7 spectacular Viewpoints in Berlin for Photography
Berlin isn’t really known for its breathtaking skyline. However, the city still has quite a few viewpoints up its sleeve that offer some gorgeous panoramic vistas and interesting photo opportunities.
Although i’d recommend at least two days to visit and photograph all of the viewpoints mentioned in this guide, it is possible to hit them all in one day and most importantly in decent lighting conditions (only if the weather plays along of course).
So here are 7 of my favorite viewpoints to photograph Berlin from above and the order in which I would shoot them if I only had one day. I hope you enjoy a day fully packed with some of the best vistas Berlin has to offer.
Feel free to tag me @TravelPixelz over on Instagram if you visit some of these photo locations. Would love to see what you create.
And if you like what you read and want to discover Berlin’s best photo spots on a guided photo tour then check out the photography workshops and tours i’m offering.
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 1
Teufelsberg / Drachenberg
The best viewpoint to photograph the Berlin TV Tower is the terrace of ParkInn Hotel at Alexanderplatz
Gear: Sony A7iii with Sigma 100 - 400 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 222 mm, Aperture: f8, Exposure: 1/400 sec, ISO: 100
📍 Location: 52.502816, 13.248098
🕓 Best time for photography: pre sunrise - sunrise
If the weather is on your side, then this is one of the best viewpoints in Berlin to shoot sunrise. On a clear day, the views from the top of Teufelsberg and Drachenberg (which are right next to each other) reach all the way to the eastern districts of Berlin.
It is possible to get here by public transport, however it can prove a little difficult, especially in summer, when sunrise is very early and trains aren’t running (during the week). If you have your own four wheels you can park right at the bottom of Drachenberg. From here it’s a short walk (five minutes) up some wooden stairs to the top of Drachenberg.
📷 Since Drachenberg is a little further away from the city center, a decent zoom lens (100 mm +) definitely comes in handy. It helps you to compress the whole scene and pick out details. When shooting in low light conditions (like early morning) and at such long focal ranges, a tripod certainly helps to get clean and sharp images.
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 2
Reichstag Dome
The terrace of Reichstag is a great viewpoint to photograph Potsdamer Platz and the Sony Center
Gear: Sony A7iii with Sony 24 - 240 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 66 mm, Aperture: f5, Exposure: 1/320 sec, ISO: 320
📍 Location: 52.518720, 13.376429
🕓 Best time for photography: early morning or evening
I’d recommend to come here as early as possible, no matter if you follow my Berlin viewpoint - itinerary for the day or not. Since visitors are allowed to stay up on the terrace for as long as they please, it gets significantly more crowded during the day.
📷 With a telephoto lens you can take some great close-up shots of Potsdamer Platz and other Berlin landmarks.
ℹ️ You can find more information about this viewpoint here: Reichstag Dome
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 3
Gasometer
Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower shot with a telephoto lens from the top of the Gasometer building
Gear: Sony A7iii with Sony 24-240 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 67 mm, Aperture: f5, Exposure: 1/6 sec, ISO; 640
📍 Location: 52.481429, 13.356933
🕓 Best time for photography: late afternoon - evening blue hour
The Gasometer is an 80 meter tall industrial monument located in Berlin’s Schöneberg borough. At the moment it’s not really clear how long this viewpoint will still be accessible since there are plans to turn this industrial landmark into an office building. If you’re still able to snatch one of the admittedly very pricey tickets (28€ for a 1.5 hour guided evening tour), go for it. If you don’t suffer from vertigo, the views from up on the Gasometer are very cool, especially around sunset.
📷 In terms of photography I found a tele zoom lens very handy to take some shots of distant Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower. To capture the structure of the Gasometer itself, a wider focal range certainly is the way to go. It is mandatory to have your camera (and smart phone) secured to your body with a neck strap so don’t forget to bring one or you’ll end up without any photos.
ℹ️ You can find more information about this viewpoint here: Gasometer
Berlin Photo Tours
If you’d like to explore more photo spots like these, I’d be happy to welcome you on one of my customized Berlin Photo Tours or a on a professionally led photo workshop. You can find more info here.
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 4
Victory Column
Berlin’s skyline photographed from the viewing platform of the Victory Column
Gear: Sony A7iii with Sony 24-240 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 29 mm, Aperture: f9, Exposure: 1/500 sec, ISO; 400
📍 Location: 52.514569, 13.350162
🕓 Best time for photography: late afternoon - evening blue hour
285 steps lead to the 50 m high viewing platform right underneath the 8m high Victory statue that weighs over 35 tons. The 3€ entrance fee not only buys you a pretty awesome 360* degree view but also some stunning shots of Berlin and some of its most popular landmarks like the TV Tower to the east and Potsdamer Platz with the Sony Center to the south.
📷 This location is especially beautiful in autumn when you get some stunning and extremely picturesque foliage in Tiergarten park. On a nice day, the warm tones of the colorful leaves contrast beautifully with the colder tones of Berlin’s skyline.
ℹ️ You can find more information about this viewpoint here: Victory Column
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 5
Park Inn Alexanderplatz
The best viewpoint to photograph the Berlin TV Tower is the terrace of ParkInn Hotel at Alexanderplatz
Gear: Sony A7iii with Tamron 17-28 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 19 mm, Aperture: f4, Exposure: 0,8 sec, ISO: 200
📍 Location: 52.523067, 13.413023
🕓 Best time for photography: sunset - evening blue hour
For just 4€ you get to enjoy a crazy good view from the 120m high viewing platform on top of one of Berlin’s largest hotels. This is one of the best viewpoints to shoot sunset and the TV Tower and you can even grab a drink at their mini bar. If you want to take epic photos of Berlin and you can only visit one viewpoint then make it this one.
📷 Again it’s allowed to set up your tripod but the net they’ve span all around the terrace makes it a bit of a challenge to find a good and stable position. I often ended up with some pretty questionable setups using a combination of chairs, tables and the railing to bring my lens into a position where it fits through the net without actually touching it (to prevent your camera from shaking).
ℹ️ You can find more information about this viewpoint here: Park Inn Alexanderplatz
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 6
Panorama Punkt Potsdamer Platz
Sunrise Photo of Berlin taken from Panorama Punkt at Potsdamer Platz
Gear: Sony A7iii with Sony 24-240 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 80 mm, Aperture: f6.3, Exposure: 1/30 sec, ISO; 320
📍 Location: 52.509051, 13.375200
🕓 Best time for photography: evening blue hour
One of my absolute favorite viewpoints in Berlin. Panorama Punkt atop Kollhoff-Tower provides some of the best vistas of the city. A ticket sets you back about 8€. Unfortunately the opening times make it impossible to photograph sunrise from the viewing platform so I’d suggest to come here around sunset to get the best shots. Make sure to stick around for blue hour and get some frames of the illuminated city.
📷 It is allowed to set up a tripod, but you should be careful not to disturb other visitors. While a wide angle lens might seem like the obvious choice for this viewpoint I actually prefer a telephoto lens. It helps me pick out specific scenes and focus more on details instead of cramping everything into the frame.
ℹ️ You can find more information about this viewpoint here: Panorama Punkt
Berlin Viewpoint Nr. 7
Monkey Bar
The Monkey Bar is an awesome viewpoint to photograph Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the Zoofenster
Gear: Sony A7iii with Sony 24-240 mm
Settings: Focal Length: 24 mm, Aperture: f22, Exposure: 25 sec, ISO: 50
📍 Location: 52.505718, 13.3383277
🕓 Best time for photography: evening blue hour
The Monkey Bar is located on the top floor of 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin. It’s a fantastic place to grab an (admittedly rather expensive) drink while enjoying one of the best views of City West and the Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church. Again a great place to capture some sunset photos but due to the long opening hours of the bar, this place also makes for the perfect spot to end your Berlin Viewpoints Photo Tour.
📷 I wouldn’t necessarily try to set up my tripod here, especially when it’s crowded. However, if your life depends on getting that sweet long exposure shot during blue hour, the railing is just wide enough to balance your camera on it. Just keep a wrist strap attached to prevent your camera from falling 25 floors and shattering on the concrete. A wide angle lens would be my choice for this viewpoint since it allows you to use the elongated Bikini Building in the foreground as a leading line towards the Zoofenster / Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
ℹ️ You can find more information about this viewpoint here: Monkey Bar
Berlin Photo Tours
If you’d like to explore more photo spots like these, I’d be happy to welcome you on one of my customized Berlin Photo Tours or a on a professionally led photo workshop. You can find more info here.
I hope this post inspired you to visit a few of Berlin’s best viewpoints and shoot some photography.
Do you have any additional tips for fellow travel photographers concerning other good locations? If so, please share them in the comments below.
For more photos from Berlin, Germany and around the world follow me on Instagram @TravelPixelz
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