Continuing with our (not so festive) trip to Berlin…
A while back, someone saw fit to ask me to speak on a travel panel at a conference. There, an audience member asked what my biggest tip would be for successful family travel. Of course I could have said “don’t take children”, or “bribery” but actually, I really do believe that the best tip for a trip that everyone enjoys (and remembers) is to give your offspring a guide-book and let them plan a part of it. Not only does it make them feel involved, it also ensures that you all get to see things you wouldn’t have even have dreamed about visiting (which can of course be both a blessing and a curse!) I am sure I have mentioned before that (amongst many other places) this is how we ended up at the fabulous Studio Ghibli Museum in Japan, the gory Kriminal Museum in Rothenburg, and now this, The Currywurst Museum in Berlin…
Living here, both children are fans of the odd wurst as they feature on just about every single children’s menu in the region (along with the obligatory Schnitzel), and Small Boy is particularly partial to a good spicy Currywurst smothered in sauce and with a pile of chips the size of his head (not that he gets to eat it that often thanks to his horrible “six portion of fruits and veg a day” pushing mother!)… But, having been subjected to a closer look at remnants of the Berlin Wall and The Reichstag by his parents, and given in to his sister’s choice of the MauerMuseum (more on that shortly), it was only fair to indulge him on his choice – The Currywurst Museum.
It’s not that huge, there’s only so much you can say about a sausage, but what is said is said in-depth and with humour. There’s also a quiz sheet in English (and German obviously) which definitely adds to the experience for Small People, and resulted in a generous pile of mini Haribo packets at the end of our visit – once forms were correctly filled in.
I think the owners must have had a field day when they designed this place – quite a lot of it is interactive. They have thought of just about everything, from displays of where the Best Currywurst can be found across Berlin (from the humble (served with bier) to the not so humble, (accompanied by champagne!)) and beyond (there’s even a Currywurst van in Thailand). You can also find out about the origins of the original Currywurst recipe, and the herbs and spices mandatory to make them (and what they also look and smell like!). Then there are interactive games to play including one that shows you the best way to chop and serve the celebrated sausage if you’ve ever wondered, whilst timing you to see how fast it takes… And, just in case you are tempted to embark on a life of junk food forever, there’s a game of “comparing the contents of fridges”, from the healthy to the extremely not so, which should put you back on the right path again…
To prove there’s something for everyone here, we were particularly appreciative of the Currywurst shaped seating area (above), where we relaxed under giant blobs of “ketchup” and watched our offspring go bananas in the life-sized takeaway van… Behold two Small People absolutely killing themselves laughing as they “cooked” and “served up” some of Berlin’s finest! Thankfully this wasn’t a working model as Small Boy accidentally put his hand in the “deep fat fryer” and Small Girl accidentally put washing up liquid on the chips. I think they would have happily played here all day if they hadn’t been tempted by the real deal just around the corner…
And, as I have hinted above, before you leave you do get to sample a selection of Berlin’s finest, and yes, unlike a lot of food in this part of the world, the spicy option is actually very spicy…
A good interlude for kids if you plan on visiting some of Berlin’s more serious exhibits. Don’t miss the (partially hidden behind a wall) video of a Berlin Currywurst Seller from a number of years ago. It’s well worth watching…
Deutsches Currywurst Museum Berlin, Schutzenstrasse 70, 10117 Berlin – +49 30 88718647
This museum sounds like a fun choice. I have only had currywurst once, right here in Singapore. I liked it. Hope to visit Berlin someday too!
Thanks Karen! :)
That’s absolutely fabulous! I have no opinion whatsoever about currywurst, but I do so want to go here. That van looks like a lot of fun… for the kids. Of course, for the kids.
I really enjoyed it too! Thank you (:
This looks hilarious! I love those fun seats and your children are certainly having lots of fun in the ‘kitchen’. Such a good idea to include them in the planning and letting them pick where to go. My daughter would enjoy this museum although think I’d her the non-spicy currywurst at the end. Thanks for linking to #citytripping
Thank you! It was worth a visit to watch them in the currywurst van alone! :D
This sounds like a hysterical antidote to the Reichstag, Wall et al, I’m quite sure my boys would love it and I’m definitely bookmarking it for a future visit to Berlin. Happy New Year Emma! #citytripping
Definitely an enjoyable light hearted interlude! Thank you, and to you and yours too! Will pop over very shortly! :)
This sounds fantastic! I love that Berlin has a currywurst museum, it seems very fitting – and a lot of fun. Thanks for linking up to #citytripping
Thanks so much Cathy! (:
This looks like a fun place to visit. Thanks for sharing. :) #citytripping
Thanks for reading! :)
This sounds like somewhere my two would pick if they were in charge – It sounds like so much fun and the fact you get to sample is a bonus ;-)
They are still talking about it now… :D Thanks Cass! (:
You do find the best places to visit Emma!!
I think I’d like to play in the takeaway van!
The takeaway van is amazing Emma, thank you! :)
That sounds like great fun for kids. Those giant ketchup blobs are hilarious! I must say we’re not big on travelling, but when we took my daughter to Amsterdam I gave her a book. She chose to go to the zoo because she saw it in her book and we had a fantastic afternoon there.
It’s a great thing to let them choose isn’t it? Even if it’s just to see what they come up with! Thanks Sarah! (: x
This looks so much better than I ever imagined it was!! What fun… and a great way to occupy small people ;)
It was a fun couple of hours! Thanks Christie! (:
I love how many museums Germany has. :-) I had my first currywurst in Berlin many years ago and loved it.
It has masses of museums doesn’t it? Thanks so much Krista! (:
Hilarious! I’ve clearly had to put this on my to-do-list for Berlin! Did you manage to visit Konopke? The fact that they kept selling Currywurst despite all sorts of food- and meat shortages not only proves the versatility of Currywurst, but also highlights the fact that a spicy ketchup can hide anything …
No, we sadly didn’t get to visit Konopke, I had wanted to though! Next time! :) Thanks Ginger!
MY ACTUAL IDEA OF HEAVEN!
The only blog post I have ever forwarded to my husband Emma!
Now that is an honour! Thanks so much Annie! (: x
Amazing – perhaps we should do similar in this country and have a Fish & Chip Museum where the kids can make their own!! I somehow think it would not have the same attraction. x
I would be their best customer I reckon! Thanks Mum! xxx