/articles/the-top-7-kindercafes-in-berlin/

MarmiteCoriander · 09/10/2022 22:15

I'd try to visit the Neues museum- if for nothing else, but to see the Nefertiti bust. Personally, it is one of those once-in-a lifetime type things to see (Mona Lisa, Pompeii, King Tuts tomb etc). The rest of the museum was amazing, but this was my highlight.

Can't recommend a restaurant, but I hopeful bump anyway.

MarmiteCoriander · 09/10/2022 22:19

Sorry, clicked too soon! I found Berlin friendly, safe and easy to get around. DH had a conference there, so I travelled around on my own visiting the museums and sights- all over the city via the tube.

Nearly all younger people had a far better command of English than my attempts at German too. I also visited the pathology museum- but I wouldn't recommend it for the kids 😮

RandomUsernameHere · 09/10/2022 22:19

Following as hope to go next year

Haycorns4Piglet · 09/10/2022 22:27

That indoor waterpark in the aeroplane hanger? I want to go there!

Haycorns4Piglet · 09/10/2022 22:28

www.tropical-islands.de/en

dreamingbohemian · 09/10/2022 22:39

I really recommend the Technik Museum, my son loved it at that age. The boat tours around the city are also pretty great.

I can maybe recommend a restaurant if you're more specific where you're staying? (There's not one city centre)

Haven't been to Tropical Islands in a few years but it was a really fun time. Would take up a whole day.

Higglydy · 09/10/2022 22:40

Sammlung Boros is a world war 2 bunker turned modern art gallery (it's all above ground)- it's tour only and I can highly recommend if you can get tickets - look now as they sell out fast. Urban Spree in Friedrichshain (near the river and the longest remaining part of the Berlin Wall)- the gallery is a cool place set in an interesting area with lots of local restaurants (around Boxhagener Platz) - it depends on whether you like street arty type stuff mixed with modern art. Gropius Bau Gallery often has interesting exhibitions, and c/o but that's a photography gallery.

Clarchens Ballroom has a room of mirrors (Spiegel Raum I think) which I think does food, it's a bit of an experience to go there. I think there's a place called oxymoron in Hackescher Höfe in Mitte which is supposed to be good fine dining.

It's a great city, I lived there for years. Don't just stay in Mitte or Charlottenburg, I recommend catching a tram to Prenzlauer Berg - lots of nice restaurants and arty things generally going on. Kreuzberg is nice too but a bit edgier (but safe, I never felt unsafe anywhere in Berlin). Enjoy, it's s wonderful place!

Higglydy · 09/10/2022 22:43

Oh or Tempelhofer Feld - it's a huge disused airport on the south of the city but the airfield is now a park. It's very popular with cyclists, rollerskaters etc. They didn't take away the runway or signage so it's an interesting place to wander, depending on where you are staying it might be a bit far.

hotdiggetydog · 09/10/2022 22:46

For a good bite, check out the Irish bar, just off the main square.

brainstories568 · 10/10/2022 07:27

Higglydy · 09/10/2022 22:43

Oh or Tempelhofer Feld - it's a huge disused airport on the south of the city but the airfield is now a park. It's very popular with cyclists, rollerskaters etc. They didn't take away the runway or signage so it's an interesting place to wander, depending on where you are staying it might be a bit far.

I was going to suggest there but didn't know if that was too out there...!

PorkPieForStarters · 10/10/2022 10:29

Museum Der Dinge (museum of things) is my absolute favourite museum ever - it's not that big but has so many cabinets filled of collections of all sorts and arranged by either period, colour, material, cultural history etc. So you could have a cabinet of Mona Lisa souvenirs next to one full of Polly Pockets, next to one full of cameras, next to one full of miniature chairs, next to one full of yellow kitchen utensils, next to one full of toy cars, next to one full of Soviet era pin badges.

Obviously quite nostalgic for me but I think there's something for everyone there and how it's all curated is really fun!

www.museumderdinge.org/

Tickets are free for kids and a small amount for adults. It's tucked through a small archway and in a quite residential-looking building, so have a map and keep your eyes peeled if you go!

Just spotted it's free museum Sunday on Nov 6th, so if you're there then I'd recommend booking and museum/gallery tickets in advance as they could be busy! www.museumssonntag.berlin/en

Original poster
Kakinkankakoo · 10/10/2022 13:43

Yay, replies! Amazing , thanks everyone. I will get back to the thread soon. Getting excepted now. Would the museum of things be a fun thing to do for my birthday? I like museums and I like things.

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Original poster
Kakinkankakoo · 10/10/2022 14:13

OK I've booked the restaurant at the top of the reichstag for 10am on my birthday, and tickets for the museum of things for 2pm to give us time to dander over. It's about 50 minutes on foot but if anyone can think of a cool way to get there that would be great. I think I'm staying in Mitte. The Irish bar will definitely be visited at the insistence of my husband, I imagine!

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cranberrymilkshake · 10/10/2022 14:16

You have to go to the Museum of video games!
www.computerspielemuseum.de/1210_Home.htm

dreamingbohemian · 10/10/2022 15:04

Museum of Things is a bit out of the way for you. I would go to the Museum of Decorative Arts, you can walk through Tiergarten to get there after lunch.

Don't go to the Irish pubs! You're only there for 3 days, why would you go to something you can do at home, they are mainly tourist traps. Go to a German beer garden or cafe, they are so much nicer.

www.exberliner.com/berlin/the-best-beer-gardens-in-berlin/

theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/articles/the-best-brunch-and-breakfast-spots-in-mitte-berlin/

PorkPieForStarters · 10/10/2022 16:30

Kakinkankakoo · 10/10/2022 14:13

OK I've booked the restaurant at the top of the reichstag for 10am on my birthday, and tickets for the museum of things for 2pm to give us time to dander over. It's about 50 minutes on foot but if anyone can think of a cool way to get there that would be great. I think I'm staying in Mitte. The Irish bar will definitely be visited at the insistence of my husband, I imagine!

Oh great, I think you'll like it, esp as there'll be plenty of things from your childhood!

I'd probably just walk it but plan your route with extra time and meander past key places along the way like Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlinische Galerie (modern art) etc.

dreamingbohemian · 10/10/2022 18:51

I don't know, I wouldn't drag three little kids for an hour's walk to such a tiny place. There are more museums closer to the Reichstag that have more to see and actual kids' activities that they would enjoy.

I do love all these quirky tiny Berlin museums but they're more fun without kids in tow.

Maybe your husband could take the kids to the zoo for a couple hours while you go to the museum on your own for a birthday treat?

Original poster
Kakinkankakoo · 11/10/2022 06:37

Thanks everyone. Am taking your point on @dreamingbohemian when we do city breaks we lo lots of walking with regular stops but I haven't been before so don't have a good enough scope of the city to understand the logistics. We currently live in Italy (expats) and are used to the layout of Italian cities with lots of piazzas to stop and chill in en route. Can see about cancelling the museum for something closer. What do others think?

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sagalooshoe · 11/10/2022 06:44

There's a 'green' walk were you can walk a couple of miles through the city and never meet a big road, its dotted with amazing playgrounds and cafes so great for your 7 year old and pit stops to feed baby. I think it starts in Kreutzberg area.

Whycanineverever · 11/10/2022 06:49

Thanks for this post - we are off in a couple of weeks so good to have some suggestions. Although my kids are a little older.

balalake · 11/10/2022 07:13

A walk along the East Side Gallery I suggest as something else to do.

Original poster
Kakinkankakoo · 11/10/2022 07:37

Great ideas!

My favourite museum was the Tate Modern. I'm not much of an art or history buff but I do like something engaging or thought provoking. I also liked the Titanic museum in Belfast, just for some context as to what I like. I will look all these places up. Thanks so much for all of your tips.

OP posts: