Berlin with teens

This probably doesn't answer your question, but Berlin has lots of entertainment -- concerts and other events of all kinds.

You can book some tickets on the website below. Click Berlin on the left, then in the Advanced Search tab, put in December 1 (01.12.2009)and click the Search button. All sorts of events in December will come up.

The most "cultured" would be the opera houses (three) and the Berlin Philharmonic, which can be booked on their own websites. Your teens may not be into that, however. . .

http://www.ticketonline.com/de/en/all/

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually recognized some of the Broadway shows we were looking at during our trip to New York! Our current plans are to do the classical entertainment piece in Leipzig (Thomaskirche) and Dresden (Semperoper). The girls would go along with that but not much more ;-)

Now if Rammstein were to play in Berlin my 14 year old would LOVE to go - while I do like some of their music quite a lot that's not the kind of crowd I'm interested in ...

Since you do not have to book walking tours ahead of time, you could just see if there is a decent day and go do one.

There are a ton of museums to visit, and a ton of stores to go shopping.

A visit to Sachsenhausen might be in order. Schloss Charlotenburg would be a nice indoor activity.

With the Broadway shows, you might check to see what language they are. They are often in German and you didn't say if your whole family speaks German or not.

Jo,

good question. My husband doesn't speak German. I'm used to translate for him when we are on guided tours so that wouldn't be an issue. Concerts and musicals/opera would work for him, a theatre production not really - the other people in the house may not appreciate my translation work. My teens active German is not perfect but they understand it very well and are used to watching German language movies here (Wilde Kerle etc.) and have seen theatre production in Germany. In the summer we usually do one of the Freilichtbuehnen in Muensterland.

I've been to Berlin several times before but that was ages ago. My last trip was together with my husband in 1990 so seeing some of the sites for the second or third time would be ok for me and him as they've changed a lot. Schloss Charlottenburg has probably not changed as much over the past 20 years as the Reichstag, for instance, so we may pick a different chateau.

For concerts and the like you can use the German language http://www.tip-berlin.de/event_search/ Right now it's a little too early for events in December, but if you look at it in October or November you should have a decent selection.

Well, isn't there a cool Christmas Market in Berlin? Also, the KuDamm area. Things have really changed since you were there last--not much left of Die Mauer. If I recall correctly, the Zoo Station area was interesting when I was there last (2001).

Boy, do I ever have a suggestion for you!
Please don't miss the Aquadom, an 8 story fish tank you go inside for a ride in, like an elevator. It floats up and down. This has to be one of the most fun thing I've ever done, and your kids will love it!!
Also, go up in the TV tower for a beautiful view. Sure you get a great view from the Reichstag. Don't miss that either. The TV tower is much higher, and it's fun to see the Reichstage from the tower. Then take them to Fassbender&Raush, the best chocolate shop in Berlin! Rick went there in his Berlin TV show and he loved it too. Also he list it in his guide book.Please look at the link.http://www.fassbender-rausch.com/

I went to hear the Berlin Philharmonic. World class!
HAVE FUN!!!

And if you get stuck and need a break the movie theaters in the Sony Center were in English with German Subtitles. Always fun to watch movies that way. I went to see Fiddler on the Roof in Athens in English. My laughs always preceded the Greeks by a second or two, which gave me an additional laugh as well. Pam

Oh yes, Sony Center! The things to do in Berlin with kids is endless. You can also visit Knut, the famous polar bear in the Berlin Zoo. Knut will be happy outside in the winter, but the zoo could be too cold for you! Lol!
Here is a link to see adorble pictures of Knut. But he's 650 LBS now!!! http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=knut+polar+bear&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=2mFiSpeiKMOptgf0h6HzDw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&r

You won't be bored in Berlin.

It's my favorite city in Europe (by a long shot) and I'm a mid-twenties male. I could spend weeks there and still have plenty to see and down.

The former East Berlin is full of fun, funky neighborhoods. Mitte is getting pretty pricey, but Prenzlauer Berg still is a bit of fun. This last trip, I stayed in place way way out east, in Friedrichshain (S-Bahn Ostkreuz). As far as cafe/bar/restaurant culture goes, I've never seen a neighborhood as vibrant. Tons of restaurants, all packed, every night.

Walking tours in Berlin are great and cheap. If you think the girls will get bored, one of the shorter "free" ones will suffice. Otherwise, I did Terry Brewer's Berlin All Day Tour a few years ago. Despite doing it on a freezing, November day, we all had fun, and the guide got inside and out of weather as much as possible. I'd do the walking tour early in your visit, to get the most out of the city.

I was there in November too, and Brrrr! It was really cold! But that didn't bother me! I would move to Berlin in a minute if I could!!