No school – and yet again there’s so much on for children of all ages in Berlin: Halloween at the FEZ, discovering medieval life at the open-air museum, letting off steam at indoor play centres, learning to cook or sewing your own costumes. There’s a huge range of activities on offer, including a dance class for children with cerebral palsy at the State Ballet, which is specifically aimed at people with disabilities.
Tip 1: Get spooked in the ghostly worlds of the FEZ
Young fans of all things spooky, take note: during the autumn half-term holidays, the FEZ in Wuhlheide transforms into a proper haunted castle. Expect ghosts, skeletons and plenty of eerie stories. Here, the little ones can learn to deal with their fears in a playful way and within a safe environment. Whether it’s at the big Family Halloween Night on 31 October, on exploration tours through the building’s attic and cellar, or on a journey of discovery to the cemetery. The programme also includes workshops for parents, where child-friendly ways of dealing with loss, grief and death will be discussed.
When: Various activities and dates
Where: FEZ, Straße zum FEZ 2, Köpenick
Tip 2: Travel back in time at the Düppel Museum Village
The medieval Düppel Museum Village is well worth a visit even without the colourful October backdrop. But during the autumn half-term holidays in particular, this open-air museum in the heart of Berlin has a very special charm in store for you and your little ones. The light shines magically through the colourful leaves, and the programme is just as magical: On the fairy-tale tour, the witch Silberzweig and the juggler Astor Ytellar will tell you the Grimm fairy tale of Frau Holle. And at the St Martin’s Festival on 7 and 8 November, you can bathe the village in a magical glow with your own lanterns.
When: Various events and dates
Where: Düppel Museum Village, Clauertstraße 11, Zehlendorf
Tip 3: Celebrate Halloween!
Halloween is just round the corner, and if your children fancy dressing up and having a bit of a spooky time, Berlin is the perfect place for you. Kick things off on 30 or 31 October with a Halloween guided tour of Fort Hahneberg. Costumes are very much encouraged, and the historic fortress – with its large bat colony – is sure to provide a spooky atmosphere. On 31 October, the whole city will be in a spooky mood: among the very special events are the Fiesta de Día de Muertos at the Humboldt Forum, Halloween in the Britzer Garten and the Halloween party at Spindler & Klatt.
When: Various events
Where: Various locations across Berlin
- Fiesta de Día de Muertos ‘ ’ at the Humboldt Forum, from 31 October
- Halloween guided tour of Fort Hahneberg, 30 & 31 October
- Halloween at Britzer Garten, 31 October
Experience a unique journey through time to historic Berlin, an audio encounter with a native Berliner, and the story of one of Germany’s most important painters—a documentary on the life and work of Max Liebermann!
Tip 4: Go on a discovery tour at the German Historical Museum
For the whole family: from 19 October to 31 October, the German Historical Museum is also offering a holiday programme for young and old alike. This includes, for example, an exciting treasure hunt where you’ll solve puzzles about armour and games from 500 years ago and discover history in a fun way. And, of course, you can also visit the exhibitions on the Second World War and on pivotal historical moments in the 19th and 20th centuries. Best of all: entry is free for under-18s, and a family ticket costs just 18 euros.
When: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: German Historical Museum, Unter den Linden 2, Mitte
Tip 5: Cook together at the Unterm Dach Children’s Museum
There’s plenty going on at Unterm Dach. There’s chopping, sizzling, cooking, steaming – and, of course, eating. During the workshops in the autumn half-term, children put on their chef’s hats and learn in a fun way how to prepare delicious meals. On 20, 26 and 28–30 October, it’s time to get cooking. At the end, not only will a tasty buffet await you, but you’ll also receive your cooking certificates. Although participation is free, it’s worth registering quickly: places are limited.
When: 20–30 October, 2 pm to 6 pm each day
Where: Unterm Dach – Alte Mälzerei Lichtenrade, Steinstraße 41, Lichtenrade
Tip 6: Get creative at the Käthe Kollwitz Museum
Faces tell stories, and using different materials, these stories can be transformed into unique works of art. That’s one way to describe the ‘WHO AM I?’ portrait workshop. Here, your children and teenagers will discover how portraits were created in the past and which techniques artists use to depict faces. They’ll try out various methods using pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, paints, modelling clay and even cola. At the museum, you can also take a closer look at Käthe Kollwitz’s portraits and self-portraits and find out what stories her drawings tell. Discover the art of portrait drawing and create your own faces!
When: 27 to 30 October, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Käthe Kollwitz Museum, Spandauer Damm 10, Charlottenburg
Tip 7: Explore nature and get creative yourself
Would your children like to get creative during the holidays whilst discovering nature? At Jugendhof Brandenburg e.V., they’ll be crafting, planting and experimenting. During ‘Creative Autumn’, colourful leaves are transformed into original designs , which are then applied to bags and other materials and taken home. Or your children can become tinkerers themselves by making their own instruments: using natural and recycled materials, they’ll build their own instruments, which they’ll then try out outdoors in nature. In the process, they’ll get to know the farm and its animals.
When: 22 & 29 October, 9 am – 3 pm; 23 & 30 October, 9 am – 2 pm
Where: Jugendhof Brandenburg, Behnitzer Weg 12, Berge (a district of Nauen)
Tip 8: Dance at the Berlin State Ballet – doing your own thing
Dancing at the Berlin State Ballet – this dream can come true during the autumn half-term. Dance therapist and teacher Bettina Thiel, together with dance teacher Stefan Witzel, is inviting children and young people aged between 5 and 17 to a dance workshop. The workshop is aimed at people with cerebral palsy. Dancing takes place whilst standing, sitting, using the fingers, the corners of the mouth or the eyes. The aim is to gain new experiences, be creative and, in doing so, strengthen the bond with your support person. So sign up and get ready for the big stage!
When: 26 to 29 October, 9.45 am to 11.45 am
Where: Staatsballett Berlin, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, Charlottenburg
Berlin State Ballet Holiday Course
Tip 9: Journey through 2,000 years of the city’s history at the Deutschlandmuseum Berlin
Your children are guaranteed never to have travelled this far back in time before: the journey takes them a full 2,000 years back, through 12 stages of history that took place in what is now Germany. They’ll wander through the forest of the Battle of Varus, explore medieval castles and fortresses, look over Gutenberg’s shoulder as he prints books, and, of course, discover one or two new spots in Berlin. This immersive and interactive museum right in the heart of the city is ideal if your loved ones want to brush up on their history in an educational and fun way!
When: Daily from 10 am to 8 pm
Where: Deutschlandmuseum, Leipziger Platz 7, Mitte
Tip 10: Discover the exciting holiday programme at Berlin Zoo
The autumn holidays at Berlin Zoo promise unforgettable experiences for all young animal lovers! For a whole week, exciting discovery tours will be on offer, where your children can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of animals alongside experienced guides. Each themed day has a different focus and invites children to marvel, explore and get involved . Curious questions will be answered, animal secrets revealed, and the children’s knowledge playfully expanded through creative experiments and craft activities.
When: various dates
Where: Berlin Zoo, Am Tierpark 125, Marzahn-Hellersdorf
Holiday programme at Berlin Zoo
Tip 11: Let off steam at Berlin’s indoor play centres
Holidays are great, but what do you do when the weather isn’t on your side? The answer, of course, is indoor play centres! And there are plenty of them in Berlin, in almost every district. For example, Ritterland Berlin with climbing routes for adventure-seeking kids, Tommys Tobewelt in Weißensee with giant slides and colourful ball pits, Boulderworx for little climbers, or Jolos Kinderwelt in Kreuzberg. Here , kids can run riot, make a racket and let off steam to their heart’s content, whilst the adults enjoy coffee and cake. It’s the perfect way to escape the dreary weather and the autumn blues!
When: Opening hours vary depending on the indoor playground
Where: Various locations across Berlin
Our special tip:
Learn to surf at Wellenwerk Berlin
Fancy some waves, water and action during the autumn half-term? At Wellenwerk Berlin, children aged between 8 and 14 can spend a whole day trying out surfing at the Kids Surf Camp and gain their first experiences on the waves in a fun, playful way. No previous experience is necessary. As well as indoor surfing sessions, the programme includes splashing about and, weather permitting, surfskating.
Two surf coaches will look after your children throughout the day. Lunch, drinks and all the surfing equipment are included. For those who’d prefer a shorter session, there are the 90-minute Kids Surf & Splash Sessions. These alternate between a splash session and 45 minutes on the waves. Again, no previous experience is needed.
- Kids’ Surf Camp: 19 to 21 October & 28 to 30 October, 9 am – 4 pm
- Kids Surf & Splash Sessions: 21 October, 23 October, 28 October, 30 October, starting at 3.30 pm on each day; Saturdays and Sundays starting at 9 am
- Berlin Surf Open: 14 November
When: Wednesday to Friday 4 pm – 10 pm, Saturday & Sunday 8 am – 11 pm
Where: Landsberger Allee 270, Lichtenberg
