Panoramapunkt

It takes just 20 seconds on Europe's fastest elevator to get shot up to Berlin's best viewpoint, on the 24th and 25th floor of this red brick skyscraper. Architect Hans Kollhoff's magnificent 1930s-inspired building refers to New York's skyscraping glory days but also resembles the Berlin bear, complete with a golden crown. On the top floors there's an exhibition about the amazing history of Potsdamer Platz square, which went from world-class entertainment district to Wall-divided wasteland and back again within a generation. The rooftop terrace offers great close-up views of Berlin's highlights: Brandenburger Tor, the Holocaust memorial, Unter den Linden, the former Wall zone and Tiergarten park. Indoors, there's a café too.