Ah, the Reichstag. This building has seen a lot since it was finished being built in 1894. The…read moreGerman Empire, the Weimar Republic, the rise of Naziism and Adolf Hitler and now, a reunified Germany.
Architecturally, this building suffered severe damage by fire, and then by bombing in WW2. It was finally restored and updated in the 1950's.
A visit to Berlin is not complete, IMO, without a visit here. There are a few different tours offered, but if you don't speak German, there are 2: one to see where parliament convenes (only when it is NOT in session), followed by a visit to the dome, and just the dome. All must be booked ahead of time. We took just the dome tour which will take you into the dome atop the building. Besides the magnificent views of the city and the Spree river, the dome contains an exhibition which tells the story of the building from its origins to the present day, along with parliamentary history. There is a spiral walkway that goes to the top of the dome and allows for 360 degree views of the city all the way up and down. You can pretty much stay there as long as you want, but 2 hours seems average, with reading all the information and taking photos.
Just behind the building and to the right are the Brandenburg Gate, and the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe. In front of it and slightly to the left is the Berlin Zoo and Bellevue Castle, just to give you an idea of what is in the area.
To register and for more information: https://www.bundestag.de/en/visittheBundestag/dome/tours
81/2025