Reichstag
Ideal: Ideal for politics, history, architecture, and city-view enthusiasts.
Opened in 1894; the February 1933 fire was used by the Nazis to justify emergency powers. Cyrillic graffiti carved by Soviet soldiers who seized the building in 1945 was not erased during restoration and is preserved in the corridors today. Norman Foster's glass dome added in 1999 has a central cone with 360 mirrors that reflect daylight into the chamber below, and visitors walk directly above the MPs — a deliberate design choice expressing the idea that the people stand above politics. Dome entry is free but requires advance registration.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1894
- Opened
- December 1894
- Architect
- Paul Wallot
- Commissioned by
- German Reich
- Architectural style
- Renaissance Revival architecture
- Height
- 47 m
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why was the Russian graffiti on the Reichstag walls left in place?
Soviet soldiers who captured the building in 1945 carved their names and hometowns into the walls in Cyrillic. During Norman Foster's 1990s restoration part of this graffiti was deliberately preserved, and it can still be seen in corridors used by members of parliament today.
What does the cone in the middle of the glass dome actually do?
It carries 360 mirrors that bounce daylight down into the debating chamber, cutting the need for artificial light. A movable sunshade rotates through the day to block direct glare.
What do you need to do to go up into the dome?
Entry is free but registration is mandatory: you must book online in advance with passport details, and in peak season slots fill up weeks ahead. Visitors without a booking are turned away.
Why go?
- To see Germany's parliament building and its modern glass dome
- Because it offers an impressive viewpoint over Berlin from above
- Because it fits easily on the same route as the Brandenburg Gate and government district
Travel tip
Dome visits may require advance booking; don't leave it to the last minute.
