Panoramapunkt at Potsdamer Platz

The Panoramapunkt is the best alternative to the TV Tower for a view over Berlin, and in some ways the better one, because from here the TV Tower is part of the view. It sits at the top of the Kollhoff Tower, the dark red brick high-rise at the corner of Potsdamer Platz, and the viewing area spreads across the 24th and 25th floors, including an open-air roof terrace. The ride up is part of the fun: the lift is billed as one of the fastest in Europe and whisks you up the tower in seconds. From the top, the whole of central Berlin lays itself out. To the north is the green expanse of the Tiergarten, with the Reichstag dome and the government quarter beyond it and the Brandenburg Gate close by; to the east are Mitte, the TV Tower and the domes of the Gendarmenmarkt; to the west the Kulturforum and the tent-like roofs of the Philharmonie; and below, the modern towers of Potsdamer Platz itself. The 24th floor holds an open-air multimedia exhibition on the history of Potsdamer Platz, which helps explain what you are looking at. In the 1920s this was one of the busiest squares in Europe, with traffic lights, department stores and dance palaces; the war and then the Berlin Wall turned it into a wasteland in no man's land, and after reunification it became one of the biggest building sites in Europe and the commercial district you see today. Seeing that story from above makes it far easier to grasp. There is also the Panoramacafe at the top for a drink or cake with the view. Because the deck is open-air, it is spectacular on a clear day and much less fun in rain or strong wind, so choose your moment.

How to plan your visit: the Panoramapunkt is usually far less busy than the TV Tower, but queues for the lift can build at weekends and around sunset, so a skip-the-line ticket is worth considering in busy periods. The Tiqets ticket covers skip-the-line entry to the building, the lift, the viewing platform and roof terrace on the 24th and 25th floors, and the open-air exhibition; food and drinks at the cafe are extra. Check opening hours before you go, as they vary with the season, and keep an eye on the weather forecast, as the deck is exposed. Allow around an hour, including the exhibition and a coffee.

Getting the most from it: go late in the afternoon in clear weather, so you can see the city in daylight and then watch the light change over the Tiergarten and the Reichstag as the sun goes down. Walk around the whole terrace to get your bearings, using the TV Tower and the Reichstag dome as landmarks, and then read the exhibition panels, which explain the history of the square below. Bring a warm layer in any season, as it is breezy up there. For photographers, the view east over the city towards the TV Tower is the classic shot.

Who it suits and what to pair it with: first-time visitors who want to understand the shape of the city early in their trip, couples looking for a sunset view, and families with children who will enjoy the lift ride and the open terrace. History buffs will appreciate the exhibition on Potsdamer Platz and the Wall. It pairs naturally with the Gemaeldegalerie and the Neue Nationalgalerie at the Kulturforum a few minutes away, the remains of the Wall and the Berlin Wall markings on the square, and a walk through the Tiergarten to the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate.