Top 10 attractions for children in Berlin
These are the top attractions that every child must simply see in Berlin
In Berlin, new destinations await you and your loved ones every day. Whether you want to discover the city in a relaxed way, enjoy cultural highlights, learn more about Berlin's history or take a trip into the surrounding countryside - you're guaranteed never to get bored in the capital.
However, with so many possible activities with children in Berlin, it can be difficult to decide: That's why our ranking helps to bring some order to the colourful pile of children's activities.
1. Zoo Berlin
Germany's oldest zoo is known far beyond the city limits and has enjoyed great popularity among young and old for decades. In addition to its incredible diversity of species and its central location, Berlin Zoo shaped the image of old West Berlin like no other institution. Almost everyone who has visited the capital as a child remembers the first view of the elephant gate, a delicious ice cream in the sun, and lots of exciting experiences between the monkey enclosure and the petting zoo.
Get your day ticket for Zoo Berlin here
2. Tierpark Berlin
Animals and children simply have a special connection. And so second proposal goes to Berlin's second zoo: the Tierpark. Founded in 1954 and covering 160 hectares, it offers a real alternative and complement to the Zoo in the west. Europe's largest landscape zoo is home to more than 9,000 exotic and native animals, including polar bears, African elephants, and manatees. And your own four-legged friend is also very welcome to walk with you in the beautiful green space at Tierpark.
Get your ticket for Tierpark Berlin here
3. Museum für Naturkunde (Museum of Natural History)
You will also walk on animal paths in this Berlin attraction for children: more precisely, you will walk on the ancient paths of monster lizards and other prehistoric finds of the Museum für Naturkunde. Particularly impressive in the entrance hall is the huge skeleton of Giraffatitan brancai (formerly Brachiosaurus brancai), which at 13.27 m high is the largest mounted dinosaur skeleton in the world, and the gigantic bones of other dinosaurs on display. We can also welcome Tristan, the North American Tyrannosaurus Rex, who was on a journey, is back on display. In addition, you will gain many spectacular and enlightening insights into the animal and plant world of our planet.
Get your ticket for Museum für Naturkunde here
MAGICUM, Berlin Magic Museum - unique, interactive, magical!
Gods, angels, magicians, alchemists, sorcery and illusions - the mysterious world of the inexplicable. Make water dance, discover magical thinking, play the game of illusions, leave logic at our doorstep, come in and delve into the world of magic and fascinating alternate realities. On weekends and during the Berlin vacations additional magic shows and tarot readings.
4. Computerspielemuseum (Computer Games Museum)
60 years of computer games! Quite a lot has come together. Experience the current virtual world in the Computer Games Museum. From the first games to the latest innovations, from functional classics to rarities and 3-D simulators, you can immerse yourself in the interactive cultural history of games here. What's especially nice is how much you can try out for yourself - including rare originals and milestones of the genre like Oculus Rift.
Get your ticket for Computerspielemuseum here
DeJa Vu Museum Berlin
A unique experience with wow moments awaits you at the Museum of Optical Illusions at Alexanderplatz.
Celebrate a feast for the senses, take cool photos and marvel at amazing effects.
5. DDR Museum
History comes alive in the DDR Museum. Immerse yourself in the everyday life of the former state with your children and learn more about this part of German history. Take a seat in an original GDR living room, rummage through drawers and take a test drive in a Trabi.
Afterwards, you can pay a visit to the asisi Panorama of Divided Berlin - THE WALL a few streets away. The panorama takes you back to the 1980s. The large-scale 360-degree picture panorama gives a vivid impression of what life must have looked and felt like on both sides of the Berlin Wall.
Get your ticket for DDR Museum here
6. Deutsches Technikmuseum
According to the motto "touching allowed", you will find aeroplanes, sensory illusions, rotating houses and exciting experiments on the 26,500 m² area of a former factory and railway station. Much of it is designed to be child-friendly, easy to understand and in any case highly educational. All vehicle enthusiasts will have real fun here: In addition to the Douglas C-47B Skytrain sultana bomber, which hangs directly above the museum portal, you can see a saloon car of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Tante Ju commercial aircraft, an extremely rare Rumpler Tropfenwagen and even a ship simulator for budding captains. In two old engine sheds you will discover historic steam locomotives and everything to do with train travel. Right next door, the Science Centre Spectrum awaits you with fascinating experiments with electricity, magnets or bizarre light effects.
Get your ticket for Deutsches Technikmuseum here
7. Legoland Berlin
Here, especially the little ones can really let off steam. With over five million LEGO® bricks in all shapes and colours, they can tinker and build to their heart's content. Afterwards, the 4D cinema, the medieval dragon castle and a magical carousel will make children's hearts beat faster. They can even make their own Lego brick in the LEGO® DUPLO® brick.
Get your ticket for Legoland Berlin here
8. Anne Frank Museum
With the help of interactive stations, you can learn everything about the life story of Anne Frank, her family and her friends. Frequently asked questions are answered right at the entrance to the exhibition. The museum sees itself as a place of learning about the history of National Socialism. In addition, there is an exhibition section that establishes a connection between Anne Frank's life story and the present. Because dealing with Anne Frank's biography is a way of coming to terms with the Holocaust, understanding the present and thinking about the future. Visitors can help shape this section of the exhibition: There are numerous panels with exciting detailed information.
Get your ticket for Anne Frank Museum here
9. ANOHA – Die Kinderwelt des Jüdischen Museums Berlin
Playing, having lots of fun and learning and thinking at the same time - that is what the new ANOHA offers its little guests. It is about the respectful coexistence of people, animals and nature. The focus is on the children, they decide what is done and it was they who were involved with their ideas and wishes from the very beginning. The result is a creative space that knows no boundaries and is constantly evolving. In the centre is a large wooden ark, which is equipped with - of course - illustrious animals. Included are giant snakes, predators and cuddly animals as well as mammoths, unicorns, owls and cockroaches: large and small creatures, pretty and not so pretty animals of today and also from the Stone Age or the world of legends. The children also have the opportunity to build their own little ark and try it out in a water ride.
In addition to the children's world of the Jewish Museum Berlin, the Jewish Museum itself is also fascinating. Experience, perceive and reflect - the Jewish Museum in Berlin tells you the story of the jewish people in Germany and provides insights into their culture. The museum building itself is already unusual: the architect Daniel Libeskind designed the museum building in a zigzag shape, it looks like a lightning bolt or a broken Star of David. There are special workshops for children that teach sensitive topics in a child-friendly way.
Get your ticket for Jüdisches Museum here
10. Deutsches Spionagemuseum
The German Espionage Museum on Leipziger Platz is the only museum of its kind in this country. Using state-of-the-art technology, you can experience a multi-media journey through the history of espionage. Your journey begins with secret scriptures from antiquity and ends in the present, with the recent NSA debate. Even top agents have their say. You will gain insights into sophisticated spy techniques, legendary espionage cases and spectacular secret operations. The collection comprises over 1,000 exhibits. Around 300 of them can be viewed in numerous thematic areas. At the same time, interactive installations invite you to participate and marvel.
A few more tips:
- Audio walk city in the ear - Children often find a walk on its own simply boring. But when the exploration tour is paired with adventure, even the little ones are all ears. Discover Berlin with the audio plays from Stadt im Ohr. Here, history and stories are well combined and told in an understandable and exciting way for children. Discover the neighbourhood around Helmholtzplatz together with Socks the cat. On a tour around Berlin's Oberbaumbrücke, you will go on an adventurous journey through time. You follow mysterious shadows and get to know the dragon Dschali, who inhabits the towers of the bridge. The tours are particularly suitable for 9 to 13-year-olds.
- The Gardens of the World are one of the absolute favourite excursion destinations for families in Berlin thanks to the hedge maze and diverse play opportunities. In addition to ten international gardens on an area the size of 60 football fields, the cherry blossom festival and tea ceremonies in the middle of a sea of flowers, you'll find a wonderful lookout point, a cable car that takes you across the grounds and a bobsleigh run that operates almost all year round.
- For all those who want to go high: Anyone can climb or learn to climb in the Waldhochseilgarten Jungfernheide (forest) high ropes course: three children's courses and nine adult courses with different levels of difficulty allow climbing fun for beginners* as well as for professionals. The courses are installed in the trees at heights between 3 and 17 metres.
- Excursions into the Berlin countryside - Berlin is surrounded by a lot of nature - and numerous excursion destinations can be reached surprisingly quickly and comfortably from the city. Take the opportunity to treat yourself to a little rest and relaxation, too. There is plenty to discover and plenty of space for the kids to play and romp around. We have made a carefully chosen selection of destinations in Berlin and Brandenburg: Look forward to long walks in the countryside, breathtaking viewpoints, fairytale castles and monasteries and lots of fresh air.
- Take a ride on the double-decker city buses. Preferably Route 100 past the Victory Column, the Reichstag, Museum Island, and other top sights of the city. If you want to learn something whilst riding, we recommend the hop-on/hop-off bus with audio commentary. These run as double deckers, too!
We have also summarized these insider tips.
Even more attractions and family tips can be found on our family page.
