Berlin TV Tower: The Skyline Icon of a Reunited City

Standing proudly at 368 meters, the Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm Berlin) dominates the city’s skyline and remains one of Germany’s most recognizable landmarks. Located at Alexanderplatz, the tower was constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the government of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as a symbol of socialist power and technological progress. At the time, it was designed not only to improve television broadcasting but also to showcase the strength and modernity of East Berlin to the world.

The tower’s futuristic design, created by architects Hermann Henselmann, Jörg Streitparth, and others, reflects the optimism of the Space Age. Its gleaming stainless-steel sphere, housing a restaurant and observation deck, appears to float above the city. Inside, the Panorama restaurant slowly rotates — completing a full turn every 30 minutes, offering guests breathtaking 360-degree views over Berlin.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the TV Tower gained new meaning. Once a proud symbol of East Germany, it now stands as an emblem of a unified Berlin, admired by people from all around the world. The tower attracts over 1 million visitors each year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany.

From the observation platform, visitors can spot nearly every major Berlin landmark — from the Brandenburg Gate to the Reichstag, the Berlin Cathedral, and the Spree River winding through the city. By night, the illuminated sphere transforms into a beacon of light and unity, visible from nearly every corner of the capital.