Alexanderplatz

Alexanderplatz in Berlin's Mitte district, known to locals simply as "Alex," is one of the most famous squares in the German capital and a major transport hub. It is where the TV Tower, the World Clock, and the fountain of the former East Germany meet the glass towers of modern Berlin. If you are wondering what to do at Alexanderplatz, the short answer is that it works best as a landmark and a starting point for exploring central Berlin.

From city gate to East German showpiece

The square was originally called "Königs Thor Platz." After Tsar Alexander I of Russia visited on October 25, 1805, King Friedrich Wilhelm III renamed it for his guest on November 2, 1805. Before World War II the square covered only about 18,000 square meters and was a dense commercial and traffic center.

In the 1960s, East Germany remade it as a socialist showcase. About 34 buildings were demolished, the square grew to roughly 80,000 square meters, and it became a pedestrian zone. The last tram left in January 1967; trams returned in 1998. The Fountain of Friendship Between Peoples by Walter Womacka and the Urania World Clock by Erich John were both completed in 1969.

The square also has a place in German political history. On November 4, 1989, one of the largest demonstrations in East German history took place here, broadcast live on state television. The Berlin Wall fell five days later. A redesign by the architecture firm gmp followed in 2006 and 2007.

What to see

• Urania World Clock: a 1969 landmark showing the time in cities around the world and a classic meeting point
• Fountain of Friendship Between Peoples: a good example of East German public art and square design
• TV Tower: it stands in the adjacent park rather than on the square itself, but it dominates the view
• High-rises: of the 13 towers planned under Hans Kollhoff's masterplan, ten are still on the books, so the skyline keeps changing
• Alexanderplatz station: the elevated city railway station opened in 1882

Planning your visit

The square is public, free, and always accessible. For a walk past the clock and fountain with a look at the TV Tower, plan 30 to 60 minutes. Many visitors combine it with the Nikolai Quarter, the Red City Hall, and Museum Island. It is calmer in the morning and busy on weekends and in summer; a Christmas market is often held here in winter. As in any busy tourist area, keep an eye on your belongings.

How to get here

You do not need a car. Alexanderplatz is one of Berlin's biggest transit hubs, with S-Bahn and regional trains at the station, U-Bahn lines U2, U5, and U8 underneath the square, plus trams and buses. A single ticket in fare zone AB covers the city, and the Deutschlandticket is valid on local transport in Berlin. Driving into the center is rarely worth it, since parking near the square is scarce.

Nearby

• Berlin TV Tower right next to the square
• St. Mary's Church and the Neptune Fountain at the base of the tower
• Red City Hall and the Nikolai Quarter, Berlin's historic core
• Museum Island and Berlin Cathedral, about a 15-minute walk
• Hackesche Höfe courtyards in the Spandauer Vorstadt