Fun Things to Do in Berlin

Berlin is an exciting, cosmopolitan city. I've traveled there several times and am always amazed by the development that seems to happen constantly. The city has been in hyper-drive since the country's re-unification in 1990. Germany is a great country to visit, it has the largest economy in Europe and has a fantastic transportation network. Here are five unusual things to do in Berlin:

Tour The City on a Segway
Segway scooters are those futuristic two-wheeled stand up vehicles that use a computer to balance while they wheel around. City Segway Tours offers themed tours around the city and sights, providing an interesting way to travel, allowing you cover more ground than walking.

City Segway Tours
Panorama Strasse 1a
Berlin 10178
49 30 24 04 79 91
citysegwaytours.com/berlin

Visit The Zoo
I love visiting zoos while traveling. They provide a nice alternative to the normal tourist sites and many now feature animals and habitats specific to their local areas. I've visited the Berlin Zoo several times and it's a world class destination, featuring 13,700 animals and 1400 species, presented in an interesting, enjoyable manner.

The Zoo is also a great destination to bring children, after long days of museums and sightseeing.

Berlin Zoo
Zoologischer Garten
Hardenbergplatz 8 10787 Berlin
030 25 40 10
zoo-berlin.de/en.html

Go To The Symphony
The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the world's greatest orchestras. I try to go every time I visit Berlin (and other cities as well). The orchestra performs in an amazing hall with incredible acoustics and is a great evening, after or before a fine dinner.

A visit to the symphony is also a great way to see and meet real Berliners as you probably won't see many tourists there. Most programs are long and serious, so they are not always great for children. However, the Berlin Philharmonic does put on special programs for children, so check their website for information.

Berlin Philharmonic
Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1
10785 Berlin
Tel 030 254 88-999
berliner-philharmoniker.de/en

Climb An Indoor Mountain
Magic Mountain may be the name of an amusement park near Los Angeles but its also the name of a cool indoor mountain climbing complex in Berlin. The complex is geared towards the whole range of climbers, from tourists looking for a fun adventure, to serious climbers training for a big climb. They feature training and safety gear and are a good option during cold or bad weather.

The park is an easy subway ride from city center. A note, the website is only in German, so you may want to check with your hotel to help make arrangements.

Magic Mountain
Böttgerstraße 20-26
13357 Berlin
magicmountain.de

Race Go Karts
Berlin has a great indoor karting track where you can race friends and strangers in a safe, controlled environment. I went there for a corporate team building event and we all had a great time. Prices start from about 30 EURO per race and go up from there. There are many group specials and other fun options to keep it fun and exciting. They do have smaller karts and separate races for children.

Other than a single page, this website is also only in German so check with your hotel or local guide to help with final arrangements.

Kartland
Miraustraße 62-66
13509 Berlin-Reinickendorf
kartland.de/english-racing-arrangments