Despite its dramatic and sombre history, Berlin is arguably one of the finest cities in Europe for families to explore, offering kids on holiday a multitude of activities and attractions, from the world's largest inner-city park to LEGOLAND and everything in between.Active families will enjoy heading out to areas like Grosse Muggelsee for a spot of swimming, boating or hiking. Wannsee is great for escaping to the outdoors for a break from traditional sightseeing and the chance to blow off some steam. Animal and nature lovers will go wild for the Berlin Zoo-Aquarium which has an incredible collection of animals and many fun activities, and the Berlin Botanical Gardens, which offer plenty of space for children to run around. The many impressive squares of the city also provide areas for amusement and lots to keep young minds busy and happy.When the weather turns bad and kids' activities out of doors are few and far between, head to one of Berlin's indoor playgrounds or one of the many museums the city has to offer, such as the Nature Museum (Museum fuer Naturkunde), which will take up most of the day with hundreds of exhibitions. Museums such as the Pergamon will also delight children.
Children and families love nothing more than trips to the zoo or the aquarium, and Berlin's stunning Zoo-Aquarium combines both. The facility is one of the most popular zoos in Europe, entertaining millions of visitors each year. It offers visitors the opportunity to marvel at some spectacular animals, and with immense biodiversity children of all ages will love getting a close look at everything from rhinos to sharks to monkeys to penguins to pandas. Feedings take place daily at half-hour intervals between 10.30am and 4pm; for details on the feeding times of specific animals check the website. You can also take specialised thematic tours like South America, Asia, Africa, and Animals of the Bible. The zoo and aquarium often put on special tours for events during the year, like Halloween, Easter and Christmas, so keep a look out for these if you're travelling in Berlin with kids.The world's largest inner-city park, Tiergarten, adjoins the zoo and a visit is pleasantly combined with a stroll or a picnic in these beautiful gardens.
Address : 32 Budapester Street
Website : www.aquarium-berlin.de
Telephone : (0)30 254 010
Transport : S-Bahn - Zoologischer Garten S-Bahn stop (S5 + S7 + S75 + S9)
Opening times : Open daily from 9am-6pm.
Admission : Aquarium or zoo only: €14.50 (adults); €7.50 (children under 15). Zoo and Aquarium combined: €20 (adults); €10 (children under 15). Concessions available.
The Legoland Discovery Centre is the first indoor Legoland in the world and provides an interactive journey through a land of colour, creativity, learning and play. Kids will love themed areas like Dragon Quest, Jungle Adventure, Merlin's Apprentice, Princess Palace and Pirates Splash Battle. There is a fun factory where real Lego bricks are made, a 4-D cinema show, opportunities for visitors to make their own creations, Miniland Berlin, a themed ride, and much more all under one roof. This is one of the most fun attractions for the whole family in Berlin and endlessly popular with kids. It's also a great place to celebrate birthdays as there are special birthday party rooms for hire and all sorts of exciting extras. The park is designed mainly for kids aged between three and 10.
Address : Sony Centre, 4 Potsdamer Platz
Website : www.legolanddiscoverycentre.de
Transport : Bus M41 to Potsdamer Platz, or M48, 200, 357 to Varian-Fry-Str. U-Bahn U2, S1, S2, S25, RE3, RE4, RE5 to Potsdamer Platz station
Opening times : Open daily 10am to 7pm (last admission 5pm).
Admission : Tickets at the door start at €14, but money can be saved by booking online. Children under two are free.
Boasting more than 30 million objects throughout its geological, paleontological and zoological collections, the Museum of Nature in Berlin is the biggest of its kind in Germany and one of the five largest in the world. Children of all ages, and adults, will enjoy discovering the extensive treasures of this incredible museum and learning while they wander around the exhibition halls, which take up a massive 71,000 square feet (6,600sq/m). Apart from the ever-popular dinosaur skeleton exhibit, highlights include sections on evolution, domestic animals, the cosmos and solar systems, minerals and much more. There are also temporary exhibitions on show - check the website for details on what is being exhibited currently. The museum is very well-organised with labels in multiple languages and audio tapes available in about 10 languages. They also organise activities and holiday schools for enquiring young minds. It is easily one of the most popular attractions if travelling in Berlin with children. It is a traditional museum but there is lots of interactive stuff to keep little ones amused.
Address : Invalidenstr. 43
Website : www.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de
Telephone : (0)30 209 38591
Transport : U-Bahn - U6 to U Naturkundemuseum
Opening times : Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10am to 6pm. Closed Mondays. Last admission 30 minutes before the museum closes.
Admission : €8 (adults); €5 (reduced); concessions available.
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