At the beginning of summer I published Top 11 Rooftops of Madrid and it seems rooftops are gaining popularity among Europe. Since there aren’t many skyscrapers yet, any building with more than 10 stories often hide a potentially interesting spot on its top floor.
Last week I traveled to Berlin so I was curious and visited the best rooftops of this capital too. It turns out that 7 were absolutely spectacular. All of them were located on the city center except one, which involved taking 2 trains and walking up a mountain but had a lot of fun doing nonetheless.
This list includes only cultural rooftops, stay tunned for Berlin Top Rooftop Restaurants and Bars. Hope this information is useful to you and if you find I missed any let me know and I’ll add it to the list.
Name: PANORAMAPUNKT
Location: Potsdamer Platz 1
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (10-6)
Admission: 5,50€, students 4€
Best Views: Berliner Fernsehturm, Berlin’s Cathedral, Reichstag Dome, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin State Library and Berlin Philharmonic Hall, both by Hans Scharoun and The Neue Nationalgalerie by Mies van der Rohe.
Web: http://www.panoramapunkt.de/
Brief Description: Access is through the left side of the building (from Potsdamer Platz). In my opinion it is the best one of Berlin, it has unique skyline views. The PANORAMACAFÉ is nice option for breakfast. Bring your sketch book here.
Name: Berlin Cathedral
Location: Am Lustgarten
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat (9-7), Sun (12-7)
Admission: 7€, students 4€
Best Views: Berliner Fernsehturm, St. Marienkirche Church, Museum Island, the Synagogue, Gendarmenmarkt, the Reichstag, and the Rotes Rathaus.
Web: http://www.berlinerdom.de/
Brief Description: Built in 1822 by Schinkel as the largest church in the city. It reminded me a bit of San Pietro’s stairs for going up. You feel you will never reach the top but the views make it all worthwhile. Oh and you can now see how the Berliner Schloss is being built.
Name: Berliner Fernsehturm
Location: Panoramastraße 1A
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (10-midnight)
Admission: 12,50€
Best Views: Amazing 360º panorama that includes all view’s of Berlin.
Web: http://www.tv-turm.de/en/
Brief Description: Built in 1969 by Hermann Henselmann and Jörg Streitparth as a television tower. With its height of 368 meters, it is the tallest structure in Germany. The revolving restaurant (Wed to Sun from 7pm) includes Piano-Live-Music, totally worth it at sunset. However, if you want to take good pictures NEVER come without daylight. All of my pictures had light reflections of the windows. Horrible.
Name: Siegessäule Berlin Victory Column
Location: Straße des 17. Juni/ Großer Stern
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (9.30-6.30)
Admission: 2,50€
Best Views: Flats at Hansaviertel, Reichstag Dome, Brandenburger Tor and Haus der Kulturen der Welt by Hugh Stubbins
Web: Source (No official website)
Brief Description: Four neo-classical temples built by Albert Speer indicate the entrance points. It takes a while to get to the top but you have small chairs integrated on the stair (how cool is that?). Views are pretty impressive, especially at sunset.
Name: Französischer Dom
Location: Gendarmenmarkt 1-2
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (10-19)
Admission: 3€
Best Views: Schauspielhaus by Schinkel, The Deutscher Dom, Berliner Fernsehturm and the Berlin Cathedral.
Web: http://franzoesischer-dom.de/pages/start.php
Brief Description: Built in 1785 by Carl von Gontard as the French Church of Friedrichstadt. The Deutscher Dom, located in Gendarmenmarkt too is its twin tower but can’t be visited. You’ll get to see what the tower where you stand from looks like. Great panoramic views.
Name: Reichstag Dome
Location: Platz der Republik 1
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (8-23)
Admission: FREE admission but advance registration required.
Best Views: Berliner Fernsehturm, Berlin’s Cathedral, Sony Center and Haus der Kulturen der Welt
Web: http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/visits/kupp.html
Brief Description: The dome was built in 1992 on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building and was designed by Norman Foster. It symbolizes the reunification of Germany and that the people are above the government (parliament is underneath the stair). Love that the perspective is always changing. Make sure you visit the rooftop restaurant located east of the dome which is open daily (9-16.30/18.30-24).
Name: Teufelsberg Abhörstation (Abandoned spy station)
Location: Teufelsbergchaussee
Opening Hours: During daylight hours.
Admission: 7€
Best Views: Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier, Olympiastadion Berlin and a 360º anorama of Berlin
Web: Clandestine
Brief Description: This abandoned spy station was built over a Nazi college that couldn’t be destroyed after the end of World War II by the US. Used to spy on Soviet and East Germany communications. “Unofficial” tours now have an admission fee since it became a popular spot for graffiti painters. It’s difficult to find this place but views are totally worth it. Besides that, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of adventure?
Check these and other amazing spots of Berlin on the map below or download the Free Architecture Guide of Berlin.
Virginia Duran 
Hi,
I like my hometown Berlin and I like to hike on the biggest towers and buildings of the town.
Most, I like the construction of Reichstag Dome. I saw building them.
Greatings from Susanne
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Susanne,
Thanks for stopping by. I had a great time in Berlin last week, it’s an amazing city in all aspects. The Reichstag Dome was one of my favourite projects indeed. Have you been in Berlin lately?
Virginia-
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I life in Berlin, Virginia, it’s my hometown and I like it.
I life in the district middle/wedding.
Greetings from Berlin from Susanne
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Looks like you had perfect weather for your rooftop viewing. I don’t think I went on any rooftops when I was in Berlin in 1980 😦
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I am always very lucky with the weather when I travel 😀 And this will be the perfect excuse to go back. This and obviously the wall. It must be very interesting for you to go to the Brandenburger Tor again. How did you find Berlin when you visited?
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It was fascinating but the weather was a bit chilly. At that time, most people were just interested in visiting the Wall which was still very much part of a divided Berlin.
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berlin is one of the few european cities i’ve never been to.. but i’m loving the abandoned spy station 🙂
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I didn’t have any chance to travel to Berlin before this time either and I found it absolutely amazing! You must visit it soon, so much is changing. By the way the spy station was a lot of fun… got lost like 3 times before reaching it and then there were “unofficial” guards on the main entrance. It was a fun experience 😀
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Hi Virginia! Just wanted to point out: Teufelsberg was not a place where Nazis ever spied in 1958! WW2 ended in 1945!
Teufelsberg was actually built by the US to spy on soviet and east germany communications.
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Oh, you’re completely right, my mistake! Just corrected it, thanks 🙂
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Fascinating look at Berlin… never had the opportunity to visit… but back in the bad old days of the Cold War I had an East German penpal for a while, then in his last letter he told me he was not allowed to write to me anymore… can’t imagine having to live on that side of the wall…
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Wow! And have you tried to contact your friend again?
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No, it was a million years ago and I don’t remember his name…. that would be so interesting…. but when I visit the sections of the Berlin Wall here in LA on Wilshire Blvd, I sometimes wonder about him…
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Interesting story. And do you think you will visit Berlin someday?
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Good-looking city, isn’t it, and lots of green space. Rather fancy that revolving restaurant. (reflections in windows drive me crazy too 🙂 )
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Yes! Berlin has so many parks and green areas. From the plane, views were simply amazing! Have you ever been in Berlin/ plan to visit?
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Never been but I hear the Christmas market is pretty amazing 🙂 I’m not fond of ice and snow, though.
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Really like this post. When I visited Berlin I don’t think I went up any towers/tall buildings so it’s nice to see all the different vantage points.
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So happy to hear this! You’ll have to return to Berlin to get up to some of these rooftops 😉
Maybe not in winter… it gets really cold!
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That’s ok, I’m Scottish so I’m used to that!
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A year ago I was visiting Berlin with your post took me back you up there and dream for a moment.
Beautiful shots.
Gracias
Carlos
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Oh, really? Time goes fast, doesn’t it? Well, if you find any mistakes, especially in the map at the end of the post just let me know. And thanks for your kind words 🙂
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The map is very complicated. Everything is wonderful in this post, you can breathe the beauty of a lovely city traveled and shown as it is. Congratulations, the art of communication is in good hands.
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Great post and photos Virginia! We lived in Berlin for a while and you truly captured some wonderful perspectives. i was so gobsmacked by the Reichstag Dome, and loved that it was also intended to encourage “transparency” in government. And it’s great that you got in to the Teufelsberg Abhörstation – very adventurous! 🙂 ~Terri
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Hello Terri, you got to live in Berlin? You two are true nomads, in the good meaning of the word 🙂 I was very lucky during my trip because it was sunny almost every day, which in Berlin… well you know 😀 Teufelsberg was indeed an adventure, the perimeter is well fenced now and it was almost impossible to find a way to get in. When we got up the main tower and saw Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation I realized it was all worth while 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by!
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totally beautiful
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Awesome pictures! Green roofs are my favorite. Thanks for this post 🙂
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