The Reichstag Dome

The Reichstag Building is the seat of the German Bundestag, and the glass dome on its roof is one of the best free experiences in any European capital. The building opened in 1894 for the parliament of the German Empire, was set on fire in February 1933 in the blaze the Nazis used to seize emergency powers, was wrecked in the battle for Berlin in 1945, and then stood beside the Wall for the decades of division. After reunification, the Bundestag returned to Berlin, and the British architect Norman Foster rebuilt the interior and added the dome, completed in 1999. Two spiral ramps wind up inside the glass, around a central cone of mirrors that reflects daylight down into the plenary chamber, so visitors literally walk above the elected members. From the top, and from the roof terrace around it, you look over the Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, the government quarter and the Spree, with the TV Tower and the cathedral domes in the distance. A free audio guide, about twenty minutes long and available in a dozen languages including versions for children, starts automatically as you walk and explains the building, the parliament and the views. Entry is free, but you must register in advance through the Bundestag online form, giving the full name and date of birth of every person in your party, and bring an original photo ID for everyone aged 16 and over; the same ID is checked at the entrance, along with an airport-style security check. Entry slots run every quarter of an hour, with the last admission at 9:45pm, which makes the dome a superb evening visit. If you have not booked, the service centre on Platz der Republik issues remaining places on the day, at least two hours in advance, but in busy periods there may be none left.

Booking well: register as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for spring, summer, weekends and the evening slots, which are the most popular. The confirmation is personal and cannot be transferred, so enter names exactly as they appear on your ID. Arrive at the security pavilion in front of the building a little before your slot time. Groups and visitors who want more than the dome can also book lectures in the plenary gallery when parliament is not sitting, or guided tours on certain days; the rooftop restaurant, run by the caterer Kaefer, takes its own reservations and gives access to the roof by a separate entrance, which is a pleasant if more expensive way to see the dome.

When the dome is closed: the dome shuts for cleaning and maintenance for several fixed weeks each year, while the roof terrace usually stays open. In 2027 these closures include late March and April, a week in July, and a long period from 23 August to 19 November 2027, so anyone planning a trip next year should check the Bundestag website before relying on a dome visit. The roof is also closed on 24 December and closes early on 31 December. Weather does not close the dome, but the ramps are open to the sky at the top, so bring a layer in winter.

Making the most of it: daylight visits show the layout of the city best, while a slot after dark turns the dome into a lantern and the city into a map of lights. Pair it with a walk through the Brandenburg Gate a few minutes south and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe just beyond, or with the riverside path past the modern government buildings, the Paul Loebe House and the Federal Chancellery. Look for the white crosses on the riverbank by the Reichstag, which remember people killed trying to cross the Wall here.