Berlin with 14yo

[foebelow]

I plan to take DS14 to Berlin for a long weekend later in the year. I last went over 20 years ago with an ex so it’s all a bit fuzzy now.

I’m looking for recommendations of places to stay that are in safe areas that are reasonably priced but not hostels. Would prefer a hotel rather than Air BNB.

I also need reminding what good to see. DS has an interest in WW2 but would like to see other stuff too. I remember loving the beer gardens and am not adverse to us going to those if they allow 14 year olds in, but obviously need other stuff!

We stayed in the CityLight Hotel. It was very family friendly and good value for money. Importantly, it was well-located and the surroundings felt safe. My teen dc enjoyed the German Spy Museum, GDR museum, and computer games museum.

If money is not a real issue Tropical Islands near Brand is brilliant for a 14 year old, and it is nice enough for parents to endure also. They often meet others on the slides etc. It is massive. You can get there easily by train (it's about an hour), you can get packages inc hotel, and because it is open for 24 hours, this can be well worth it ! . Not particularly cheap, and slightly disney-land-esque at times, but we always loved it.

www.tropical-islands.de/?utm_id=GMBtraffic&utm_medium=OrganicGMB&utm_source=google

We stayed in the Ibis Hauptbahnhof last time. Very reasonable, nice breakfast and really good access to public transport - trams, and U/S Bahn. Couple of stops to Reichstag and Brandenburg gate. Sign up to do the roof at the Recihstag, it's free but you need to pre-book in plenty of time. We did a really good WWII walking tour. TrabiLand. Boat trip.

Thanks I will check these suggestions out 😊

We stayed at the Novotel in Mitte, and the breakfast was one of the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had 😂. Went with DS at about the same age (as a German/History GCSE ‘educational’ trip), we did the DDR Museum, a walking tour, Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Topography of Terror, etc etc, it was great! I also made him go to the ?Altsmuseum so I could see the bust of Nefertiti which was stunning.

DS has since been back to Berlin twice by himself (well once with school), he really likes it.

DH took DD when she was 15. Apart from the museums (which they both enjoyed) and a fabulous chocolate shop they changed the pace by taking a train out to Spreewald one day to canoe in the canals.

I took DD this year and she particularly loved the DDR Museum, East Side Gallery and Wall Museum. We walked up the Unter Den Linden to the Brandenburg Tor and Reichstag from our hotel. Also did Checkpoint Charlie, the Topographie of Terror, the Fernsehturm, the Nikolaiviertel, KDV and the Berlin Mall.

We stayed at Alexanderplatz in a Hampton bei Hilton. There is also a Holiday Inn near there. It was near all forms of public transport and a Primark!

It's a bit further out but the Sachsenhausen concentration camp may be worth checking out, it's recommended from 14 years onwards.

You have to book the Reichstag dome via the official Bundestag website, it's free but you will need to bring your passport and you go through airport security style checks so no pocketknives. There may be limited tickets for the same day but I wouldn't risk it.

The Holocaust memorial is a good point to visit as well.

The Bunker museum - Berlin Story - was recommended to us, we didn't manage it in the end though.

@EmmaStone We also stayed at the Novotel in Mitte. The location was perfect. Price reasonable.

We mostly walked but used the trams and u bahn too

If you’re going to the Reichstag, remember to pre-book it and being your passport

We stayed in a premiere inn just along the road from the Berlin zoo. Great location and being a prem inn you know exactly what you’re getting for a great price. Have fun!

The hop on hop off bus tour is a great way to see everything!

We stayed at the Westin Grande. That’s Mitte and very handy for Reichstag and transport. We really liked the PEI building and definitely go to the Reichstag. Arty DD2 liked Hamburger Bahnhof gallery. GDR museum is a must. We swerved the Jewish museum but there’s also the memorial.

Hotel Bliebtreu just off the Ku’damm in a safe, quiet area is reasonably good value.
I did the Stasi prison at Hohenschönhausen and this, chilling as it was, is recommended. Also try walking the route of the Berlin Wall and one of the Berlin Underground WWII structures on a guided tour.

For something more lighthearted, try the many David Bowie connected sites, the museums devoted to the Ramones or David Hasselhoff (yes, really) or the adventure/ high ropes obstacle course called Mount Mitte if you have a good head for heights.

Dolden Madel is a good brauhaus/ beer garden in the south of the city, and there is a former brewery on the Schonhauser Alle , now a cultural and entertainment hub, is also a nice place to wander around.

Berliner Unterwelden tours are amazing. They have a selection- some around WW2 sites, some Cold War. We went on one that visited an old Cold War escape tunnel under the Wall. The DC were enthralled.

If your DS has a strong stomach, maybe the Topography of Terror? It's close to the Reichstag/ Brandenburg Gate/Tiergarten area, and you can also visit the site of Hitler's bunker.

The DC (10 and 15 at the time) also really enjoyed the Teufelsberg, in the Grunewald- It's an artificial mountain made of the rubble of WW2 Berlin (cleared by women). There's an old American listening station on the top, now completely derelict and covered with amazing street art. It definitely has the cool factor!

At 14, DS will be old enough to drink a beer in a biergarten provided that you are accompanying him!! A fact that DS1 discovered with absolute glee 😆