October 3rd is a special day in Germany, it is the country’s National Day, or German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) – the day in 1990 when the reunification of East and West Germany was complete. And on this day in 1969, the Berliner Fernsehturm/ Berlin TV Tower was first opened. The tower was designed by architect Hermann Henselmann and construction started in 1965 by order of the GDR (East German) government with the intention to demonstrate their strength. The sphere of the tower was even inspired by Soviet sputnik satellites! Today, the Berlin TV Tower has become the symbol of reunified Germany and of the city of Berlin, and is an internationally renowned landmark and sought-after tourist attraction.
The Berlin TV Tower is 368 meters / 1,207 ft. high from the base to the antennae, making it the highest building in Germany. The tower weighs 31000 tons and cost 132 million mark (GDR) to build. The tower is a TV tower, broadcasting 120 radio and TV programmes! Guests can go to the observation deck of the tower, located 203 meters / 666 ft. above Berlin, in a mere 40 seconds, by a high speed elevator that travels 6 meters / 19 ft. 6 in. per second. A unique 360-degree panoramic view over the skyline of the German capital awaits, as well as a chance to have a drink in Berlin’s highest bar, Bar 203, with an unforgettable view that stretches up to 70 km. / 229 ft. 6 in. on a clear day. Rotating restaurant Sphere is located directly above, at 207 meters / 679 ft., rotating once around its axes every 30 minutes. The Berlin TV Tower can also be booked as a venue for events.
The Berlin TV tower is a Magnicity Tower, belonging to the M56 Group: an independent operator of tourist attractions specializing in the management of observation decks. Magnicity created a free Augmented Reality App in 2021, which guests can use to make their visit more immersive! In May 2022, they launched a new Virtual Reality attraction at the Berlin TV Tower. The attraction was named Berlin’s Odyssey and takes visitors on a VR journey through Berlin’s entire history in just 15 minutes. On the same day a permanent exhibition was opened, dedicated to the Berlin TV Tower and its intricate history.
The Berlin TV Tower is open 7 days a week (opening times vary according to the season) and tickets can be purchased here.
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