This year we spent the winter school holidays in Berlin.
2 weeks in Berlin means: Time to do things in a relaxed style.
Of course there was a lot of family involved as we celebrated Christmas, my brother’s birthday, New Year and my birthday… but time to discover new things as well as re-finding old favourites!
And therefore I thought it is a good moment to share some things to do with kids in Berlin with you.
And I want to start with something special and lovely specially at this time of the year: Maerchenhuette {fairy tale cottage}
It is a small theatre in which fairy-tales are presented in a very special way for both adults and children. During the day the children’s events take place, whilst in the evening programmes for adults are held. The place is a real cottage that is approximately 200 years old. It originates from deep within the Polish forests and could readily find a place within each fairy tale that is told.
Each “theatre” is really cosy and small with a little stand to buy some snacks and drinks.
It is in German only.
One of the best things we did was the Labyrinth Kindermuseum.
There is no labyrinth and it is not really a museum either but it was fun and the kids did not want to leave.
On the ground floor we found a huge costume bazaar that attracts the kids with colourful garments and props, a Mongolian yurt shows that a home may also look completely different, a school invites the visitors to experiment with different scripts, a kitchen and a marketplace with lots of fruits, veggies and and and to play with…
Plenty of space and inspirations to become active, creative and artistic themselves.
On the first floor we found an animated craft table {KleinR loved it of course} as well as a part where the kids could build houses. With bricks {plastic and fabric}, blankets, poles and they have to wear helmets and vests.
There is a little bar where you can buy drinks and snacks.
We went to the Tierpark. {Berlin has 2 Zoo’s – one in the East and one in the West part. Tierpark is the East one and Zoo the West one…}
I mean nothing can really go wrong when going to the Zoo with the kids, but unfortunately I would not return and I am not recommending going here.
Far too expensive for what you get and totally dead zone. Nothing happening. Seems like they think in Winter you can just shut down the whole thing…
There was exactly one restaurant open and all they served were lame fries and old coffee. Going to the loo – you had to pay extra. Yes, I am not kidding.
The best thing for the kids was the little wooden car you can hire and they took turns in pulling it through the park…
For my birthday I promised them that we will go up on the TV Tower.
After I purchased the tickets we had to wait another 2 1/2h to get up… pfffff…. but they have a SMS system that alerts you 30 min before your turn. So we went for lunch and did not have to wait there…
Good to know because it is not written on the price list: Family tickets!
They do exist and are for 2 adults and 2 kids {over 4, below they dont pay anyway} and cost 25Eur.
So please ask for them!
What else did we do?
We went to the Ritter Sport Bunte Schokowelt close to Gendarmenmarkt.
It is a little chocolate museum and big Ritter Sport shop with ALL their flavors at best price but most fun: You can create your own chocolate there.
There is no entrance fee but you pay for the chocolate which is 3,90Eur.
You can choose between milk or dark chocolate {in summer white one too} and then add 3 of your favourite things such as various nuts, mini smarties, coconut, Haribo {guess who added that, I could not even try it}, golden stars {very cute}, sugar pearls, cookies, choc chips and and and….
The kids had fun to choose and see how they make the chocolate in front of you. After about 45min. you can pick up your very own creation!
Museum of Natural History.
I guess this speaks for itself.
My kids enjoyed the visual journey about stars, the solar system and cosmos most.
Above is a picture of a family breakfast in our rented apartment but we did spent a real fun morning/early afternoon at Kinderwirtschaft and I can only recommend it.
Specially because I am often avoiding these kind of places because they get crowded easily and a full place with lots of kids and hectic parents…. well, not really my kind of thing.
But this was nice, easy and fun and friendly! A super nice play area for the kids where they can climb, hide and slide and play for hours… another area for smaller kids and all kinds of simple yet yummy food for everyone. {and wifi}
As an ice cream lover I am more than happy to tell you that Amorino is in Berlin too!
There are many more things to do with kids in Berlin. We traveled in December/ January and summer is a whole other world of choices…
images: Paul & Paula
