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Square · Berlim, Berlim
Potsdamer Platz
Formerly the busiest square in Europe, it became an empty lot during the division of Berlin and was rebuilt with skyscrapers in the 1990s. It has panels of the Wall and an observation point.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Potsdamer Platz
Before World War II, Potsdamer Platz was one of the busiest traffic intersections in Europe, surrounded by hotels, cafés and shops. There, in 1924, one of the continent's first traffic lights was installed; a replica of the traffic light tower stands in the square.
The war destroyed the area, and after 1961 the Wall ran right through its middle. For nearly thirty years the square was an empty lot in the border strip. With reunification, it became one of Europe's largest construction sites, and in the 1990s office towers, a convention centre and the Sony Center complex, with a tent-like roof, appeared there.
In the square, original panels of the Wall and markings on the ground show where the border passed. In the Kollhoff building, a fast elevator takes you to the Panoramapunkt observation deck, with views over the Tiergarten and the city centre. The area hosts the Berlinale, the film festival, every year, and has cinemas, restaurants and a shopping centre.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
An hour to see the square, the Wall panels and the Sony Center. Another half hour for the observation deck.
Best time
Any time. At night, the Sony Center's roof is lit with changing colors.
How to get there
Potsdamer Platz station serves the S-Bahn, the U-Bahn line U2 and regional trains. The square is about a 10-minute walk from the Holocaust Memorial and the Brandenburger Tor.
Tip
From the Panoramapunkt observation deck you can clearly see the layout of the former border. Next to the square, the Kulturforum houses the Berlin Philharmonic and art museums.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Potsdamer Platz
What is there to see at Potsdamer Platz?
The original Wall panels, a replica of the old traffic light, the Sony Center and the Panoramapunkt viewpoint.
Why is the square so modern?
The area was left empty in the Wall zone during the division and was rebuilt from scratch in the 1990s.
Is there an observation deck at Potsdamer Platz?
Yes. The Panoramapunkt, in the Kollhoff building, has a fast elevator and views over the center. There is a fee to go up.
How to get there?
Via Potsdamer Platz station, served by S-Bahn, U2 and regional trains.