Tiergarten has many playgrounds and welcoming open spaces. It is also possible to hire rowing boats on the Neur See. Along Strasse des 17.Juni, the main road which runs through the park, there is a busy, buzzing flea market every Saturday and Sunday, which sells art and other interesting things. In the furthest bottom left corner of the park, Berlin’s beautiful zoo can be found and its large aquarium. As well as this, the Gem?ldegalerie in Matth?ikirchplatz runs Sunday afternoon tours for kids! There are plenty of Berlin apartment and hotels in Berlin to be found in this part of the city

The Gem?ldegalerie can be found at Stauffenbergstrasse 40, taking the metro U2, S1, S2, S26 to Potsdamer Platz. It is open 10am-pm, Tue, Wed, Fri-Sun; 10am-10pm Thur and admission is €8; €4 concessions. The gallery has a sizeable collection of English, Spanish and Italian art but the real gems are the Dutch and Flemish art.

The Gemaldegalerie houses 20 Rembrandts – the best of which are considered the portrait of preacher and merchant Cornelis Claesz Anslo and his wife, and an electric Samson confronting his father-in-law. Other gems include a version of Botticelli’s Venus Rising and Corregio’s Leda with the Swan. To accompany you round the gallery there is a really useful free English audio guide.

The Berlin zoo was opened in 1841 and is Germany’s oldest zoo and with almost 14,000 animals, it is considered one of the most important zoos in the world today. It also houses more endangered species than any other zoo, save for the zoo in Antwerp. Here you will find creatures great and small, including hippopotami, elephants and penguins. This well designed zoo is perfect to visit on a rainy day with the children, as much of it is indoors. The zoo was designed by Martin Lichtenstein and Peter Joseph Lenn? and it is really striking, with pretty landscaping, cafes and architecture. The highlight of the zoo over the last few years has been the polar bear “Knut” who was born on 5th December 2006 and was the first polar bear to be born in Zoo Berlin in over 30 years. In 2004, the bear enclosure was increased to make more room, as has the birds of prey enclosure and the blah. Make sure you visit the crocodile enclosure and the Elephant Gate, which can be found on Olof-Palme-Platz. Visit; http://www.zoo-berlin.de/en/ for more information and why not book your accommodation in Berlin too?.

Kreuzberg is definitely worth a visit as it is full to bursting with pretty boutiques, high quality good value restaurants and a child friendly atmosphere. Kreuzberg is home to the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, particularly enjoyable for older children, it gives an insight into the lives of those living in East Berlin, and displays the old cars and balloons people used to try and escape from the DDR by getting around the Berlin wall. For more information visit www.mauermuseum.de.