Berlin in the rain with kids
Berlin’s most enjoyable activities for children on rainy days
No matter what season or what the weather, the city pulsates and is full of life. Even on rainy days, there is a wide range of activities to do with children in Berlin. Families can take special guided tours of museums, and many museums offer free admission for children and young people, who can also take part in exciting workshops. Or you can choose one of the many children's theatres in Berlin and immerse yourself in imaginative productions and lovingly curated plays.
Together in the children's world of the Jewish Museum Berlin
At ANOHA – the Children's World of the Jewish Museum Berlin – the focus is on children. 150 different animal sculptures and a huge round wooden ark offer children space to romp around, but also to reflect on respectful coexistence between humans, animals and nature.
Tip: Take a look behind the scenes of the Jewish Museum's children's world in our Berlin Unboxed podcast episode on ANOHA. On a tour with Dr. Ane Kleine-Engel, the director of the museum, you will learn exciting stories about the creation of the lovingly designed ark, but also how children can experience how living together in a multicultural city like Berlin can work.
Time slot for the Jewish Museum
Marvel at magic and mysticism at the Berlin Magic Museum
MAGICUM is Berlin's little magical insider tip: in a historic vault of the Alte Schmiede – in the middle of one of the city's oldest districts – a world full of puzzles, myths and stories awaits. Here, you and your family can discover how magic can be found in cultures all over the world: at interactive stations, you can solve puzzles, try out magic tricks and test your "magical talent".
Perfect for a special Berlin excursion that is individual and unexpected. Special highlights such as magic shows and tarot readings are offered regularly.
Experience virtual reality at the Computer Game Museum
Discover more than 300 exhibits with highlights such as the PainStatione, the GDR game machine Poly-Play and Pong in all its variations. The legendary Nimrod can also be found here. Starting in the 1950s, you can explore gaming culture beyond consoles: play Pong in the 1970s, Space Invaders in the 1980s and Super Mario in the 1990s in authentically furnished rooms.
You can try rare originals every Monday from 6 p.m. The virtual reality worlds are a highlight for the whole family.
Time slots for the Computer Game Museum
Visit agents and their stories at the Spy Museum
At the German Spy Museum in Berlin, the city becomes a stage for agents, codes and secret missions – because Berlin is considered the capital of spies. In this interactive experience museum for the whole family, you travel from ancient times through the Cold War to the present day: crack secret codes, master the laser course, trick a lie detector or open the secret safe.
There are also real highlights to marvel at: unusual spy gadgets and special original objects (including items related to Enigma, the Stasi, Teufelsberg and Checkpoint Charlie) as well as multimedia stories, perfect for families.
Discover Berlin's newest immersive experience at Alexanderplatz. At IKONO, art, play and the unexpected combine to create an unforgettable adventure. Self-discovery, interactivity and pure joy await you in 14 immersive rooms.
Learn about the story of Anne Frank
At the Anne Frank Centre on Hackescher Markt, the exhibition "All About Anne" invites families to learn about Anne Frank's story in an accessible, interactive way – and to draw parallels with the present day. You will discover why her diary still moves people today, contribute your own thoughts and discuss what Anne's experiences have to do with our present.
Six areas each show a different stage of her life. There are numerous information panels. By highlighting individual panels that are particularly important to you, you can even help shape this exhibition area.
Tickets for the Anne Frank Centre
Discover exciting things at the Communication Museum
The Museum for Communication Berlin is all about what connects us all: communication – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Discover fascinating highlights such as the Blue Mauritius, the pneumatic tube or the Enigma and experience in a playful way how communication has changed our society.
Every third Sunday of the month (2–5 p.m.), the museum becomes a creative laboratory for the whole family: at "Family Sunday for Future", children aged 4 and above create something new from seemingly old things, crafting, building and experimenting. Every month there is a new theme, always with a focus on a clean environment.
Museum for Communication Berlin
After thrilling millions of visitors worldwide in cities such as London, Paris, Los Angeles, Sydney and Singapore, the internationally acclaimed spectacle Bubble Planet is now coming to Germany for the first time.
Jumping in trampoline halls
JUMP House Reinickendorf is a large family action spot: over 4,000 m² with 120+ trampolines – ideal for everyone aged 6 and up. Here, you can jump not only high, but also three-dimensionally, because even the walls are elastic.
Whether it's FreeJUMP on huge connected surfaces, FoamJUMP into the foam pit, 3D dodgeball, SlamJUMP for dunking fans, laser/reaction and AR video challenges or tests of courage such as TowerJUMP: everyone will find their favourite area – to burn off energy, laugh and collect points together – perfect for an energetic family day out.
Gain exciting insights into the world of dinosaurs
How does our planet work? How does life on our planet evolve? The Museum of Natural History in Berlin asks these and other questions and presents you with an exciting insight into the workings of nature. From the Earth's system, the cosmos and the solar system, to birds and native animals, to the great world of dinosaurs.
Right at the beginning of the exhibition, you will encounter two spectacular predatory dinosaur skulls, which are on display in their original form. The impressive skulls of T. Rex Tristan Otto and Allosaurus can be viewed at close range. However, the undisputed star of the exhibition is Tristan Otto, the North American Tyrannosaurus Rex, which not only impresses with its twelve-metre length and four-metre height, but is also considered the best-preserved skeleton in the world.
Day ticket for the Museum of Natural History
Marvel and experiment at the German Museum of Technology
All vehicle enthusiasts will be in their element at the German Museum of Technology in Berlin: in addition to the Douglas C-47B Skytrain, which hangs directly above the museum portal, you can see a saloon car belonging to Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Tante Ju commercial aircraft, an extremely rare Rumpler Tropfenwagen and even a ship simulator for aspiring captains.
In two old locomotive sheds, you can discover historic steam locomotives and everything to do with train travel. Right next door, the Science Centre Spectrum awaits you with fascinating experiments involving electricity, magnets and bizarre light effects. Over 150 interactive experiment stations make science and technology a special experience. Attractive and astonishing phenomena encourage visitors to experiment for themselves. Fundamental scientific relationships, scientific backgrounds and technical operating principles are explored in a playful way.
Day tickets for the German Museum of Technology
Learn at the Humboldt Children's University
The Humboldt Children's University turns science in Berlin into a family adventure: in age-appropriate workshops and lectures, children discover exciting topics – from solar research and the circular economy to historical fruits – and are allowed to participate, try things out and ask questions. This brings university research to life, makes it understandable and really sparks curiosity. Humboldt University also offers regular special lectures for children.
What's particularly nice is that events such as the Long Night of Science or Berlin Science Week allow you to experience research up close – perfect for little explorers.
Gazing at the stars in planetariums
Children and families will also be thrilled by a visit to one of Berlin's planetariums . The Wilhelm Foerster Observatory on Insulaner in Schöneberg is unique in Europe as a combination of a public observatory and a large planetarium, showing you a magnificent artificial starry sky.
At the Zeiss Großplanetarium near the Prenzlauer Allee S-Bahn station, you can experience astronomy, biology, chemistry and medicine as modern science theatre – with great programmes for children and families. The Archenhold Observatory in Treptower Park is the oldest and largest public observatory in Germany and impresses with the longest movable refracting telescope on earth, through which every child is allowed to look once.
Rampage in Berlin's indoor playgrounds
If the weather in Berlin isn't playing ball, that's no problem: indoor playgrounds are the perfect family Plan B (or even Plan A). At covered playgrounds, children can climb, slide, jump and romp to their hearts' content – from climbing towers and bouncy castles to ball pits and exciting obstacle courses – ideal for a weather-independent break during your trip to Berlin. And best of all: while the kids are happily playing, parents can often relax and take a breather – for example, with coffee and cake.
Get spooked at the Berlin Dungeon
The Berlin Dungeon is an adrenaline rush for anyone who wants to experience Berlin in a completely different way: here you can travel back to a dark and dangerous past – with stories based on true events. Professional actors, 360° backdrops and special effects bring this journey through time to life.
A highlight for the brave: an exciting raft ride and an indoor freefall tower will make your heart beat faster. Along the way, you'll encounter notorious figures from Berlin's history. Perfect for families with children aged 10 and above.
Tickets for the Berlin Dungeon
Immerse yourself in the deep sea world of the Berlin Aquarium
The Aquarium Berlin is a real highlight for families in the city: behind historic façades, a fascinating animal world awaits – from colourful reefs to impressive sharks. There are also exciting surprises on land: ants that "garden" and a giant snake that is guaranteed to amaze. Perfect for a visit to Berlin – mysterious, curious and truly impressive.
Get excited at the children's theatre
A visit to a children's theatre in Berlin is like a little trip to a magical world: here, children's eyes light up, they laugh, marvel and cheer. Whether it's thrilling productions atthe "Atze"(Germany's largest musical theatre) or at the Theater Morgenstern in Friedenau, where imaginative, classic and modern children's plays are performed. The young ensemble at the Friedrichstadt-Palast or realistic stories at the Grips Theater in Mitte, but also for the very little ones at the Grashüpfer puppet theatre in Treptow. Here, your children can also make masks and finger puppets.
Table football at Kickerworld
At KICKERworld in Spandau, the day becomes a sporting and fun adventure: in the most modern indoor soccer hall with three power courts, you can play soccer regardless of the weather and everyone can really burn off some energy. Outside, there is an outdoor area with padel tennis, table tennis and an outdoor bar – perfect for a little break in between. For extra action, there is indoor paintball (for children and adults) and bubble football.
In the Kick-In sports bar & restaurant, you can relax, eat, drink and watch sports on the big screen.
Explore Berlin's underground
On rainy days, a visit to Berlin's underground world is ideal because you can dive into the "hidden city beneath the city" without getting wet or worrying about the weather: you'll visit bunkers, tunnels, disused facilities and other underground locations. All of them are steeped in history, stories, vivid explanations and original locations.
Practical for visiting with children: expect dark, cool corridors and wear sturdy shoes. This activity is suitable for children aged 13 and above.
Music you can touch and marvel at
At the Klingendes Museum Berlin, children can not only look at musical instruments, but also try them out – drumming, blowing, plucking and discovering in a playful way how sounds become music. In a relaxed atmosphere, musicians and educators accompany the children and offer a wide range of percussion activities for children aged 3 and above.
Those who prefer to listen and watch in amazement can visit the Musikinstrumenten-Museum Berlin, which has around 800 exhibits from 400 years of European music history – including curious instruments and a collection that deliberately keeps many instruments playable. The centrepiece is the Mighty Wurlitzer, the largest cinema and theatre organ in Europe, which plays live on Saturdays and takes visitors on a short journey back in time to the early days of cinema and theatre with sounds such as thunder and birdsong.
Flying in the wind tunnel
In Germany's largest wind tunnel, the Hurricane Factory, the whole family can take off with a powerful air stream and experience the feeling of flying. With small movements, you can steer the direction, ascend or descend, and turn in the wind – always accompanied by a professional instructor who keeps an eye on safety and fun.
With a diameter of 5.2 metres and a height of 15 metres, the wind tunnel offers plenty of space to marvel, try things out and get your adrenaline pumping – an unforgettable highlight for everyone.
