What is it?
The Reichstag was built in 1894 to house the united German parliament; the terrible fire that was started there on 27 February 1933 not only gutted the building, but was used by the Nazis as a catalyst for withdrawing basic freedoms.
Is it worth visiting?
The Federal German Parliament was welcomed back from Bonn in 1999 with a new glass dome, a potent symbol of political aspiration, designed by British ‘starchitect’ Norman Foster. Foster’s renovations aim to establish a ‘dialogue between old and new’. The glass cupola materialises aims for political transparency and is open to the public for tours to the heart of government. The dome, rising like a phoenix from the flames, sheds light on the governmental workings below, thanks to energy-efficient mirrors.
Ticketing info
Admission to the Reichstag and its famous dome is free, but advance registration is required. This can be done online at the official website, with slots available every 15 minutes. The last admission to the dome is at 9:45pm. The dome will be closed at various points throughout the summer of 2025 to allow for maintenance; however, the roof terrace will still be open to the public during this time. If you haven’t booked online but still fancy a peek, you can register at the Visitor’s Service next to the Berlin Pavilion, but you’ll be reliant on free slots. This place gets busy, so online booking ahead of time is very much recommended.
This review was fact-checked and updated in 2024.