I used to live in Berlin quite close to the TV Tower, and I think it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Europe. So I’m happy to write this extensive guide to the Berlin TV Tower.
Facts about the Tower
Planning a last minute trip to Berlin? 🇩🇪
Here are my favourite places to stay & things to do in German capital.
🛌 Places to Stay:
1. Hotel Adlon Kempinski (luxury hotel where all the celebs are staying too, right by the Brandenburg Gate)
2. NH Collection Mitte (very good hotel with an even better location in the heart of Berlin)
3. H4 Hotel Alexanderplatz (affordable hotel near Alexanderplatz and my favourite area, Prenzlauer Berg)
🎟️ Top Activities & Tours:
1. Fast-track ticket to the TV Tower (skip the slow-moving queue)
2. Go on Boat Tour on the River Spree (lovely way to see a lot of sights)
3. Take a Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour
4. Take a guided tour to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial
🚇 Get The Berlin WelcomeCard for easy access to public transport (it's also valid on the Airport Express train) & huge discounts on a lot of activities in Berlin.
Let’s get started with some quick facts:
The Berlin TV Tower – in German, the Berliner Fernsehturm – was constructed between 1965 and 1969 and officially opened on the 3rd of October, 1969.
Despite its origins in the GDR (German Democratic Republic – East Germany), the Tower has been a signature symbol of Berlin, and indeed Germany as a whole, carrying great symbolic value for the city and the country.
Originally standing 365 metres tall, the Tower was fitted with a new antenna in the 1990s, increasing its height to an impressive 368 metres. This makes the TV Tower the fourth tallest freestanding building in Europe.
Halfway up the Tower, 203 metres above the ground, you’ll find a viewing platform offering vistas spanning over 40 km. There’s also a sought-after revolving restaurant in the Tower.
Check out this video where I’m showing some of the best sights in Berlin:
Tickets 🎟️
The TV Tower welcomes over 1.2 million visitors annually, so booking your tickets in advance is a good way to avoid long queues and waiting times.
A standard ticket from GetYourGuide starts from €24.50 per person and offers two main benefits:
- You can skip the queue with Fast Track
- Free cancellation
- Get your ticket for the TV Tower here
The tickets from the official website start from €25.50, so it’s a no-brainer, in my opinion.
Tickets with restaurant options 🍽️
As I mentioned, there’s a restaurant at the top of the TV Tower, and plenty of different ticket options exist.
It’s important to note that you must book ahead if you want to eat in the restaurant.
Here are the different options if you want to visit the Berlin TV Tower restaurant:
- Ticket with Window Seat Table Reservation: This option includes an entrance ticket and a window seat reservation at the restaurant (though food isn’t included). The cost is €27.50. You can purchase this here.
- Ticket with Inner Circle Table Reservation: This package provides you with an entrance ticket and a reservation for a table in the Inner Circle of the restaurant (again, food isn’t included). It’s priced at €24.50. Buy it here.
- Ticket with Lunch/Afternoon Tea: Here, for €35.50, you get an entrance ticket, a window seat reservation, and a lovely lunch or afternoon tea (featuring a sandwich, a chocolate muffin, and your choice of coffee or tea). Grab this deal here.
- Ticket with 3-Course Dinner: Lastly, for €110, you’re treated to an entrance ticket, a window seat reservation, and a 3-course dinner (comprising a welcome drink, starter, main course, dessert, two glasses of wine, unlimited mineral water, and a hot drink after the meal). Purchase this luxurious package here.
Where is the TV Tower in Berlin?
The TV Tower is near Alexanderplatz in Mitte, Berlin, formerly part of East Berlin.
Though the TV Tower was constructed by the GDR during the Cold War, when East and West Berlin were separated by the Berlin Wall, the impressive structure has maintained its conservation status.
Today, it’s a hallmark of both Berlin and Germany as a whole, recognised globally.
The address you’ll need to reach the TV Tower is:
Panoramastrasse 1A, 10178 Berlin, Germany.
With both S-Bahn and bus lines in the immediate vicinity, it’s easy to reach the Tower, whether travelling by car or public transport.
For more information, see my guide to public transport in Berlin – you can even take the train straight from Berlin Brandenburg Airport to Alexanderplatz.
Should you stay near the TV Tower?
In my comprehensive guide on where to stay in Berlin, I mention several good hotels close to the TV Tower.
One of these excellent hotels is the H4 Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz.
I stayed here on a recent trip, and it’s a brilliant option if you’re looking for a 4-star hotel close to Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower.
Opening Hours
During the high season, from March to September, the Tower is open from 09:00 – 22:00. During the low season, from October to February, it opens at 10:00.
Once you’ve gained access to the Tower, you can stay as long as you like.
Check the opening hours on the official website.
How high is the TV Tower in Berlin?
The TV Tower in Berlin stands today at 368 metres high. Until the 90s, only 365 metres and the last 3 metres were added when a new antenna was installed.
The viewing platform and the restaurant are at a height of 203 metres, which offers a phenomenal view of all of Berlin.
The Tower has two lifts that whisk you to the viewing platform in 34 seconds. This equates to a speed of about 6 metres per second.
The view from a height of 203 metres allows you to see as far as 42 km away in clear weather. Dining in a restaurant with such a view is exceptional.
What was the Tower used for before?
The Tower was specifically built as a TV tower to provide East Berlin with a TV signal.
It was a striking structure in its time, and in 1969, when it was completed, it was the third tallest freestanding structure in the world, after the Television Tower in Moscow and the Empire State Building in New York.
In 1979, the TV Tower – more commonly referred to as the Television Tower at the time – was designated a listed building by the GDR.
Even after Berlin’s reunification, the Tower maintained its preservation status.
The Tower still functions as an actual television tower, although it’s also used as a tourist attraction. Approximately 60 TV and radio channels are broadcast from the Tower.
If you’re planning a trip in Berlin, I’ve also written some guides on the subject that you might find helpful.
Check out all my travel guides to Berlin here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is it worth visiting the TV Tower Berlin?
Yes! Visiting the TV Tower in Berlin is, in short, a bit of a wow moment and one of the best things to do in Berlin. There’s something quite astonishing about being lifted up over 200 metres above the ground and suddenly finding yourself with a panoramic view of one of Europe’s most fascinating cities.
How long does it take to get through the Berlin TV Tower?
The great thing about the Berlin TV Tower is that there’s no rush. Once you’re up there, you can stay as long as you want. So, it really depends on what you fancy doing while you’re up there.
If you’re just popping up for a quick look around and to snap a few incredible photos, you might only need an hour or so. But let’s say you want to dine in style at the revolving restaurant, then you could easily be up there for a good two or three hours, enjoying your meal and soaking up the incredible views.
How much does it cost to go up the TV Tower in Berlin?
Fast-track tickets can be purchased online with free cancellation for €24.50. I provide the booking link in this guide.
When was the TV tower built?
The TV Tower was built between the years 1965-1969 and inaugurated on the 3rd of October 1969.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• NordVPN is the only VPN I've ever needed for travel (it just works, everywhere)
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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