Whilst Neukoelln may not be so obviously baby-friendly as Prenzlauer Berg and some other Berlin-neighbourhoods, it offers a fabulous mix of things to do with children including a plethora of playgrounds big and small, gorgeous little hidden gems, water ways and more. Here are my Top 5 Things to do in Neukoelln with Kids...
1001 Nights playground, Hasenheide Park
1. Head to Hasenheide Park
This large Neukoelln park is home to not just one, but two amazing playgrounds (1001 Nights playground and the adventure playground) as well as a small area where the children can check out animals (ponies, donkeys, alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens, camels etc). On weekends, pony riding is available at the top of the hill, between 2pm and 3pm in the the winter and 3pm and 4pm in the summer. It's on a donation basis, with a box for your kid to drop in a coin. For the slightly older kids, Hasenheide has lots of fabulous hills for running, cycling, scootering and skating down in the warmer months and sledding down in the Wintery, snowy months.
For those with teenagers, between May-August, it hosts an open-air cinema in the evenings, where it shows a selection of films, some in German and some in their original language, with German subtitles.
Volkspark Hasenheide
Hasenheide, 10967 Berlin
This large Neukoelln park is home to not just one, but two amazing playgrounds (1001 Nights playground and the adventure playground) as well as a small area where the children can check out animals (ponies, donkeys, alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens, camels etc). On weekends, pony riding is available at the top of the hill, between 2pm and 3pm in the the winter and 3pm and 4pm in the summer. It's on a donation basis, with a box for your kid to drop in a coin. For the slightly older kids, Hasenheide has lots of fabulous hills for running, cycling, scootering and skating down in the warmer months and sledding down in the Wintery, snowy months.
For those with teenagers, between May-August, it hosts an open-air cinema in the evenings, where it shows a selection of films, some in German and some in their original language, with German subtitles.
Volkspark Hasenheide
Hasenheide, 10967 Berlin
Orangerie, Koernerpark Neukoelln
View of the Orangerie, Koernerpark, Berlin
2. Check out the Koernerpark
One of Neukoelln's many hidden gems is the Koernerpark. I simply love this place. The pictures above and below were taken in Autumn 2013 and even with the Autumn colours, you can imagine how beautiful it must be in the summer. During the warm months, there is water flowing from the water fountains and water to play in (at least many children do) along the sides near the flower beds. Parents can lay on the grass (you are not supposed to but everyone does) enjoying the beauty of their surroundings, whilst the children play in the water and run around. In the Autumn, you can go there to throw the leaves and enjoy another face of it's beauty and even in the snowy winter this place is magical. The cafe towards the back of the park has toilets and serves drinks and food, there are early evening concerts put on during the summer and on one of the adjacent roads is a fabulous new playground that's perfect for climbers, a table tennis table for the older kids and even stone Fußball/Kicker tables.
Koernerpark
Schierker Straße 8, 12051 Berlin
One of Neukoelln's many hidden gems is the Koernerpark. I simply love this place. The pictures above and below were taken in Autumn 2013 and even with the Autumn colours, you can imagine how beautiful it must be in the summer. During the warm months, there is water flowing from the water fountains and water to play in (at least many children do) along the sides near the flower beds. Parents can lay on the grass (you are not supposed to but everyone does) enjoying the beauty of their surroundings, whilst the children play in the water and run around. In the Autumn, you can go there to throw the leaves and enjoy another face of it's beauty and even in the snowy winter this place is magical. The cafe towards the back of the park has toilets and serves drinks and food, there are early evening concerts put on during the summer and on one of the adjacent roads is a fabulous new playground that's perfect for climbers, a table tennis table for the older kids and even stone Fußball/Kicker tables.
Koernerpark
Schierker Straße 8, 12051 Berlin
3. Discover Britzer Garten
Britzer Garten is based in a district called Neukoelln-Britz. Originally created for a garden show, the park covers 90 hectares consisting of beautiful landscapes, playgrounds, beautiful buildings, lakes and hills, all ripe to explore. They also hold a number of events throughout the year and if you have good access to it, it's well worth buying a year's ticket for the place.
Cost:
Day tickets
Adults €2
Children (6-14 years) €1
Yearly tickets
(useable for Britzer Garten, Gärten der Welt, Natur-Park Schöneberger Südgelände and the Botanischen Volkspark Blankenfelde-Pankow)
Adults €20
Children (6-14 years) €10
Additional costs sometimes apply for special events.
Britzer Garten is based in a district called Neukoelln-Britz. Originally created for a garden show, the park covers 90 hectares consisting of beautiful landscapes, playgrounds, beautiful buildings, lakes and hills, all ripe to explore. They also hold a number of events throughout the year and if you have good access to it, it's well worth buying a year's ticket for the place.
Cost:
Day tickets
Adults €2
Children (6-14 years) €1
Yearly tickets
(useable for Britzer Garten, Gärten der Welt, Natur-Park Schöneberger Südgelände and the Botanischen Volkspark Blankenfelde-Pankow)
Adults €20
Children (6-14 years) €10
Additional costs sometimes apply for special events.
Britzer Garten, Neukoelln, Image source
4. Try a vegan crepe at Let it Be creperie
Whether you vegetarian, vegan or even a meat eater like myself, the crepes served at this Neukölln vegan cafe are delicious, the service super friendly and there is even a smattering of toys for the kids to play with whilst you wait. You can read my review of the place, along with pictures here.
Let it Be, Vegan Creperie, Burger & Bar
Treptowerstr. 90, 12059 Berlin
Website
Whether you vegetarian, vegan or even a meat eater like myself, the crepes served at this Neukölln vegan cafe are delicious, the service super friendly and there is even a smattering of toys for the kids to play with whilst you wait. You can read my review of the place, along with pictures here.
Let it Be, Vegan Creperie, Burger & Bar
Treptowerstr. 90, 12059 Berlin
Website
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5. Get arty at the Children's Art Center Neukölln (KinderKünsteZentrum)
Situated behind Neukölln's public swimming pool you can find this arts centre giving children the opportunity to discover their artistic side. They run regular free family art workshops on Sundays between 2 - 5pm. You can find the details of their upcoming workshops here.
KinderKünsteZentrum
Ganghoferstr. 3
12043 Berlin
Website
Situated behind Neukölln's public swimming pool you can find this arts centre giving children the opportunity to discover their artistic side. They run regular free family art workshops on Sundays between 2 - 5pm. You can find the details of their upcoming workshops here.
KinderKünsteZentrum
Ganghoferstr. 3
12043 Berlin
Website
