What to Do in Berlin For Kids
Planning a family vacation to Germany? Berlin is a wonderful city to explore, both for children and the young at heart. The city’s reputation for ultra-hip clubs and rough edges misses the fact that it also has plenty of fun activities to make the whole family happy.
Here are the best family-friendly things to do in Berlin, from zoos to beaches, playgrounds, boat trips, festivals, and museums. Your kinder will love Berlin, and so will you.
Berlin Zoo
Address: 10623 Berlin, Germany
A visit to the Berlin Zoo is the perfect activity for the whole family. It is the oldest zoo in Germany and offers the largest number of species in the world. Every visit guarantees an abundance of animals with the gleaming emblems of companies around EuropaCenter hanging overhead in this urban zoo.
The iconic Elefantentor (elephant gate) welcomes visitors to attractions like the hippopotamus aquarium, panda enclosure, and sprawling aviary, which are highlights. The zoo also features several themed playgrounds for kids to play and climb.
There is also a small aquarium on-site where visitors can buy combination tickets, or even tickets combined with these two attractions and the former East Berlin Zoo, Tierpark.
Getting There: Metro Stop – Zoologischer Garten (Line U1, U2, U9, S3, S5, S7, S9)
Tiergarten
Address: Tiergarten, 10 Berlin, Germany
The Tiergarten is Berlin’s biggest park and an excellent spot for allowing your kids to explore freely. The park boasts over 600 acres, where families can rent paddleboats on the lake, discover hidden bridges, and navigate through overgrown paths.
For one of the best views in the city, send the kids up the many stairs of the Victory Column and enjoy a relaxing beer and snack at one of Berlin’s best biergartens, Café am Neuen See. Located centrally within the park, this beer garden is also great for kids.
Getting There: Metro Stop – Potsdamer Platz (Line U2, S1, S25) or Bellevue (Line S5, S7, S9, S75)
Kollwitzplatz
Address: Kollwitzplatz, 10405 Berlin, Germany
Phone +49 30 115
Kollwitzplatz, located in the family-friendly Prenzlauer Berg, features numerous playgrounds, kid-oriented shops, and a lovely farmers’ market. Numerous cafes and ice-cream parlors surround the area. If you visit on Wednesday or Saturday morning, don’t miss sampling organic goodies at Ökomarkt, the local farmers market.
Getting There: Metro Stop – Senefelder Platz (Line U2)
German Museum for Technology
Address: Trebbiner Str. 9, 10963 Berlin, Germany
Phone +49 30 4397340
A great option for a rainy day is the German Museum for Technology (Deutsches Technikmuseum), which features a real airplane visible from the S-Bahn on its roof.
Your kids will be captivated by 14 different exhibition departments, showcasing locomotives, airplanes, engines, ships, and much more. Almost every department offers engaging activities—children can print or create their own paper and explore a model mine shaft. The museum also features an engaging audio tour specially designed for kids (available in English).
Don’t overlook the outdoor area, where you can admire the old Anhalter Bahnhof (train station), witness a functional water mill, walk past windmills, and observe the traditional beer brewing process.
Getting There: Metro Stop – Gleisdreieck (Line U1, U2), or Möckernbrücke (Line U1, U7)
Legoland at Potsdamer Platz
Address: Potsdamer Str. 4, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Phone +49 30 3010400
Another excellent rainy day activity in Berlin is visiting Potsdamer Platz, known for its shiny modern architecture and the impressive dome of the Sony Center. Featuring various events and programs throughout the year, it’s always a fun place to wander around. The area also has movie theaters, stores, restaurants, and a film museum.
The biggest draw for young visitors is the indoor theme park, Legoland. Here, you can marvel at a miniature version of Berlin built with 1.5 million Lego bricks, and enjoy exciting rides and adventure trails created entirely from Lego. The park also offers a spacious area for children to unleash their creativity and build their own Lego masterpieces.
Getting There: Metro Stop – Potsdamer Platz (Line U2, S1, S2, S25)
Boat Tour on the River Spree
Address: Museum Island, 10 Berlin, Germany
If your kids are tired from all the walking but there’s still more of Berlin to see, consider taking a boat tour through the city’s historic center. Enjoy the scenic landmarks as you glide down the River Spree.
A boat tour offers a wonderful experience on a summer day in Berlin, but you can also enjoy it during the rain; simply sit inside, sip on a hot chocolate, and admire the views through panoramic glass windows. Depart from Museum Island, where various tours are available (lasting 45-60 minutes).
Getting There: Metro Stop – Hackescher Markt (Line S5, S7, S9)
