Hi, we're a British family living in the USA and planning a trip to the UK with a short European trip as well next summer. I haven't visited Berlin since 1982 and am interested in seeing it again. Could anyone comment on whether it's an interesting destination for a family with 2 teenaged kids, and if so, any recommendations for things to do?

Many thanks.

Oh we went there a few years ago to see a rock band and spent a few extra days there. We loved it. There was so much to see, and the people were so friendly. Getting around is easy with the underground and bus system. The buses are frighteningy efficient, on time almost to the second.

Have a look at the pics I took when we were there. Double click on the first thumbnail and press the (S)lideshow option HERE

Take one of the bus tours as soon as you get there. You can get off / on where you want and its an excellent way of seeing everything. Dont miss the Check Point Charlie museum

You'll love it! It has changed vastly since you were last there, with the "Eastern Sector" continually improving since the fall of the Berlin Wall. My daughter lives in Berlin and I'm planning a trip at the end of October to take in some of the 20th anniversary festivities...
On your bus-hopping tour, don't miss the Reichstag Dome and Brandenburger Tor, and the poignant Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche ruin (church bombed during the War)..., the Museumsinsel (if you've got time and/or it's raining), boat ride on the River Spree, and, as mentioned, the extraordinary Check Point Charlie Museum. If you have time to spare, take a train to Potsdam.
Enjoy!

Excellent photos! Thanks.
Thanks for the recommendations! I'm getting quite excited now.

Hope you dont mind me imposing on your thread Sal, but we are also thinking of heading to Berlin next year, so will read the thread with interest.

My question is - what if anything is left of the Berlin Wall or is there just a monument now and I also understand that there are some places left (sort of intact) of hitler's bunker and other ww2 memories?

[QUOTE=willmore;7957861

My question is - what if anything is left of the Berlin Wall or is there just a monument now and I also understand that there are some places left (sort of intact) of hitler's bunker and other ww2 memories?[/QUOTE]

Hi, I had to google "Hitler's bunker Berlin" to find out, as it wasn't at the top of my list when I last went. Apparently it was destroyed at the end of the War.... If I have time to go to the German History Museum, I'll post again if there's a WW2 section.
Parts of the Wall still exist, here and there. The best thing is to google "Berlin Wall remains" for the locations.
Hope this helps!

Not at all. Have a look at Mitzyboy's slideshow above.

I was staying in Leipzig the first time I visited and saw quite a bit of the Eastern sector. All fascinating.

As DMU mentions, Hitlers bunker was (allegedly) destroyed after the war ..... however, who knows

The parts of the wall shown in my slideshow are taken within a short walking distance from Check Point Charlie. There are notes aboth the wall on boards, and a small museum.

It was quite spooky actually wandering around the place and seeing buildings you have heard so much about. I was dissaponted with the gate, as there were exhibitions and all kinds of things going on around it at the time we went. We were only there for a few days, but want to go back for a longer visit, theres so much to see.

Berlin ist eine Reise wert

THREE opera houses......!!!

Toll!

Kulturlose Hausfrau

Du hast Recht

Your pics are fabulous - thanks for sharing and thanks everyone for your feedback. It will help us in making a final decision.

Most of the sites might be more interesting for adults as they have a lot to do with history, but I've heard that taking children to Berlin is no problem at all. Apparently the zoo is an excellent option for the whole family.

Berlin really is worth a visit - however I'd say don't get too excited about seeing the wall - it's much more like a 'standard wall' to what I was expecting.