Berlin has a lot to offer for families travelling with small children and its winning combination of cleanliness, free attractions and entertainment and organisation, make it a great place to spend a fun-filled, stress-free holiday with your little ones. Below you will find some tips and suggestions to help you plan your trip.

To save some money if you are planning to visit a number of sights in Berlin, you can invest in a Welcome Card which offers discounts on the city’s main attractions and museums for one adult and up to three children. The pass is available for 48 or 72 hours and also allows you to use all of the buses and trains in zones A, B and C for free. It’s probably best to work out your itinerary and the cost with and without the Welcome Card to see if the savings you can make with it are worthwhile.

The Kinderbad baths are ideal for a splash around on a summer’s day. They are little open-air pools surrounded by pleasant grassy areas where you can relax and sunbathe. You will find the Kinderbad in Monbijou-Park.

Berlin Zoo is a safe bet for a family day out with something for all ages as does the AquaDom and Sea Life Centre with all of its tropical fish.

If you get a rainy day when in Berlin, do not despair! Head to Bamboo-Land where the children can romp around this enormous indoor play centre with a jungle theme, bounce on trampolines and use up all of that energy. There are age-specific sessions, so call to get some more information or check out their web site.

Don’t forget to try a “Berliner”, a sugary jam doughnut or the city’s legendary sausages and chips – they may not be the healthiest of options but they will certainly be a hit with the kids and you can come back another time without the kids to try the swish eateries in town.

Families on holiday in Berlin are well catered for as far as accommodation is concerned too. There are plenty of apartments in the centre of Berlin which allow you the freedom of your own home and the convenience of self-catering facilities. If you’d prefer not to worry about washing clothes and dishes during your stay, you could opt for one of the many family-friendly hotels in Berlin where everything is taken care of for you.

Wherever you stay and whatever you do in Berlin, you will be pleasantly surprised how child-friendly the German capital is.

Bread & Butter Berlin 2010 runs from 20th to 22nd January 2010, showcasing the latest streetwear and urbanwear. If you’re in the fashion industry and want to offer your clients the latest in urban and street fashion, Bread & Butter Berlin 2010 is an unmissable event. If you’re heading for Bread & Butter 2010, why not check out for a budget Berlin hotels? Choose from a wide range of budget Berlin hotels, hostels, apartments and bed & breakfasts close to Tempelhof Airport. This historic Berlin airport is the location for Bread & Butter Berlin 2010, and is a major Berlin tourist attraction. See the latest in cutting edge urban fashion at Bread & Butter 2010, and make great savings on Berlin accommodation.

The international film festival in Berlin will screen the best films of the year February 11-21, 2010 in Berlin. If you are thinking about making the pilgrimage to this mecca of celluloid, you will surely be on the look out for the best quality budget accommodation for the Berlinale 2010 film fest. Check out this selection of budget hotels, hostels, apartments and bed and breakfasts close to the silver screens of Berlinale 2010. Every year, thousands of film professionals and many film-goers take over Berlin to see the projections of the Berlinale, so make sure you reserve your tickets and get your budget accommodation some time in advance.
The best budget hotels, hostels, apartments, B&B’s for the Berlinale 2010 on this selection would take home the Golden Bear award for the best selection of budget accommodation.

All of Berlin seems to be turning into one giant Christmas village the weeks before Christmas – end November is when hundreds of Christmas stands open their doors on countless Berlin Christmas markets throughout the German capital, offering anything from handcraft to typical German gingerbread. And Glühwein of course, a tasty version of spiced wine which keeps you warm while mingling with the Berliners out on the streets. Or squares, such as Gendarmenmarkt: the Christmas market which takes place there is also famous for its culinary offer (starts 23/11). Charlottenburg Castle is another setting which you shouldn’t miss when touring Berlin Christmas Markets (starts 23/11). Thanks to its Christmas markets, travelling to Berlin is a nice idea to spend your New Year’s Eve or Christmas.

Berlin’s turbulent past has laid the foundations for what is now a city of cultural variety and striking contrasts. Gone are the days when Berlin was considered by tourists as interesting but poor and behind the times; the German capital has long since had a face lift and is now one of Europe’s most modern and fashionable capitals with sleek architecture and prime tourist attractions and a world leader as far as nightlife is concerned thanks to the continually bubbling creative activity that fuels Berlin’s edgy underground club and music scene. If you are coming here to enjoy Berlin’s night life, the ex-pat’s magazine Exberliner includes club listings and concerts and, naturally, it’s in English.

Being so trendy, young and vibrant, Berlin is a very attractive destination for budget airlines so finding cheap flights to Berlin is usually easy. As far as accommodation is concerned, self-catering apartments in Berlin are a good option and a great way of experiencing the city like just another Berliner. Budget B&B’s in Berlin have the added advantage that you can fill up on breakfast as it comes included in the price of your stay, especially as a German breakfast is a hearty affair that could see most people through till dinner!

Alte Schenhauser Strasse in the Mitte district is a good place to go for international cheap eats, and attracts both tourists and budget conscious locals. And for cheap and chic second hand clothes, all the cool kids head to Mauerpark flea market on Saturdays and Sundays where you can find everything from antique jewelry to hand printed t-shirts. Even if you don’t have any money to spend, this is a good place to experience the city’s alternative vibe and witness the city’s trendiest inhabitants strutting their stuff in some seriouly interesting outfits.

For a clearer understanding of this modern metropolis, head to Checkpoint Charlie, which is now a museum. And, literally for a clearer view of the city, nothing beats the glass dome of Reichstag parliament building, which is free to get into and offers incredible 360 degree views of the city from a giddy height and is especially pretty by night.

Berlin does shabby chic like no other city thanks to its combination of the edgy vibe in east and the ultra modern west, hence it’s reputation as “poor but sexy”. But If you want to explore the many different sides of this fascinating city, come soon as Berlin as a whole is on the up!

Berlin is a surprisingly affordable city with something to suit all budgets. Here are the usual tips to scrimp and save on accommodation, food, transport and entertainment….

Few capital cities offer such a vast range of tourist accommodation; from luxury hotels to cheap B&B’s, Berlin has it all. If you are looking for accommodation near to the city’s main shopping area, check out hotels near Kurfurstendamm which tend to offer accommodation in comfortable, small rooms with all the usual basic facilities. If your budget can’t stretch to a hotel, have a look at the selection of cheap hostels in Berlin. While hostel life is a little inconvenient for families or couples looking for some privacy, they are the ideal money saver for the independent traveller just looking for somewhere to rest his or her head.
Now food: For a tasty, filling and, more importantly, cheap meal – fill up on a delicious kebab or sandwich from one of the many Turkish street vendors or little restaurants. Germany has the largest Turkish population anywhere in the world outside of Turkey itself, and the Turkish bring with them their wonderful, very affordable cuisine which is readily available everywhere in Berlin. If you want to try something a little more traditional but that won’t break the bank, check out the Tiergartenquelle.
As far as public transport is concerned, no city is better than Berlin. Underground trains (U-Bahn), trams, buses, ferries that run all day and night, every day of the year. The Berlin WelcomeCard 2009 comes as a 48 hour, 72 hour or 5 day ticket for unlimited travel on Berlin’s public transport and offers great discounts for a number of museums, bars, restaurants and tourist attractions.
So, you’ve got your hotel, your cheap eats and your transport…what else can you see and do in the German capital with no capital at all?
As most experienced budget travellers know, city parks are great for a pleasant (and free) afternoon and they will be delighted with Berlin’s Tiergarten which spreads across the whole city centre and is beautifully landscaped. Berlin is a monumental city and many of the most famous, historical monuments are completely free to visit, such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial. The museums on Museum Island are free to visit on Thursday evenings. My personal favourite way of whiling away the hours in Berlin with empty pockets is just strolling around the quirky Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood window shopping and watching the world go by!