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Original poster

Berlin with Teenagers - help!!

41 replies

Eastmeetswest1 · 27/08/2023 21:37

I am taking 4 teenagers to Berlin and will have 5 full days there. I have hopefully worked out some 'fun' things to do with them but would really like them to learn about Berlin's history and visit the main sites - The Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie (Museum), Berlin Wall, Holocaust Memorial.

My first question is - have I missed anything blatantly obvious and secondly can anyone who has been recommend the best way to visit them all / get them (and me) to learn the history in a fun way) - I'm thinking they won't thank me for booking a walking tour as much as I'd love to. Was wondering if there was perhaps a bike tour that would be youngster suitable or book separate tickets and make our own way around. I think they might listen to someone bringing everything to life that isn't me / them having to read placards. Is a particular hop-on hop-off bus worthwhile. I have so far only booked flights and accommodation for the 7 days (no travel around the city yet). Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Eastmeetswest1 · 27/08/2023 21:40

My 'fun' things are the German Spy Museum, Disgusting Food Museum, Iluseum, the TV Tower and a food tour. The Body World Museum I'm not so sure about.

OP posts:
dun1urkin · 27/08/2023 21:49

They might enjoy the DDR museum, very hands on and lots of fun.

User5653218 · 27/08/2023 21:50

The Ferrnsehturm had a 3d experience showing you the history of Berlin from earliest times and showing the difference between living in the East and the West. I'd recommend it. Only 20 minutes long but we all learned something.

You should add a meal in a traditional / tourist bierhalle with beer and wurst and men in lederhosen. My teenagers thought it was hilarious.

There's an excellent museum at what was the old gestapo hq called Topography of Terror. A bit grim though, my 11 yr old didn't want to stay.

You can climb a big spiral staircase up the Victory monument. I stayed at the bottom but the kids enjoyed climbing up.

They really wanted to go into TrabiWorld which is a Trabant museum near Checkpoint Charlie but I said no to that. It did look funny though if you were in the right frame of mind.

I liked the Europacenter which was the first shopping centre built in the American sector after ww2. And there's an amazing department store just off Alexanderplatz that's like a utilitarian box on the outside but totally glamorous in the inside. We didn't buy anything but loved looking around.

Original poster
Eastmeetswest1 · 27/08/2023 21:51

Thank you, will add it to my list and look into it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eastmeetswest1 · 27/08/2023 21:58

I discounted the Topograhy of Terror because of the youngest 2 but will perhaps reconsider. I've not seen anything about your other suggestions so will get researching more- thanks! How did you all get around?? Day tickets (for ease) or....? The age range is 12 - 16. First time going on my own with them all.

OP posts:
Acornsoup · 27/08/2023 22:00

The Zoological Gardens are lovely

PatriciaHolm · 27/08/2023 22:05

Spy Museum is great, though you may want to steer the youngest away from the spy sex toys. Yep.

Imnotdrinkingmerlot · 27/08/2023 22:11

Don't discount a walking tour - we did one with an English student studying in Berlin and it was great. Very trendy student, really knowledgeable as they were studying history, and gave lots of recommendations for bars/ cafes/ etc on way round. Also more gossipy facts as well as all the history. If you go to the square in front of the brandenburg gate they're touting so you can pick someone you like the look of.

DDR museum was also great.

vdbfamily · 27/08/2023 22:14

We did a nice long boat trip along the many waterways going through the city and that had some history/ narrative explaining what we were passing. We had a lovely day for it and are on board. Called' historic city cruise'
KaDeWe is worth a visit even just for cake and a drink.
The Humboldt Forum is worth seeing. The foundations are interesting.
Berlin Zoo is great.
Sorry not helping much with the history but.
Potsdam is great with Sans Souci palace.
Enjoy... it is a great city and getting around is so easy.

drawingmaps · 27/08/2023 22:15

Do definitely visit the Berlin Wall Memorial near the Chapel of Reconciliation. There's a wall of photos of the victims that I found very moving. Every day, they do a short memorial service in the Chapel of Reconciliation for one of the people that died. They give as much of a biography as they can to really humanise the people, so you get to learn one of their stories and honour them. I think I'd recommend it as a form of memorial/ reflection even if you're not religious. If you tell them you don't speak German they'll do it in English at the same time.

Blinkingmarvellous · 27/08/2023 22:21

You can get a 24 hour ticket (24 stundenkarte) which includes all modes of public transport at any station. I would highly recommend a trip out to Potsdam on the s-bahn. I took my 15 year old in February and we both loved it. We went to the art museum and the bio-sphaere but there are also the palaces.
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/potsdam
https://www.museum-barberini.de/en/

https://www.biosphaere-potsdam.de/

I would also recommend the spy museum- a good combination of entertainment and education

Potsdam

To the south-west of Berlin lies Potsdam, the capital of the federal state of Brandenburg. The city, with its rich cultural landscape and many attractions, is a worthwhile destination that makes a wonderful complement to a trip to Berlin. The main attr...

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/potsdam

vdbfamily · 27/08/2023 22:22

Travels cards are great and you can buy a 24 hour small group card for 29 Euro. ( up to 5)
The 24 hour period starts first time you frank it in a machine. If you get an ABC zone it is plus 2 euro but goes out to airport and Potsdam. AB will do most other places. Card allows travel on all forms of public transport including some boats( ie across Wansee on river taxi)

Coatandhat · 27/08/2023 22:58

Definitely recommend the DDR Museum and also the Berlin Wall Memorial in Bernauerstrasse. Teens may enjoy East Side Gallery and a Trabant tour.

Wbeezer · 27/08/2023 23:05

One of mine got a haircut in a trendy barbers ( we live in a wee village so this was a novelty!) And also went for a beer with his Dad. We loved the zoo. We went to the Historical Museum and the Industrial Museum. Did a lot of pottering about in the shops and trying lots of bakeries and markets. Sunday brunch!
Must go back one day, so much to see.

DinaofCloud9 · 27/08/2023 23:07

The computer game museum is fun.
Mine also enjoyed the DDR museum and a boat ride down the river.

DinaofCloud9 · 27/08/2023 23:08

They might enjoy a trip to the Olympic stadium if they enjoy sports.

ChicoryDip · 27/08/2023 23:14

A boat trip is a good way to understand the geography of the city and what's where. I remember there being some interesting history as part of the commentary. I also recommend the Spy Museum and a visit to the Ampelmann shop!

Much of Berlin is easily walkable but take comfy shoes.

dressedforcomfort · 27/08/2023 23:16

The Museum at Checkpoint Charlie is fascinating but gets very busy so go early.

The Sony Centre do English language films if you fancy a movie night.

The restaurant at the Fernsehrturm is great for panoramic views.

Walking along the stretch of the wall on the East Side Gallery is cool, lots of graffiti art.

The cafe at KaDeWe is awesome for cake (and also breakfasts).

Going outside the City Centre and taking a boat trip on the Havel is nice.

If all else fails there's a Lego store at the top end of the Kufustendamm!

percypig · 27/08/2023 23:17

I agree with the suggestions for the Computer Game Museum (though I feel like I went to a slightly different one which included more modern things too) and the DDR and spy museums and Eastside Gallery.

You said you already have fun things planned, but I’ll mention the Ritter Sport shop to create your own chocolate bar. There’s a VW showroom v near which has new/prototype cars too. I can’t remember if anyone mentioned a tour of the Reichstag - it’s free but you have to book in advance. Finally, take some time to wander round and eat in ‘trendy’ areas (like Kreuzberg when I was there, possibly somewhere else now).

YukoandHiro · 27/08/2023 23:19

Stasi museum

EmmaPaella · 27/08/2023 23:25

I haven’t anything to add to the above except a trip to the Wannsee.

GrumpyPanda · 27/08/2023 23:26

If you do go out to Potsdam, definitely check out the palaces but there's also the Filmpark Babelsberg which should be just the thing for kids/teens.

https://www.filmpark-babelsberg.de/?s=

Du hast nach gesucht - Filmpark Babelsberg

https://www.filmpark-babelsberg.de/?s=