Müggelturm Tower

The Müggelturm is an observation tower in Berlin's Köpenick district, set on a wooded hill in the Müggelberge, the city's highest natural hills. Climb 126 steps and you get a sweeping view over Lake Müggelsee, the Dahme River and miles of pine forest, with the Berlin skyline on the horizon. It is one of the best things to do in southeast Berlin if you want nature, a short hike and a view that few tourists know about.

History in brief

A wooden tower first opened here in 1890 and burned down in 1958. Its replacement, a slim concrete tower about 30 meters tall designed by a student team from the Berlin-Weißensee art school, opened on December 31, 1961, and is a protected example of East German modernism. After reunification the site fell into decay for years. Following a four-year renovation, the tower reopened in May 2018. The ruined former restaurant beside it still hints at those lost decades.

What you will see

• Lake Müggelsee, Berlin's largest lake, stretching out to the north.
• The Dahme River and Langer See to the south, framed by forest.
• The city skyline and, on clear days, the dome of Tropical Islands and planes approaching Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
• Teufelssee, a small bog lake circled by a nature trail of about 3 kilometers, partly on boardwalks.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

Sources disagree. The city portal berlin.de lists Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and holidays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while visitBerlin says daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the tower is €6 for adults and €3 reduced, according to berlin.de. Hours may change in winter, so call ahead using the number on berlin.de. On weekends a small café, the Müggelturm-Baude, sells drinks, ice cream and snacks.

How to get there

From central Berlin, take the S-Bahn toward Köpenick and connect to bus X69, getting off at the "Rübezahl" stop on the shore of Müggelsee. From there it is an uphill forest walk to the tower. Drivers can use a visitor parking lot at the foot of the hill, with a small shuttle called the Müggelturm-Express running up to the top. The Deutschlandticket and regular Berlin public transport tickets cover the trip.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially as part of a half-day outing to the lakes and forests of Köpenick. The climb itself takes only a few minutes, but plan two to three hours if you add the Teufelssee trail or a walk along Müggelsee. Note that the platform is reachable only by stairs and is not wheelchair accessible, though the café at the base is step-free. Come on a clear spring or fall day for the best views.