Living in Berlin
Living in Berlin with children: daycare, school, transport and green neighbourhoods
Berlin is known as a party city and at the same time it is a city where many people raise children. Some things are easier here than elsewhere in Germany, above all daycare costs. Others, such as a daycare place nearby, take patience. An overview for anyone moving to Berlin with a family or starting one here.
Daycare free since August 2018, meal share 23 euros a month
Under 6 travel free on buses and trains
School ticket free for Berlin pupils, as of October 2026
Daycare
In Berlin, parents have paid no daycare fees since August 2018. According to the Senate, they contribute 23 euros a month towards lunch, and daycare centres may charge limited extra fees for things like sport, organic food or language classes. To get a place you need a daycare voucher (Kita-Gutschein) from the district youth office. Apply early, because free places near home are scarce in many neighbourhoods.
School and getting around
Children under six travel free on buses and trains. According to BVG, Berlin pupils with a valid school ID also travel free within the city. In July 2026 transport senator Ute Bonde questioned whether this should remain the case for all families; as of October 2026 nothing had been decided. For primary school, a school near your home is usually responsible, and registration goes through the district.
Neighbourhoods with plenty of green
Many families are drawn to neighbourhoods with parks and water. In our Kiez guide, Schlachtensee, Dahlem-Dorf and Frohnau are among the quietest, and Friedrichshagen on the Müggelsee feels like a village of its own. Inside the S-Bahn ring, the Bötzowviertel and Ludwigkirchplatz, for example, are quiet yet central.
At the weekend
With children, Berlin is worth seeing from the water: the ferry across the Wannsee runs at the normal fare, more in Berlin from the water. Quiet green corners are in the Secret gardens, and among the 12 places off the path is Domäne Dahlem, a farm in the middle of the city.
Renting and buying
If you are looking for a bigger flat or want to buy, you should know what applies in the milieu protection areas. That is in Buying a flat in Berlin.