With its giant silver sphere and needle-thin tower, the 368m-high Fernsehturm (Telecommunications Tower) in the Mitte district is Berlin's most visible landmark. Dominating Alexanderplatz, this monument of the GDR in the 60s affords sweeping views that reach up to 40km on clear days.
Panoramic city views can be enjoyed either from the viewing platform at 203 metres or over a snack in the revolving restaurant.
The purpose of Berlin's TV tower was to build a powerful symbol that would show the world that East Germany had just as much technical know-how as the West. The construction of this symbol of the socialist East of Germany was given the go-ahead by Walter Ulbricht, the leader of the East German ruling party, in 1964.
Even after the reunification in 1990 the Fernsehturm, affectionately referred to by the Berliners as "Alex", attracts millions of visitors, keen to soak up the best views in town.
A 40-second ride in the lift will take you to the viewing platform, where aerial photos help you locate Berlin's main sights down below. If you need refreshment then the restaurant that takes 30 minutes to turn 360 degrees on its axis provides a pretty impressive backdrop, especially at night.