The Fernsehturm
At 368m, Berlin’s TV Tower is the tallest structure in Germany, so there’s no excuse for not seeing it. There’s an enclosed viewing platform at 203 m, and fortunately you don’t have to climb up the 986 steps because one of the two lifts will whisk you up there in just 40 seconds. It’s a good job the lifts are quick because they’re not very big and waiting times can be considerable.
Almost 1.2m visitors a year pay to come for a panoramic view of Berlin and if you don’t mind paying an extra premium you can have a fast track entry. Better still if you can get here for the 09.00 opening you won’t need to pay the extra and you won’t have to wait long either.
The prime reason for building the TV Tower wasn’t to give tourists a grandstand view of Berlin of course, but to provide radio and television transmissions, and also no doubt, to make a political statement that the GDR was capable of building structures every bit as impressive as those across the wall could – and in this instance, in my opinion, they were right.
Construction on the tower started in 1965 and took four years to build with the first broadcasts beginning on 3rd October 1969. There are some old film clips of its construction dotted around the tower which are well worth looking at if you have an interest in this sort of thing.
Most people come up here purely for the views though, and I learnt a long time ago that these high viewpoints are rarely worth the effort, time, and cost, if the conditions aren’t favourable. The trouble is that I don’t always listen to my own advice and came up here regardless.
If on the other hand, you’re luckier with the weather than I was, and the observation deck windows have been cleaned, then you’ll no doubt have some extraordinary views of this extraordinary city.
For all the latest information take a look at the official website.
Originally posted 2018-05-03 16:49:01.
Oh manna. manna for the potetnially about to starve reader. I don’t know I missed Berlin off. Maybe cos I saw just the Berlin tab and possible thought it would just be one post. How stupid am I? Now I have, I think, a wee mention of this place in one of my blogs, so good to read much more about it.
I’ve just counted them. There are 31 posts on Berlin altogether, so that should keep you occupied for a while – if you don’t run out of steam first 😀
Not at all. Glad you did thta Malc, thank you. I did go back over to look at all the categories etc and like thought, it will be one post and I have maybe seen it. So just brilliant.
😌
The $64,000 dollar question is: “Does it have a revolving restaurant”?
If so, I’m up there like a ferret up a drainpipe …
The simple answer Cathy is yes!