Fernsehturm (TV Tower), Berlin

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"The Fernsehturm is an impressive and iconic sight, soaring above the skyline of Berlin like a giant glistening golf ball skewered on a concrete spike, topped with a red and white flash. This product of the old DDR towered over their western counterparts, with the only blemish on its prideful socialist status being the golden cross it cast over the city when the sun reflected on it, a slightly embarrassing marker for an officially atheist state. It also offered sensational vistas from its viewing platform, 200 meters up the 365 meter structure." - from my travelogue

In German the words "fern" and "seh" literally mean far and see, but joined together they become "fernsehen", or television. This rather literal naming of the technology, gives Berlin's iconic TV Tower a doubly accurate meaning. It is both a television tower, and a far seeing tower. It is possible to see as far as 40 km on a clear day. It costs a slightly expensive 7 euros to be rocketed up to these dizzying heights, squeezed into lifts that travel at 6 meters per second. Depending on the day, you might have a long wait, though, as the queues can get very long. Nearly as bad as the Eiffel Tower.

From the top the views were excellent, and made all the better by the huge clear windows, which angled down onto the city to give the greatest field of view possible. The top of the tower also includes an extortionately expensive cafe bar, and above the observation deck there is a rotating restaurant, with similarly sky high prices.

The tower is open 9.00 am - 1.00 am, from March until October, and then 10.00 am - midnight the rest of the year. Tickets are half-price for those under 16.

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Taking a 40 second vertical trip in the lift of the television tower at Alexanderplatz to the viewing platform gives spectacular panoramic views over Berlin from a height of 203m. It takes only 40 seconds for the lift to reach this level, another 21 steps up brings you to the rotating restaurant. Opened in 1969 and overhauled in 1995 for visitor safety, this DDR-era landmark has a total height of 368m. Initially I baulked slightly at the 11 euro admission price but the views are truly breathtaking and it's a Berlin experience not to be missed.

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Beautiful view, makes worth to pay about 10 or 11 Euros
There´s a cool bar inside where you can drink some beverages and have funny moments seeing one of the most beautiful and organized city of Europe
Good place to choose your next sightseeing cause there you can see everything

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A few meters away from Alexanderplatz is located the Fernsehturm(TV Tower) (pic 1) a tall tower that can be seen from many parts of the city. It used to be 365m high but the new antenna put it up to 368m now.

It was built in 1969 by GDR(it took 4 years), and definitely was a symbol of the city.

You can go up to the visitor platform (at 200m) (the view is nice but we were very tired and the mist didn’t allow us to take any good picture). I think the ticket is expensive at 10.50euro. Sometimes you have to wait in line but there is a small photograph exhibition in the lobby where you can see how it was constructed etc

You can also have lunch at the rotating restaurant above the view platform but you have to book in advance.

What I like most about it is to see its top hiding in the morning mist (pic 2)
The tower is open to the public daily 9.00am-midnight (from 10.00 in winter)

Close to Alexanderplatz and part of the World Federation of Great Towers (WFGT), the tower was constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) administration who intended it as a symbol of Berlin, which it remains today, as it is easily visible throughout the central and some suburban districts of Berlin. The original total height of the tower was 365 metres (1198 feet), but it rose to 368 m (1207 ft) after the installation of a new antenna in the 1990s. The Fernsehturm is the fourth tallest freestanding structure in Europe, after Moscow's Ostankino Tower, the Kiev TV Tower and the Riga Radio and TV Tower. There is a visitor platform and a rotating restaurant in the middle of the sphere.

Cerca de Alexanderplatz y formando parte de la Federación Mundial de Grandes Torres (WFGT), la torre fue construida entre 1965 y 1969 por la antigua República Democrática Alemana (RDA) de la administración que se proponía como un símbolo de Berlín, que sigue siendo hoy en día, ya que es fácilmente visible en todo el centro y algunos barrios de la periferia de Berlín. La altura total original de la torre de 365 metros, pero se elevó a 368 m después de la instalación de una nueva antena en la década de 1990. El Fernsehturm es la cuarta torre mas alta de Europa, después de Ostankino de Moscú Torre, la Torre de TV de Kiev y la Radio Riga y torre de la televisión. Hay una plataforma y un restaurante desde el cual se pueden disfrutar de las mejors vistas de Berlin

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It's probably not the first time, that you see a TV tower.
So you won't be disappointed if you go on top that one.

You get a good overview of Berlin - but it is nothing really special.

If you go there in the off season, then you don't need to queue up.

I think its one of the more expensive TV towers in Germany.
The ones in Mannheim, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart are cheaper.

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Esta torre se ha convertido en un punto de referencia de Berlín , pues se ve desde todas las partes y por eso el gobierno de la RDA la utilizó como un símbolo de Berlín Oriental
Tiene una altura de 368m , la plataforma de visita está a 203m y tiene 986 escalones y dos ascensores
Aunque es caro el billete ( 10,50 Euros ) vale la pena pues las vistas desde arriba son impresionantes y se puede uno hacer una idea muy buena de Berlín desde "el cielo"

This tower has become a reference point of Berlin, as it is seen from all sides and therefore the government of the GDR used it as a symbol of East Berlin
With a height of 368m, the visit the platform is 203m and it has 986 steps and two lifts
Although the ticket is expensive (10.50 Euros ) is worthwhile because the views are breathtaking and from above one you can make a very good idea of Berlin from the sky'

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Here is where one can enjoy the best view of all Berlin. Located in the former East Berlin, it stands 207 meters high. This was meant to be a symbol of East German pride and achievement. Ironically, religious people saw on it a reflection of the sun in the shape of a cross (due to the top's spherical shape and reflective surfaces). They dubbed it "the Pope's revenge".

The tower is one of the city's foremost tourist attractions. So if you visit in the summer, it's a good idea to visit the website below to reserve your ticket well in advance. It will save you from standing forever in line. If you want to eat at the restaurant, reservations at least a week in advance are required.