![\"TrabiSafari\"](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/rsinspire\/20160615133416\/TrabiSafari.jpg\")
\nParticularly in summer, when the city\u2019s at its most creative and carefree, it can be easy to forget that Berlin\u2019s a functioning capital city and not a sprawling playground. Fortunately, that attitude\u2019s a little more forgivable when you have kids in tow! Do it right and you shouldn\u2019t find yourselves falling back on theme parks and Pizza Hut.<\/p>\n\n
Start by seeing the sights in an East German-era Trabant. The kids will love the Trabi Safari\u2019s<\/a> convoy of old-fashioned cars even if they\u2019ve no interest in the landmarks themselves. Then consider having lunch at Rausch<\/a>. The chocolatier has its own restaurant that incorporates cocoa into the dishes. The food is fairly grown-up though, with nothing approaching a children\u2019s menu, so if you\u2019re with younger kids, then head there for dessert after Chinese food at Jolly<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both restaurants are just a short walk from Museum Island.<\/p>\n Kids will likely find most of the institutions there quite dry, but the gargantuan exhibits at the Pergamon Museum<\/a> will take the whole family\u2019s breath away! (It\u2019s also the quickest museum to get through.) Afterwards, head to Schwarzwaldstuben<\/a> for good, affordable German food. Again, there\u2019s no children\u2019s menu here, but even the pickiest kids won\u2019t turn their noses up at the selection of Flammkuchen (German pizza).<\/p>\n Take a Reederei Riedel<\/a> boat tour. If the young ones have the attention span for it, book the 3-hour \u2018Bridge Tour<\/a>\u2019 from the dock at Hallesches Tor station. Beginning and ending on the Landwehr Canal, it covers most of Berlin\u2019s most sight-speckled waterways, finishing just a short distance from Brachvogel<\/a>. There\u2019ll be no tedious wait for your food at this canal-side restaurant. There\u2019s a playground for the kids, a beer garden for the adults, and mini-golf for the whole family.<\/p>\n You\u2019re then just a U-Bahn stop away from the Museum of Technology<\/a>. It\u2019s home to more historic machines than you can shake a gear stick at, but if you fancy something a little more hands on, check out its sister museum, the Spectrum Science Center<\/a>, next door. Both close at 6 p.m., so take a walk through the Elise-Tilse-Park across the road to check out the ruins of the old Anhalter Bahnhof.<\/p>\n The Steakhouse Asador<\/a> around the corner has a good children\u2019s menu, but if you had enough of meat and potatoes at Brachvogel earlier, head back to the canal for Greek food at Taverna Athena<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Berlin Zoological Garden<\/a> is one of the best zoos in the world, boasting elegant architecture and landscaping to complement its 1,500 species. The breathtaking exhibits at its neighboring aquarium<\/a> are a must, too, so grab a family combi-ticket for both attractions and spend the whole day there. Rather than visit one of the on-site restaurants, pack a lunch (there is a Kaisers supermarket nearby) or else enjoy the view from Neni<\/a> \u2013 a Middle Eastern-Mediterranean restaurant on the 10th<\/sup> floor of Budapester Strasse\u2019s Bikinihaus.<\/p>\n Head to the Prinzessineng\u04d3rten<\/a> by Moritzplatz station. This community garden sprung up on a disused scrap of land in 2009 and often hosts events and workshops (sometimes in English) as well as markets. Even on quieter days, it\u2019s still a wonderful place to grab a hot meal and a tea or smoothie, especially if you like your ingredients locally sourced.<\/p>\n Head north now to give the kids a chance to play somewhere unique. Rather than hopping straight on the U-Bahn though, consider taking the scenic route via Oranienplatz, then head up to the promenade that used to be the Luisenstadt Canal, passing the dainty Indian Well on the way to the Engelbecken (Angel\u2019s Pool) and St. Michael\u2019s Church. Then, veer left towards the M\u04d3rkisches Museum and check out the bear-pit out front.<\/p>\n Berlin has two great hands-on kids\u2019 museums where younger children can learn and play. Get on the U8 train from Jannowitzbr\u00fccke for the excellent Labyrinth Kindermuseum<\/a> in Wedding, or catch the U2 from M\u04d3rkisches Museum station for MACHmit!<\/a>, located in a converted church in Prenzlauerberg. The latter is also near the brilliant Kolle 37<\/a> \u2013 a playground under continuous construction by the kids themselves, founded on a philosophy that\u2019s very much pro bumps and bruises!<\/p>\n Since you\u2019re in the former East, try the Russian food at Pasternak<\/a>, situated beneath an historic water tower.<\/p>\n Ever had maple syrup on your pizza? Order a huge \u2018Canadian\u2019 pie at Ron Telesky\u2019s<\/a>. When you\u2019re done, get the leftovers boxed up and head northeast on the U7 from Hermannplatz station to Zitadelle. This huge fortress is situated in the sleepy suburb of Spandau, where the Spree and Havel rivers meet, and is as much a cultural site as an historical one. It\u2019s definitely worth checking if your visit coincides with any special events or festivals<\/a>. Family tickets are a steal at \u20ac10, and don\u2019t forget to check out the bat cellar<\/a>!<\/p>\n While you\u2019re in Spandau, make the most of its scenery by dining at Stilbruch<\/a> on the tranquil river island of Eiswerder (though Kapit\u04d3ns Kaj\u00fcte better caters to smaller appetites and vegetarians). Or for something even more memorable, book your place at a medieval feast<\/a> within the citadel itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Particularly in summer, when the city\u2019s at its most creative and carefree, it can be easy to forget that Berlin\u2019s a functioning capital city and not a sprawling playground. Fortunately, that attitude\u2019s a little more forgivable when you have kids in tow! Do it right and you shouldn\u2019t find yourselves falling back on theme parks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":15266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[14,16,21,266,24,36,41,44,49,57,267,61,69,83,95,104,155],"class_list":["post-15134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city","tag-aquarium","tag-architecture","tag-beer","tag-berlin","tag-boating","tag-chocolate","tag-culture","tag-dining","tag-family-friendly","tag-gardens","tag-germany","tag-historical","tag-islands","tag-museums","tag-river","tag-scenery","tag-zoo"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"MuseumIsland\"](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/rsinspire\/20160615134139\/MuseumIsland.jpg\")
\nDay 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"BerlinZoologicalGarden2\"](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/rsinspire\/20160615133720\/BerlinZoologicalGarden2.jpg\")
\nDay 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Day 4<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Day 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n