Berliner Fernsehturm: Berlin’s concrete needle and silver sphere
Published on 09/19/2026 at 06:42 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Berliner Fernsehturm in Berlin’s Mitte district is a tall concrete television tower crowned by a distinctive metal-clad sphere, rising beside Alexanderplatz and visible across large parts of the city. Built in the second half of the 1960s in what was then East Berlin, it became a key structure in the urban landscape of the German Democratic Republic and remains the tallest structure in Germany.
A GDR landmark shaped between 1965 and 1969
Work on Berliner Fernsehturm took place in the second half of the 1960s, during a period when East Berlin was being reshaped with large transport intersections and wide squares. Construction began in 1965 and the tower entered service in 1969, with its inauguration recorded on 3 October that year.Construction between 1965 and 1969 The project formed part of a broader programme of rebuilding the city centre as the capital of the German Democratic Republic.
The design of the tower’s slender shaft and prominent sphere is associated with architect Hermann Henselmann, who developed concepts for high structures in East Berlin and whose work was taken forward by a team of designers.Hermann Henselmann’s role The tower rises from a relatively compact base in the Mitte district, close to Alexanderplatz, with its shaft carrying the sphere and antenna above the surrounding streets and squares.Location near Alexanderplatz
Concrete shaft, steel sphere and the tallest height in Germany
Structurally, Berliner Fernsehturm consists of a reinforced-concrete shaft supporting a metal-clad sphere and an antenna mast, creating a characteristic combination of materials and forms that can be recognised in views from many parts of Berlin. The shaft reaches a height of just under 250 m (820 ft) before the sphere begins, with the antenna extending above it to give the tower its full height.Reinforced-concrete shaft height The total height, including the antenna, is given as 368.03 m (1,207 ft), making the structure the tallest in Germany and placing it among the highest television towers within the European Union.368.03 m overall height
The sphere itself measures about 32 m (105 ft) in diameter, enclosing several levels for broadcasting equipment, an observation deck and a restaurant.Sphere dimensions and interior levels Its panels and structural members create a geometric pattern on the exterior, which catches changing light in different weather conditions. When the tower was completed with its original antenna, its height was recorded at about 365 m (1,198 ft); later alterations to the antenna system increased this value to the present figure of just over 368 m (1,207 ft).Change from 365 m to 368 m
Observation deck and revolving restaurant in the sphere
Within the sphere, Berliner Fernsehturm contains an enclosed observation deck, reached by lifts from the base, and above it a restaurant known as Sphere. The viewing platform sits above the restaurant level, giving visitors a high vantage point within the sphere and views over the city’s districts, waterways and major streets.Observation deck level Access to the deck is by elevator rather than stairs, with the lifts travelling within the concrete shaft to reach the enclosed viewing level.Lift access to observation deck
The restaurant inside the sphere revolves slowly around its axis, completing a full rotation roughly twice an hour, so diners seated by the windows see successive directions of the city over the course of a meal.Revolving movement of the restaurant The restaurant level lies at about 207 m (679 ft) above the ground, placing it well above the rooftops of the surrounding central districts.Restaurant height at 207 m Together, the observation deck and revolving restaurant give the upper part of Berliner Fernsehturm a dual character as both a broadcasting installation and a place for viewing Berlin’s cityscape from within the sphere.
Visiting Berliner Fernsehturm: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Berliner Fernsehturm stands in the Mitte district of Berlin close to Alexanderplatz, a major transport hub reached by urban rail and U-Bahn services that stop at Alexanderplatz station.
- Access from the base to the enclosed observation deck is by lift inside the reinforced-concrete shaft; visitors use elevators rather than staircases to reach the viewing level within the sphere.
- The sphere sits high above the surrounding rooftops, so the upper levels are exposed to altitude and weather; the interior spaces are enclosed, while approaches at ground level involve open squares and paved areas.
- The official language is German and the currency is the euro.
Searching for Berliner Fernsehturm on social platforms
These links open searches for Berliner Fernsehturm on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Berliner Fernsehturm
Where is Berliner Fernsehturm located in Berlin?
Berliner Fernsehturm stands in the Mitte district of Berlin near Alexanderplatz, with its concrete shaft rising from streets and squares in the city centre.
What can visitors expect during a visit to Berliner Fernsehturm?
Visitors travel by lift to an enclosed observation deck within the sphere, and some choose to continue to the revolving restaurant level for elevated views while dining.
What makes Berliner Fernsehturm distinctive among Berlin’s structures?
The combination of a tall reinforced-concrete shaft, a prominent metal-clad sphere and a height of 368.03 m (1,207 ft) makes Berliner Fernsehturm a distinctive feature of Berlin’s skyline.
