I’ll be traveling from Berlin with 5 and 8 year-old granddaughters, both cheerful travelers. Three nights from December 28 - 31. Would like to take S-bahn outside the city one day, even considering bringing a small sled on the train. Any suggestions for where to take them and for activities both in and outside the city? Thanks for your thoughtful suggestions.
Posted by
89 posts
For sledding go up to the Erzgebirge (Ore) mountains. Altenberg is the closest town with skiing and other winter activities. They also have a summer tobogganing run in case there is no snow. Either bus 360 from main railway station or train S1 to Heidenau where you change to the regional train to Altenberg.
https://www.erlebnisberg-altenberg.de/
An excursion to the National Park Saxon Switzerland is always a good idea, also in winter. Bizarre sandstone formations around Rathen e.g. (Bastei), fortress Königstein is another highlight.
If your kids know the fairy tale movie "3 Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel", a classic in Germany, then they might be interested in the exhibition at Schloss Moritzburg that they have every winter.
https://www.schloss-moritzburg.de/en/events-and-exhibitions/cinderella/
There will be lots of options for ice skating. Very nice is the courtyard of Grand Hotel Kempinski Taschenbergpalais. There is another, very popular ice rink with wooden huts in suburb Weisser Hirsch.
A couple of Christmas markets will still be open: definitely Augustusmarkt at Hauptstraße in Dresden-Neustadt and the medieval market in the former Royal stables courtyard in the old town.
The folk art museum has a wonderful Christmas exhibit that would probably be interesting for kids, too.
https://volkskunst.skd.museum/en/exhibitions/
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, USA
10 posts
Thank you very much for your thorough and interesting reply. Your suggestions are excellent. I am very grateful to you.