Have son, will travel (to Berlin)

March 23, 2009 7:00 PM

Will be in Berlin at the beginning of September with nearly 5-year-old son. What family activities you would recommend?
posted by lgandme0717 to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

If you like zoos, you're in luck; Berlin has two, both of which are worth visiting.

Also you can take a short cruise on the river, which could be entertaining for child as well as interesting for adult.
posted by nomis at 7:45 PM on March 23

As mentioned above, definitely take a cruise on the Spree. About €7-10 for any of the boats outside the Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station.

A trip to the top of the Berliner Fernsehturm would have amazed me at that age. I was amazed at 25, too, but that also took dinner at the Telecafé (the rotating restaurant on the floor above the observation deck).

Take a walk around Tiergarten, Berlin's "Central Park". There's a cafe/restaurant right about here that will rent rowboats by the hour... we had a blast with that and went there many times, but then again, that was with a bunch of 25-year-olds with a cooler of beer. Your mileage may vary.

If the little guy is into trains, walk around all the levels of Hauptbahnhof and watch the regional, high-speed, and local trains arriving and departing. You could pick up the M85 bus from Hauptbahnhof and take it over towards Potsdamer Platz--you'll pass The Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate on the way. They're double-decker buses, hop right on up to the upper level for the best view. Get off right outside Sony Center, especially at night--the tent-like rooftop is a cool light show.
posted by bhayes82 at 9:04 PM on March 23

The Zoo and Aquarium (unfortunately separate admission), the zoo has a terrific playground. (And I mean the zoo in town, the one out in the former east is cool as well but remote and a little forlorn).

Domäne Dahlem is an old farm-stead with animals (chickens/pigs/cows/horses) and a big draw when they have events: the 5th/6th of Sep. is a 'middle-ages' festival with 'knights' and etc. (we'll probably go to that), the 12th is local specialties (farm-products most likely). It's pretty far south and west, but accessible by train.

Labyrinth kindermuseum. All in German but lots of stuff to do in an interesting space. It's just north of Prenzl-Burg.

Natural History Museum nothing on the one in NYC, of course, but still really nice, with pretty extensive displays. Good Dinosaurs. Just down the street, towards the Hauptbanhoff is the 'Hamburger Banhoff' contemporary art museum which has a great (though expensive) restaurant.

I don't know if your son speaks any German but there are a slew of good puppet shows on the week-ends - pick up 'Zitty' or 'Tip' and there's a special section for kids therein.
posted by From Bklyn at 2:26 AM on March 24

A few years back, Fez Wuhlheide had miniature train rides with real steam engines (on the week end). There is also all sort of other family activities there.

Berlin macht dampf organizes steam train ride on a regular basis.
posted by bluefrog at 7:32 AM on March 24

LegoLand Discovery Centre Berlin!
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 10:21 AM on March 24