Berlin is, without doubt, one of my favourite European cities to visit for a short break. We first visited in 2003 and have been several times since, both as a couple and as a family with our two boys. It is an incredible place full of history, culture, food, shopping, great parks and attractions, an amazing transport system and an insane variety of districts to explore. I could not love it more.
As a former History teacher, Berlin naturally really appeals to my love of all things ‘History’ and every time I go back I find something new to discover (and be all ‘nerdy’ about as my husband and eldest son tell me).
But aside from the obvious sense of history that you find everywhere in Berlin, it is a really exciting and ever-changing city to explore; and I honestly believe it is great with kids. We visited when ours were quite small and found it really achievable. It is a great city for walking, with loads of family-friendly districts, lots of family attractions, and food and drink options literally every way you turn.
Berlin is also wonderful explored at different times of the year; I have visited in February, April, August (several times) and October, and loved them all. It is a city that suits all seasons; gorgeous large avenues to wander in the summer and stop for refreshments at outdoor seating, great river-side locations, and beautiful green spaces, plus a fab zoo. In winter, it feels so beautiful. The exact right place to be bundled up in cosy winter clothing and exploring the sights. Blue skies and crisps cold days are stunning in Berlin. Spring is also a great time to visit; there are lots of outdoor sights to enjoy in the Spring sunshine, and you can head off on endless walking tours of this incredible city.
Below are some of our top tips and must see sights for Berlin (all family friendly).
Must see sights in Berlin:
The list for this could literally go on forever. I have tried to select what we feel are the really key ones with children; it is a brilliant mix of history, food, shopping, attractions and mind blowing architecture. It is a seriously surprising city with so much on offer. One city break is definitely not enough!
- Berlin Cathedral
Berlin Cathedral is a truly iconic part of the city, beautiful to view from the outside if you simply want to wander around outside, but also incredible inside. You can pre-book tickets to visit, and get an amazing panoramic view of the city from the top. Dating back to the middle ages, this is one of the major landmarks in Berlin. Very family friendly, and within walking distance of other major attractions.
- Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz is a fascinating part of Berlin. Once a wasteland, where the Berlin Wall ran through it, it is now an entirely new neighbourhood and a must for anyone visiting Berlin. There are restaurants, cinemas, theatres, shopping centres, a very cool ‘Sony Centre’ and modern architecture to be enjoyed, plus an indoor lego discovery centre for the kids.
If you happen to be at Potsdamer Platz, take a look downwards, because a metal strip laid in the ground marks the route of the Berlin Wall. There are also some sections of the Berlin Wall to see here.
- Alexander Platz
Alexander Platz is one of my favourite spots in Berlin, simply due to the history and unique sense of the past you get here. It is really quirky, and has some fab must-see attractions to visit. Simply called ‘Alex’ by locals, it is the city’s largest square and one of its most lively, with an important transport junction. It makes a great starting point for exploring Berlin.
I would recommend seeing the Weltzeituhr (world clock), the Fountain of International Friendship and the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) here. All 3 are iconic parts of this eastern district of Berlin and well worth seeing.
The incredible Television Tower blows my mind every time I visit. There is a viewing platform over 200 feet up which gives you incredible views of the city (an elevator whisks you up there in under 40 seconds). There is also a really cool revolving restaurant at the top. We loved going there for coffee and cake. Such a unique experience.
- Berlin Zoo
Berlin Zoo is well worth a visit in my opinion. We have been a couple of times and loved it; the boys thought it was wonderful. It is Germany’s oldest zoo, and home to the largest variety of species in any zoo in the world, including the only Giant Pandas in Germany. Lots of incredible animals to see, great outdoor park areas and plenty of food and drink options. It is also right in the heart of the city so easy to get to.
- The Reichstag
Perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks in Europe, this place is not to be missed. I adore visiting the Reichstag’s dome, because it has so much history attached to it, but also has so much modernity to it too. It is great with kids, and gives you a really good feel for the city, with great views and a unique opportunity to be at the centre of something so central to Berlin’s politics and its past. It is free to visit the rooftop terrace and iconic dome, but you need to pre-register.
- Charlottenburg
Charlottenburg was the heart of the former West Berlin, and is a really nice place to spend time. There are lots of green spaces, so it is great with children, there are good transport links, and plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops. A highlight is a visit to Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin’s largest and most magnificent palace. The grounds and parkland are absolutely gorgeous, and it is a really lovely place to visit in Spring and Summer.
- Chocolate!
Naturally chocolate features highly as a favourite for the children! There are a couple of really cool places to indulge in chocolate in Berlin, both really close to one another.
Head to Rausch on ‘Gedarmenmarkt’ for old world chocolate indulgence. The kids will love the displays.
We also love Ritter Sport Chocolate World (in fact our eldest went nuts for it!!). Here you can make your own chocolate creations, buy beautifully colourful Ritter chocolate, and indulge in the cafe (so good!!!).
- Open Top Bus Tour
We found this a really fun way to see Berlin with the children, especially when their legs got tired! There is so much to see in this beautiful city, and lots of districts to explore, so it made it an easy way to see some of the more extended parts. In the August sunshine, the open top was a big hit with the kids, and they loved taking photos. There are several to choose from, including the Big Bus Tour and City Sightseeing.
- Tiergarten
Tiergarten is essentially Berlin’s ‘Central Park’. It is huge, covering 210 hectares, and is very much at the heart of the city. It is a great place to spend time with children, and we spent an entire afternoon exploring it. This was a nice break from sightseeing and gave the boys an opportunity for some wide open space and running around like loons! It is a great place for walking, picnics, soaking up the sunshine and ball games. It is also close to numerous sights and has some significant memorials within its borders including the Soviet War Memorial and Victory Column. There is also a lovely English Garden, Tea House and Beer Garden, where we ate lunch.
- Museums
As with any major city there are huge numbers of museums to explore. You can find lots of them by clicking here. Berlin’s Museum Island with its five museums is the largest museum ensemble in the world and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two museums that we loved with the boys on our most recent trip were:
- The Natural History Musuem – the boys loved the dinosaurs!
- The Deutsches Technikmuseum – a journey through time with aircrafts, ships and steam locomotives.
- The Berlin Wall
With its incredible past, seeing parts of the Berlin Wall is mesmerising, and a real must do on a trip to Berlin. There are lots of ways to explore the history of the wall, and to discover different sections of it.
I would definitely recommend heading to the East Side Gallery, which is the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, and features art work from over 100 artists. It is an amazing site.
Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburg Gate are also key sites for exploring the wall and its history. The Berlin Wall memorial on Bernauer Strasse is also well worth a visit. This was once a border strip and gives a really moving insight in the the division of Berlin.
- Ampelmann
One of our boys’ favourite memories of Berlin is Ampelmann! This is the traffic light man seen on traffic lights in East Berlin. In 1961, the traffic psychologist Karl Peglau submitted his suggestions in Berlin for new traffic light symbols, including very specific ones for pedestrians: the little East German traffic light men were born. They have become an iconic symbol of East Berlin, and, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Berlin as a whole. They are super cute!
Such was the love for Ampelmann that an entire brand has been created out of the characters. You will find shops and cafes in several districts of the city (great for a holiday treat) and I can promise you the kids will love it!!
- Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Berlin, and is definitely a ‘must see’. This is Berlin’s only surviving city gate and is really beautiful. I cannot take enough photos of it! It is of huge significance in the history of Berlin, having come to symbolise Berlin’s Cold War division into East and West, and, since the fall of the Wall, a reunified Germany. It is a really nice area for a wander and to stop off for food or drink, with a large open square, wide avenues and other key sights nearby. From here you can walk to the beautiful Unter den Linden boulevard, The Reichstag, the Memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe and the Victory Column.
- Mitte/Nicholas Quarter
Mitte is very much the heart and middle of the city centre, and a great place to explore with children. Here you can enjoy key sites including Museum Island, The Reichstag, the River Spree, boat tours and Berlin’s underground tunnels. It is also a great district for shopping and eating, and makes lots of sense as a hotel base, as you can reach so much from here.
- Shopping on Ku’damm
This is a really cool and lively shopping area, and really no trip to Berlin is complete without a stroll down Kurfürstendamm. This is Berlin’s most popular shopping boulevard and the heart of the western city centre.
Kurfürstendamm stretches for 3.5 kilometres and is packed full of shops and restaurants; it has a great Lego store for the kids. It is also home to KaDeWe – Berlin’s most famous department store.
The most striking attraction here is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, composed of the ruins of a church destroyed by the war, it is a memorial for peace and reconciliation, and is really striking.
Nearby you will also find the Berlin Zoo, so it is a great area to combine some sightseeing.
Where to stay in Berlin:
On our last trip we stayed at the Novotel – Berlin Mitte. This was a great location, with underground stations nearby, Nicholas Quarter very close, and both Potsdamer Platz and Alexander Platz within walking distance. I would definitely recommend it. They were great with children and the buffet style breakfast was brilliant. Family rooms were available which were a good size for the 4 of us.
Lovely areas to stay in include Mitte, Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. All of these areas are close to the main attractions, with plenty of opportunities to walk to nearby sights and eateries.
There are also a huge range of accommodation options, from luxury 5 star hotels, such as the iconic Hotel Adlon Keminski, to really great basic family rooms at modern youth hotels/hostels. these include the Meininger Hotels, which you will find in various districts, including Mitte and Alexander Platz. There are numerous similar options to be found on Hostel World.
So that’s Berlin. We honestly talk about going back all the time; it is a really special city. Happy travels!
Emma and the Wild Ones x
