The square was named after Russian Tsar Alexander I following his visit to Berlin in 1805.
The Fernsehturm was constructed between 1965 and 1969 as a prestige project for the German Democratic Republic.
The square was a focal point for the 1989 demonstrations that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The World Clock, or Weltzeituhr, weighs 16 tons and features a rotunda with the names of 146 major cities.
During the Second World War, nearly all buildings surrounding the square were destroyed by Allied bombing.
The square originally served as a cattle market and a parade ground before becoming a transport hub.
The TV tower's sphere contains a rotating restaurant that completes a full 360-degree turn once every hour.
Alexanderplatz is Berlin's largest public square and a central urban transport hub. Its defining landmark is the Fernsehturm, a 368-meter television tower that remains Germany's tallest structure. The square features the World Clock, a rotating monument designed in 1969 to display the time in 24 time zones. Architectural elements reflect a transition from 19th-century history to the socialist modernist planning of the GDR era. The surrounding area hosts the Berolina House and the Alexanderhaus, both notable examples of New Objectivity architecture. It serves as a major commercial center with several multi-story department stores and shopping arcades.
From the base of the World Clock looking upward toward the television tower.
Use the viewing platform of the television tower for an expansive view of the city skyline.
Explore the nearby side streets for smaller cafes, as the main square is dominated by large retail chains.
Be aware that the square is a primary transit interchange and can become extremely crowded.
Avoid eating at the restaurants directly on the square, which are generally overpriced tourist traps.