Top 5 sunsets in Berlin

Top 5 sunsets in Berlin
Guide to viewpoints and places with great views to enjoy the sunset in the German capital.

Berlin TV Tower

The Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm) is probably the most recognizable icon of the city's skyline. The locals nickname it the “Alex Tower” and it receives more than a million visitors a year. 

It is located in the central district of Mitte, just a step away from Alexanderplatz. 

Today, it is one of the major tourist attractions in the German capital and stands out from the rest of the buildings due to its large steel dome and antenna pointing to the sky. 

It was built during the GDR period and, nowadays, the best way to enjoy it is from its panoramic terrace, which offers one of the best views of the city, while visiting its bar and restaurant.

Reichstag Dome

The main advantage of going up to the Reichstag Dome (the German parliament building) is that it's free. The main disadvantage is that you need to book in advance and, considering how unpredictable the weather can be in a city like Berlin, it can sometimes be challenging to fit the visit on a clear day to enjoy the views and take good photos. 

Still, since it’s free, there’s nothing to lose by booking in advance and going up to take a look at the government district and the center of Berlin. 

If you haven't been able to book in advance, don’t worry: you can sign up on the same day if there are still available slots; otherwise, you can always wait at least two hours or do it two days later. Reservations are only accepted if they are for the same day or, at most, for the next day.

- The dome is open daily from 08:00 to 00:00 and access is every 15 minutes (the last entry is at 22:00).

Kolhoff Tower (Panoramapunkt)

This building with curious architecture, located in Potsdamer Platz, stands in one of the locations where the famous wall once divided the city. If you look down, you will see that the perimeter of the old wall is marked with cobblestones.

The main attraction of Kolhoff Tower, aside from the building itself, is that on the 24th and 25th floors, it hosts Panoramapunkt: an outdoor terrace offering one of the best panoramic views of central Berlin. It also has a café and a small exhibition that reviews the history of the area's reconstruction.

Since this terrace opened in 1999, Panoramapunkt has become one of the most visited tourist attractions, and it’s not surprising: from its viewpoint, you can see the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral, the TV Tower, the Reichstag... a complete panoramic view of the most significant buildings of the German capital from a place that boasts one of the best sunsets in Berlin.

- The viewpoint is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 and costs 6 EUR (8 EUR if you don’t want to wait in line), making Kolhoff Tower an affordable alternative to the TV Tower (and just as good).

Weltballoon

Operated by Air Service Berlin, this helium balloon is tethered to the ground by a steel cable and ascends to 150 meters to offer a spectacular view of Berlin.

What’s the downside? It is the most expensive viewpoint in Berlin: it costs around 19.90 EUR per adult and 6.90 EUR for children aged between 3 and 10 years.

If you decide to visit, you’ll need to choose the day carefully because the views are truly good as long as the sky is clear.

Ascents happen every 15 minutes and it operates every day from 10:00 to 22:00 (between April and October) and from 11:00 to 18:00 (between November and March).

It is located next to Checkpoint Charlie, at Zimmerstraße 95-100, so you can take advantage of the visit and try to find our Hotel Gat Point Charlie. In the back rooms, you can see the balloon as it ascends.

Kreuzberg Hill in Victoriapark

The highest hill in Berlin (over 65 meters tall) logically offers some of the best views. It is located in Victoriapark, a park situated in the heart of Kreuzberg, a trendy neighborhood in recent times.

Once at the top, you need to walk to the highest point and you will be able to see views of the Kreuzberg district and the center of Berlin; you can even see in the distance the old Tempelhof airport, now turned into a public park (which is quite curious, as you can imagine). A romantic spot to watch the sunset over Berlin is truly a pleasure.

- To get there, take the subway to Mehringdamm (U6 and U7 lines) and walk about 10 minutes to the entrance of the park, which, of course, is free.

Teufelsberg, the Devil's Hill

Our last viewpoint takes us to the outskirts of Berlin... and we assure you that if you like to get away from the usual tourist spots, this nearly 50-meter high tower will not leave you indifferent.

It was once an old listening station used by the American intelligence services to intercept communications during the Cold War, and it was abandoned after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It’s no surprise that David Lynch (yes, the filmmaker and creator of Twin Peaks) took notice of this place and tried to turn it into a kind of esoteric university (something that, obviously, was not permitted by the Berlin City Council).

Before becoming a spy enclave, the site was once a training center for Nazi soldiers, which the Americans buried under tons of rubble at the end of World War II to build this tower on the promontory. It rises 115 meters above the outskirts, and not only offers a great view of the city but is also an attraction in itself.

Today, Teufelsberg is home to graffiti artists, street art photographers, and the occasional tourist with an explorer's spirit who comes here to discover undoubtedly one of the strangest, ghostly, and fascinating places in Berlin.