Family Holiday Destinations: Berlin, Germany
One of the most important cities in the continent of Europe, Berlin is a city steeped with history and culture, and is surprisingly one of the best family holiday destinations not only in Germany, but also the whole continent. With many opportunities for exciting history lessons for the kids and great attractions for adults, it is easy to understand why Berlin attracts millions of visitors every year.
Here are some of the best places to see and experience on your family holiday in Berlin.
Parks to love
Berlin is known for its intimidating architecture—plenty of modern buildings have risen over the last few decades, post-World War II. However, all the impressive (but not so impressive for the young ones) architecture does not mean that Berlin is an urban jungle like any other modern city. In fact, there are plenty of parks where kids can run around and the parents relax and unwind. Tiergarten is the city’s biggest park, with plenty of open spaces to run around, trees to seek shade under and climb, and playgrounds designed specifically for safety and enjoyment. At one end of this impressive city park is the Berlin Zoo, where children can enjoy learning about different animal species.
Must-see Berlin parks include the Monbijou Park near Museuminsel and the Mauer Park in Prenzlauer Berg. Monbijou Park has a children’s pool where kids can have a dip in during hot summer days, while Mauer Park boasts of a flea market every Sunday where children and parents can comb through on a lazy afternoon.
Education and entertainment destinations
Trust a German city to be so efficient—Berlin is home to attractions that are educational and entertaining at the same time. Take Kindercity, a 6,000 square meter attraction offers amenities and features for both learning and fun. Potsdamer Platz offers the Legoland Discovery Centre with cityscapes and castles built using the world-famous plastic bricks.
You can also head to the AquaDom and Sea Life Centre, where children can see sea creatures up close and learn more about them. Other edutainment attractions include the Magic Mountain, the Museuminsel, the MachMit Museum, Mundo Azul, the Theater der Kleinen Form, the Hans Wurst Nachfaren, and the Galli Theatre.
Kindercafe network
Berlin is extremely popular for its lively nightlife, but not a lot of tourists know that there are plenty of “kindercafe” establishments that allow families to go around the city with the least amount of stress and hassle. These kindercafes are designed for wholesome family fun—families can refuel here with delicious food and refreshing drinks, and enjoy the kid-friendly ambiance and amenities. Berliners know that the best kindercafes are found in Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg.
Must-try kindercafes in Berlin include the Knilchbar in Kreuzberg, with plenty of games and toys for children to enjoy, as well as homemade café goodies. Parents can also bring their children to Knilchbar for dance classes and yoga, or for an afternoon of supervised fun while the parents enjoy the other pleasures of the city.
