Landmark

Berlin TV Tower

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Berlin TV TowerTobi85 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
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The Berlin TV Tower, a 368-metre structure next to Alexanderplatz, is Germany's tallest building and a city landmark. Its observation deck at 203 metres offers panoramic views up to 42 kilometres on clear days, and the rotating restaurant above completes one revolution every 30 minutes. Two lifts reach the sphere in 40 seconds, and the tower attracts over a million visitors annually.

Don't miss

  • Observation deck at 203 metres with Berlin's highest bar and 60 windows for panoramic views.
  • Revolving restaurant 'Sphere' at 207 metres, rotating once every 30 minutes.
  • Sunlight reflecting off the stainless-steel dome often creates a Greek cross, nicknamed the 'Pope's Revenge'.
  • The tower's height increased from 365 to 368 metres after a new antenna was installed in 1997.
  • Located near St. Mary's Church and the Marx-Engels Forum, with the Park Inn hotel visible nearby.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Berlin TV Tower

You can see Berlin TV Tower on your own. A tour is worth it for the story behind it, for transport, or for combining nearby sights into one day.

Getting there

Know before you go

  • The observation level is 203 metres above ground and has 60 windows around the sphere.
  • Watch for the cross-shaped sunlight reflection on the dome, nicknamed the Pope's Revenge.
  • The restaurant level is 21 steps above the observation platform.

A bit of history

Built between 1965 and 1969 by the East German government, the tower served as both a broadcasting facility and a symbol of communist power. It was inaugurated on 3 October 1969 by Walter Ulbricht, launching colour television on two channels. After reunification, it transformed from a GDR symbol into a citywide emblem of a reunited Berlin, receiving official monument status in 1979.

Common questions

How long does the elevator ride take?

Two lifts transport visitors to the sphere in about 40 seconds.

Can I see far on a clear day?

Visibility can reach 42 kilometres, and on very clear days the view extends nearly 60 kilometres to Tropical Islands Resort.

Is the restaurant accessible by stairs?

The restaurant is located 21 steps above the observation platform at 207 metres.

What is the 'Pope's Revenge'?

It is the nickname for the cross-shaped reflection that appears on the tower's dome when sunlight hits it.

How many steps are in the stairway?

There are 986 steps in the stairway.

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