Fernsehturm (TV Tower), Berlin

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The TV Tower, called the toothpick by locals is the city's tallest building at 365m. It was built in 1969. The ticket office and elevator lobby is located at the base of the tower, cost about 8.50 Euros..

Situated inside the steel clad giant sphere is the observation platform at 203m. On a clear day the whole of Berlin is visible and views of up to 25 miles can be had.

The Tele-Cafe is one floor above the viewing platform and consists of about 38 tables near the outer ring that move on a conveyor belt that does one full circle every 30 minutes. Despite its location we had a ten minute wait for a table (about 9pm Wed) and the prices for a 2x meal and dessert were 60 Euro which we thought was reasonable.

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The Fernsehturm (TV tower) is the tallest tower in the city. It is 368 metres high. There is an elevator that takes you to an observation platform and a restaurant, which revolves slowly. From here you can see all across the city.

It is located in the middle of Alexanderplatz.

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This is the highest constructure in Berlin, a symbol of the city, shown from almost everywhere, it is located in Alexanderplatz, in the center of Berlin, for less than 10 euro we can go to the top of it to admire the best view of all the city.

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The tower was built between 1965 and 1969 by the former German Democratic Republic . To get to the top of the 368 m hight tower you must take a 40 second long elevator ride. Like the CN tower and Skylon tower in Canada. The German tower has a observation deck and rotating dinning platform. The rotating dinning hall goes around twice in one hour, so you will be able see all of the city. Here are the hours if you would like to go to the top.

Daily Hours:
March - October: 9.00 am - midnight
November - February: 10.00 am - midnight

Price:
Adults: 9.50 €
seniors: 7.50 €

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When you see this particular spire looming ahead of you ( and you can see it from most places ) you definitely know you are in Berlin. At 368 feet high, it is Germany's tallest structure and one of this city's most visited tourist attractions. It is quite stunning as transmitters go and I think it might not be unreasonable to suppose that it's size was as much to do with making a visual statement of power as it was about its actual day-to-day function.

This spectacular creation took four years to build and has been in service since 1969. At the top , on a fine day, you can see, if not forever, at least to a distance of 40 kms ,and the views over the city are obviously terrific. As well as the viewing station, there's a restaurant on top which makes a 360 degree turn every 30 minutes. Unfortunately, I didn't experience any of this for myself as I'm too claustrophobic to travel in lifts and the mere thought of being up so high makes me queasy. So I had to content myself with admiring it from the ground and taking multiple photos. Vt member MgMarcus has great photos from the top on his Berlin page , if you want to check them out.

The Fernsehturm website is excelllent and gives a virtual visual tour of the interior. If like me you are too chicken to take that 40 second elevator to the top, then you might find this of interest.

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The tallest structure in Berlin at 365 m provides magnificent views of the city. Take the lift up to the Viewing Platform, situated inside the steel-clad giant sphere. Also here is a relvolving cafe, a great place to sit with a drink & watch the city pass by at a birds-eye view. Once back on the ground there is a souvenir shop to visit.

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The TV-tower is a good landmark in Berlin as you can see it from almost everywhere. On my second trip in March 2007 we went up to the tower and although I don't like high places I'm glad I made it as the view was amazing!

With its height of 368 m, it's the third highest structure in Europe. The visitor platform is at a height of about 204 m above the ground.

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The TV Tower is a spectacular construction, and with a height of 368 metres Germany’s tallest structure. However, although it is Berlin’s most visible landmark, it is surely not the most beautiful one. To me it is important as a symbol of the reunification, having been the most striking feature of East Berlin’s cityscape. And it is a great place for looking over Berlin, and/or have a drink or dinner in the silver ball which sits at an altitude of 203 metres above Alexanderplatz.

The fact that is was built at all was simply the GDR regime needing a transmitter with enough potential to reach the remotest regions of the East. Construction time was from 1964 to 1968, and in 1969 it went into service.

When the weather is fine you can see as far as 40 kilometres from the observation deck at 203 metres. One storey above this is the Telecafé which makes a 360 degree turn within 30 minutes. If you want to experience that, come and check the queues. One million visitors head up to the tower every year. Anyway, no queue is as bad as the one in front of Reichstag. I was at the TV Tower several times (most times passing, of course) in mid August and never would have got aware of extreme waiting times.

A little amusing story: The SED party wanted the East Berliners to call the TV Tower “Tele-Spargel” (Tele-Asparagus) but they ignored the wish. Instead they called it “St. Walter” (after the party leader Walter Ulbricht, you know, the one who kissed Breshnev on the mouth…) – but most commonly I heard “Imponierkeule” and “Protzstengel” which means show-off club or swank stem. I think “show-off club” describes the shape of the tower very well ;-)

Similar was the nickname of the Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic): “Palazzo Protzi” (show-off palace). But those were names I heard in the past. Today the TV Tower is just called Fernsehturm. After the reunification the people seem to be a lot more relaxed.

Open Mar – Oct: 9am – midnight; Nov – Feb: 10am – midnight
Entry fee 8,50 Euro