Berlin from a bird's eye view

Panoramapunkt

Of course, the first thing that comes to our mind on this subject is the Panoramapunkt in the Kollhoff-Tower, since it is located right next to our hotel.  Within only 20 seconds, the fastest elevator of Europe will accelerate you skywards to the 24th level, up to a height of 100 meters. Once you are up there, a spectacular and unique 360-degree view will await you. The amount of sights you are able to see is not ordinary for an observation point: The Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Federal Chancellery, Bellevue Palace, Berliner Dom, TV Tower, Gendarmenmarkt, Holocaust Memorial, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and at clear sight you can even spot the Teufelsberg and the wind turbines at the border to Brandenburg. The nice thing about it is that there is no glass panes to hinder you from taking beautiful panoramic photos. And on top of this, you can get excited for an interesting outdoor exhibition about the history of Berlin and a small break at the Panoramacafé.

Welt balloon

The Welt balloon located near Checkpoint Charlie will provide you with an endless panoramic view of Berlin. The captive balloon rises up to a height of 150 meters and is connected to the ground with a steel rope. We have already tested this balloon, which is one of the largest helium balloons worldwide. It definitely takes a moment's effort, to hold your phone out of the net, which provides security for the passengers, to take pictures. We really do not want to picture, that it could drop down. Unfortunately, the 15-minute hovering is short and with 23€ it is quite costly.

Victory Column

The Victory Column was built on occasion of the victory of Prussia in the Second Schleswig War in 1864. The large star in the midst of the Großer Tiergarten is not only a famous landmark of Berlin, but the 285 steps lead to the 51-meter high platform with a fantastic view over the whole Tiergarten. The panorama is especially spectacular during fall season, when the leaves of the trees in the Tiergarten are glowing in various colors. If you tilt back your head, you are also able to see Victoria, the goddess of victory, also called “Goldelse”, meaning something like "Golden Lizzy". She is wearing a helmet with eagle’s wings, holding a laurel wreath and a standard with the Iron Cross in her hands.

Reichstag

Another place of interest is the famous Reichstag. With its glass dome it also serves as a great observation point. The admission is free, but you should register in advance, preferably via the online form. The glass dome, which is 23 meters high and 40 meters wide, was built in 1999 after the design of the architect Norman Foster. The glass dome does not only offer a great view, but it is also useful since it is the main light source for the plenary assembly room, located 10 meters below. On the inside of the dome, big mirrors are installed to guide the light inside. However, if there is too much sunlight, these mirrors can be shadowed by a solar protection element.

TV Tower

Of course, the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz should not stay unmentioned. With 368 meters, it is the tallest building of Germany and characterizes the cityscape of Berlin. From this place, you will certainly spot every sight of the capital – all of them, except for one: the TV Tower itself. To avoid the long waiting lines, we recommend buying the ticket online in advance. This will make your stay at the TV Tower and a possible connecting visit at the “Sphere” Restaurant, which revolves a full 360 degrees in one hour, much more relaxed.

Funkturm Berlin

It is not quite as famous as the TV Tower, but still worth a visit: the Funkturm. It is 146.7 meters tall and is located on the exhibition grounds. It was opened in 1926 on the occasion of the third “Große Deutsche Funkausstellung” (Great German Radio Exhibition) and it received the nickname „Langer Lulatsch“ (“the lanky lad”). Some of you might recognize that the architect Heinrich Straumer’s steel grid construction looks similar to the Parisian Eiffel Tower. Even the physicist Albert Einstein could not resist the attractive power and paid a visit to the Funkturm in 1930.

The Bell Tower at the Olympiastadion

A bit further on the outskirts of Berlin, the 77-meter high Bell Tower at the Olympiastadion in the district Westend will offer you a stunning view of the stadium and the Grunewald forest. The Olympiastadion was constructed on occasion of the Summer Olympic Games in 1936, thus, it became part of a turbulent history. In the lower section of the Bell Tower, you will find an exhibition about this historic location.

Considering the altitude of some of these buildings, we hope that you are not afraid of heights, so you can enjoy these amazing views to the fullest.