Berlin with Kids

[mikado1]

Heading to Berlin at the end of July. Would love some tips on what to see/do and where to eat. Ideally would like some free/cheaper options as well as ticketed venues. Thanks in advance!

Oh, and the Grenzerfahrungen museum at Friedrichstrasse (the building where people used to cross from West to East - the Tränenpalast) is free and - although it only looks at a particular aspect of GDR life - I personally find it better than the DDR Museum, which drifts into Disneyfication on occasion.
There's a good installation about the 89/90 period and people's experiences of it at the Kulturbrauerei atm. It's in Prenzlauer Berg where there are lots of quirky shops, cafes etc.

That looks super but I can't see a simple Book Tickets link 🤔

Sorry that was wrt Roads not taken Exhibition. Going to look at Grenzerfahrungen now! So many things to do. Won't manage all. Definitely need a lake or pool at least a day or two for a few hours.

Only see this now re pool! Thanks!

Here's a link to info about tickets for the DHM - for some reason they're not selling online tickets this week.
https://www.dhm.de/en/visit/admission-and-tickets/

I think there's a splash park-type affair in the Britzer Garten, but don't quote me on that - been ages since I went - and it may be more suitable for younger children. Older ones tend to do lakes or outdoor pools (I think there's a nice one in Pankow, just north of Schönhauser Allee).

Thanks so much, somehow missed this. Heading to Berlin this evening. I'm torn now between Sunday at a lake, outdoor pool or tropical islands- v pricey - 200e for the day. Any opinions appreciated. At 7 and 11 I think they'll just be glad of a swim.

Fat tires bike tour

Thanks everyone! We had a lovely trip!
Highlights - hop on-hop off, Spy Museum, Futurium, the Zoo, Tiergarten
Food: Osteria, Silo (brunch) and the restaurants around Kadwe. Train station food incredibly good standard!!

Hello, thought I’d jump on here to see if anyone can advise.... We were recommended to buy a museum island day pass... but can’t seem to find where you buy online? Anyone else managed this?

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/tickets/berlin-museum-island-day-ticket#/experience/BTM00020100859047471

Glad you had a lovely time, OP! Did you go swimming?

Does anyone on the thread speak German? I can’t find out whether there’s a minimum age limit for this festival. We’re interested in booking a day pass but will have our 15 year old with us when we’re there.

Link: https://www.pop-kultur.berlin/en/festival/
I can’t see it on the English pages.

Under 'AGB' at the bottom (only in German) there is information about children (point 13). They're definitely allowed, but it's not very helpful in that it says that under-13s need to be accompanied by an adult and 16s and over can be there without an adult until midnight, but nothing for the ages in between It does say that general youth protection laws apply and for under-16s that means having to be accompanied by an adult, so I think the bit about 'up to the age of 12' is possibly a typo. Anyway, I'm guessing you won't be allowing him to roam around by himself, so all that's irrelevant really.

Thank you @ShoesoftheWorld ! We’ll be there with him so he’ll be accompanied. I didn’t want to risk buying tickets and be turned away, but we can book with confidence now. 👍

Trabi tour is great fun. Curry wurst museum by Checkpoint Charlie. The Reichtag is impressive - that is best pre-booked. A boat trip on the Spree.

Place-marking as going in a week.
Useful thread! Thanks.

No we didn't swim as it just wasn't that hot! Instead we had one day where we split up - a dc each- and went with their choice, one to the zoo and one to Futurium. Really liked Berlin 😃

Any recommendations on where to stay in central Berlin? I've booked flights for the end of August.

@iusedtobeasize8 I've stayed at both the Ibis and the Novotel. Both are walking distance from Checkpoint Charlie and next to Aanhalter Bahnhof for the underground. There's also a Lidl and an Edeka around the corner, where we bought food/salads etc.
We were in the Novotel in May this year. The WiFi was terrible but it was clean, spacious, fairly cheap, and had secure parking.
Map attached!

@toycat I’m interested in your experience of Sommerbad Neukölln as we have an afternoon guided tour of Templehof airport. I reckon we can fit in a swim at the sommerbad followed by the rooftop DJ bar. DH isn’t keen on swimming. Is there anywhere he can sit out of the sun, like a cafe or shaded picnic area? What were the changing areas like? Are there secure lockers and showers?

DH booked a table for lunch at the revolving restaurant at the top of the television tower. DS (13) loved it and said it was the best part of the trip and I'm inclined to agree! It was fabulous fun. He also liked the DDR museum.

There's a cafe on site - it was shut in June but the water was freezing then and only a handful of people in!

There are small lockers near the entrance for keys, wallet, phone etc - think it was a euro coin one. We couldn't work out how to use the big ones so we brought our bags and towels just to the side of the pool. People sit out and sunbathe too, so carry their stuff over.

There are single sex showers and changing rooms. There are some private changing rooms too.

Thank you. DH can be designated keeper of all our clobber.

@iusedtobeasize8 we got a good deal at the Movenpick hotel and thought it was great.

Sommerbad Neukoln was closed during our stay. My Berlin friend told me there had been trouble there.. too much testosterone she said 😆 Just check, perhaps that has changed again.