Berlin

[StyleManual]

I could do with some inside info please. I am trying to book a short break (5 days) to Berlin and because we have a toddler we're looking at renting an apartment rather than staying in a hotel. (for more flexibility)

So I have found 2 that seem quite good.
No. 1 is in Charlottenburg (around where Kantstraße and Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße meet I think). I understand this is a nice part of town. But I don't think it's near any parks. The owners seem very baby friendly and provide toys, DVDs etc.

No 2 is in Neuköln. I havent heard of this area, so not sure if it's dodgy! The apartment is super close to a big park which has a really good playground and little zoo. I think there is an outdoor pool too. PLus the flat is big and really nicely done out.

So which one do we go for? Is there anything I should know? Like Neuköln is a total dump? Or it's hard to get around from there. Would Charlottenburg be a better bet?

Any other tips on Berlin would be great. I have pursuaded DH he wants to go by showing him pictures of German cakes. Any must-sees which are also toddler friendly. And any tips on cake shops? Can't wait for my Kaffee und Kuchen fix!

TIA!

Neukölln is not a dump. It is a poorer area of Berlin than Charlottenburg ... not swish and yuppie. But, it is an area with lots of artists (cheaper rents) and alternative bars, cafes, restaurant. Personally I love Neukölln, although I don´t live there. It has a really multicultural atmosphere and there´s a lot going on.
The park that you are talking about may be the Hasenheide. This is a wonderful park with one of the most fantastic playgrounds ever. We pilgrim across Berlin to go to it. The park stretches across to the Bergmannstrasse in Kreuzberg, which is a great area with good cafes, etc. You may notice the occasional dodgy person in the park, but the park is well and truly in the hands of the families having picnics, playing at the playground, as well as people going to the open air cinema evenings in the park. Berliners don´t bother about the odd cannabis seller - although the police do and you may see them on patrol. It is definitely a safe park and a brilliant place for children to play. Just, it is a city park and city life is here ... I just want to tell you that so you can assess what kind of experience you´re after. If you want posher, middle-class Berlin, go for Charlottenburg. Personally I would go for Neukölln.
As for connections, I would say both are well connected with U Bahn etc..
Ironically for the ultimate cake-shop I would suggest one more in the Charlottenburg direction: Cafe Einstein in the Kurfürstenstrasse (not to be confused with Kurfürstendamm).
Have a great time!

Ooh, you've totally won me over! That park sounds amazing. Obviously we're not going to Berlin for the playgrounds, but that just sounds the business for a busy toddler. Especially if there's no garden with the apartment.
Cake shop duely noted. I bet Neukölln has some amazing kebab shops too?

If you mean this pool, well it's so good we chose it when staying in the centre of Berlin last Summer. It has a separate toddlers pool, as well as a large pool with slides and another with 1/3/5/10m platforms which our 6 to 14 year olds spent all afternoon jumping off.
www.berlinerbaederbetriebe.de/index.php?id=116

In Neukölln there are traditional cafes well worth visiting - particularly if you´re close.
The most notable are Cafe Rix and also I think the other one is "Hofperle" in the same building as the Neuköllner Oper (the opera). Both are in the Karl Marx Strasse maybe 100m apart from one another.