The dome itself is free to enter, but you must register in advance. Here’s how to do it and when a guided tour including the plenary chamber or a table on the roof terrace might be the better choice.
Maintenance: dome closed from 19 to 30 October 2026. According to the Bundestag, the roof terrace will remain open during this period; booked tours will only go as far as the roof. Opening times and closure daysAs of October 2026
Language and plenary chamberWhich tour is in English and which includes the plenary chamber
Free options firstRegister with the Bundestag before you pay anything
Cancellation at a glanceThe terms of each tour, including the non-refundable one
Book securelyVia GetYourGuide, with a mobile ticket
Tours
Your Reichstag dome tour
In the centre, our recommendation: government district, plenary chamber and dome with a guide, in German or English. On the left, a private tour starting at the Brandenburg Gate; on the right, breakfast at the rooftop garden restaurant.
A guide takes you through the government district and across the old sector boundary, then per the listing into the plenary chamber, onto the roof terrace and into the dome.
What’s included
Guided tour of the government district, in German or English
The provider handles registration with the Bundestag
Per the listing: plenary chamber, roof terrace and glass dome
Meeting point: Paul-Löbe-Allee, corner of Konrad-Adenauer-Straße, at the lift for U5 Bundestag, exit D
Free cancellation up to 4 days in advance; the Bundestag may cancel dome visits at short notice
Duration2 to 2.5 hoursGerman or EnglishBook this →
A reserved table at the rooftop restaurant next to the dome, with rolls, pastries, cheese and scrambled eggs. Then, per the listing, visit the dome with the free audioguide.
What’s included
Reserved entry to the Reichstag Building and a table at Käfer restaurant
Breakfast per the listing with rolls, pastries, cheese, cold cuts, scrambled eggs and fruit
Then the dome with the free audio guide, per the listing
Names and dates of birth of all guests in advance for the security check; ID for all
Everyone can visit the dome. The differences are in what comes before: whether it includes a talk in the plenary chamber, the language, where you meet and whether you can cancel free of charge. All details are per the listing.
Offer
Meeting point
Ideal for
Duration
Language
Plenary chamber
Cancellation
Reichstag, dome and government district with a guide
U5 Bundestag, exit D
The first visit, with history, plenary chamber and dome in one tour
A walk along the Spree through the government district, followed by a talk in the plenary chamber about the parliament and its renovation, and finally the roof terrace and dome
For all offers: the Bundestag may cancel dome visits at short notice due to sessions, events, weather or security. Providers require each visitor’s name and date of birth in advance, and a valid ID at the entrance.
What you’re actually booking
The dome is free to enter. Getting in is not.
The Bundestag does not charge admission for the dome or roof terrace. It does require advance registration: online, by fax or by post, with each person’s full name and date of birth, and only for the current or following month. A booking is only confirmed once you receive confirmation. If you arrive without a reservation, you can try at the service centre in front of the building at least two hours in advance, but only if slots are still available.
This is why nothing sold on GetYourGuide is ever just the dome. It is a guide to explain the government district, a talk in the plenary chamber, which you cannot access with a standard dome registration, a slot someone else organises for you, or a reserved table at the rooftop garden restaurant. If the view is enough for you, register yourself. If you want to see the chamber below, book the tour for that.
230 m
Each of the two opposing ramps in the dome is 230 m long, with a steady 8% incline up to the viewing platform at just over 40 metres.
Plenary chamberroof terraceWest portalmirror conePlatz der RepublikTiergartenSpreebogen
Norman Foster’s dome: 23.5 metres high, 40 metres in diameter, opened in 1999.
01
Register yourself
Free via the Bundestag for the current and next month. Your request is only confirmed once you receive the confirmation.
02
On the spot
Service centre on Platz der Republik: at least two hours in advance, only with original ID and only while spaces are available.
03
Plenary chamber included
You can see the chamber with a talk or a guided tour. Bundestag talks are usually in German, with English only on Tuesdays at 11 AM.
04
If you don’t need a tour
If you just want the view and the ramps and plan ahead: register, bring your ID, and pick up the free audio guide.
Your visit
Your route into the dome in four steps
Whether you’ve booked a free slot, joined a guided tour or come after breakfast: the way up is roughly the same for everyone. Here’s what to expect.
01
Security check
Bags and jackets are X-rayed and you walk through a metal detector. From age 16, you need a valid, original photo ID issued by a public authority.
Large luggage must stay outside
02
West portal and lift
Through the West portal beneath the inscription Dem Deutschen Volke, then take one of the two lifts up to the roof terrace at 24 metres.
Wheelchair access via entrance West C
03
Collect your audio guide
On the roof terrace, you can pick up a free audio guide, around 20 minutes long, available in twelve languages, plus a children’s version featuring the eagle Karlchen.
Free
04
Up the ramp
One ramp up, the other down, past the mirror cone that directs daylight into the plenary chamber. At the top, the platform and a view across Berlin.
Registration, how to get there, who can come and what you should bring.
Online: via the Bundestag’s registration form, for the current and following month. Your booking is only confirmed once you receive an email, fax or letter.
Not by phone: the Bundestag does not accept telephone registrations.
On the day: service centre on Platz der Republik, open November to March 8 am to 6 pm, April to October 8 am to 8 pm, weekends 10 am to 6 pm; during sitting weeks, Tuesdays only until 2 pm.
With a tour: for all offers on this page, the provider handles registration, and you just supply names and dates of birth.
Underground: U5 to Bundestag, about 300 metres on foot; from Hauptbahnhof, it is one stop.
S-Bahn: S1, S2, S25 or S26 to Brandenburger Tor, about 400 metres.
Bus: routes 100 and M41 to Reichstag/Bundestag.
Construction work: According to the Bundestag, access to the service centre from the north, i.e. from the Hauptbahnhof side, is restricted due to construction.
Children: the dome and roof terrace are open to all; there is a children’s audioguide for ages 6 to 13.
ID: from age 16, an official photo ID in original form; at 14 and 15, a document with name and photo, such as a student ID.
Minimum age: The German-language plenary chamber tour takes guests aged 15 and over per the listing.
Accessibility: Ramps and the West C entrance are accessible, with wheelchairs available to borrow, induction loops and a 45-minute audio guide for blind visitors.
Your original ID; copies will not be accepted.
Your Bundestag confirmation or tour ticket.
Only small bags: there is no storage for suitcases or large backpacks on site.
A jacket: it is windier on the roof terrace 24 metres up than down on the square.
15 minAdmissionEvery 15 minutes, per the Bundestag the last entry is at 21:45.
2 hSpontaneousHow far in advance you must be at the service centre.
2 monthsBooking windowThe current and the following month.
12LanguagesIn the free audio guide, plus easy-to-read language.
24 mroof terraceThe height at which the lifts arrive.
1999OpenedOn 19 April, the Bundestag took over the building.
On site
Am Platz der Republik
Reichstag Building, west side
Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
If you have registered yourself, you enter via the security check on the west side and the West Portal. Guided tours do not meet at the building but a few minutes away; the guide will then take you to the security check. Those with a reservation at the Käfer restaurant enter via the West C entrance below the West Portal, per the Bundestag.
Our recommendation and the roof terrace tour: Paul-Löbe-Allee, corner of Konrad-Adenauer-Straße, at the lift from U5 Bundestag, exit D
Private tour and government district tour: Pariser Platz 4, Akademie der Künste, next to Hotel Adlon
Plenary chamber tour: ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, Wilhelmstraße 67a, at Marschallbrücke
Breakfast, lunch and dinner: Käfer reception on Scheidemannstraße, first security check
The best time to visit, handy tips, nearby attractions and the fine print.
Evenings: According to the Bundestag, entry is possible until 21:45, so you can catch the sunset almost any time of year during your visit.
Maintenance: In 2026, the dome will be closed from 19 to 30 October; the Bundestag states the roof terrace will remain open.
Public holidays: Closed all day on 24 December, and from 16:00 on 31 December, with last entry at 14:30.
Weather: Visits may be cancelled at short notice in severe weather; a calm, clear day is ideal for long-distance views.
Register as soon as your travel month is available for booking: you can only request visits for the current month and the following month.
Provide alternative dates in the form; the request is only confirmed once you receive the booking confirmation.
Allow time for the security check and leave your suitcases at the hotel.
If you want the plenary chamber explained in English, check the language: many tours only include the talk in German.
The dome is open at the top. In the rain, you may still get a little wet on the ramps.
Brandenburg Gate: just a few minutes’ walk away and clearly visible from the dome platform.
Federal Chancellery: right next door in the Spreebogen, one of the buildings featured on the audio guide.
Tiergarten: Berlin’s large park starts directly behind the Reichstag Building.
Deutscher Dom: At Gendarmenmarkt, the Bundestag presents the free exhibition Wege, Irrwege, Umwege on parliamentary history.
The Bundestag may cancel dome visits at short notice due to sessions, events, weather or security reasons, even confirmed ones.
The confirmation is only valid for the registered individuals and cannot be transferred.
The private tour is non-refundable per the listing; all other tours here can be cancelled free of charge, depending on the listing, from 24 hours to 4 days in advance.
Prohibited items include weapons, knives, bottles, pepper spray, laser pointers and clothing with extremist content.
Plenary chamber · Roof terrace · Dome
First the chamber, then the view.
Guided tours that handle registration for you and take you with a guide right up to the glass dome.
Our guide Stefan was incredibly informative and very funny. The view from the dome is fantastic.
★★★★★
Jean Pierre is simply fantastic! The tour was very entertaining and interesting.
★★★★★
The restaurant was very well prepared for gluten-free and vegetarian guests.
★★★★★
The sunset from the dome was an absolute highlight.
★★★★★
The guide had a great sense of humour, knew a lot and explained everything well.
★★★★★
The guide showed us hidden corners and explained them in a way that we would never have noticed on our own.
★★★★★
Stefan told the history in a truly balanced way, knowledgeably, friendly and with humour.
★★★★★
Delicious food, a great menu, friendly staff and no rush.
★★★★★
Very good food, super friendly staff and a great location.
In the evening
A dinner above the city
All tours above end by early evening at the latest. If you want to stay until Berlin glows in the dark, reserve a table at Käfer’s rooftop restaurant, right next to the dome.
The evening on the roof: a reserved table at the rooftop restaurant, four courses, an aperitif of the month, plus water and coffee or tea, and the city lights behind the glass dome. After that, per the listing, you’ll head into the dome with an audioguide.
Four coursesaperitifcancellation up to 2 days before
Those searching for the Reichstag dome will find two worlds: the Bundestag’s registration form, straightforward and free, and a long list of paid tours featuring pictures of the same glass dome. Both lead to the same roof. What sets them apart is rarely in the headline. Here’s how to read the options.
A building with four lives
Paul Wallot built the Reichstag Building from 1884 to 1894, with the inscription Dem Deutschen Volke added only in 1916. On 9 November 1918, Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the republic here; on the night of 27 - 28 February 1933, the plenary chamber burned, and the decree issued the next day suspended civil rights. In 1945, Soviet troops captured the building, and soldiers’ inscriptions can still be seen inside today. After the war, Paul Baumgarten rebuilt it without a dome, completing the work in 1973, right next to the Wall. In 1995, Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the building for 14 days, and on 19 April 1999, the Bundestag moved into the house redesigned by Norman Foster.
The West Portal: this is where all Reichstag dome visitors enter today.
The dome: glass, mirrors and two ramps
Foster’s dome is 23.5 metres high and 40 metres in diameter. Its tip is 47 metres above street level, with the viewing platform at about 40.7 metres. Two opposing ramps, each 230 metres long with an 8 percent incline, lead up and down. At the centre hangs a cone of 360 mirrors that directs daylight into the plenary chamber while also serving as ventilation; a movable sunshade follows the sun’s path. The Bundestag itself describes the glass and open architecture as symbols of democratic transparency. The popular interpretation that visitors stand above their representatives here is one reading, not an official statement.
The fine print: No tour can guarantee you access to the dome. The Bundestag may cancel visits at short notice due to sessions, events, weather or security reasons, even confirmed ones, and in 2026 the dome will be closed for maintenance from 19 to 30 October. Always check the cancellation policy when booking.
Register yourself or book a tour
Free registration gives you access to the roof terrace and the Reichstag dome, with an audioguide. This does not include the plenary chamber. You can see the chamber during a talk in the visitor gallery, which the Bundestag also offers for free, usually in German, or in English only on Tuesdays at 11 AM, or with a guided tour. The paid tours on this site combine both with a walk through the government district, and the provider handles registration. Two of them, by the way, are from the same provider and start at the same meeting point; the main difference is in the name.
The plenary chamber: can be seen with a talk or guided tour, not with dome-only registration.
Which option for whom
If you have time to plan and just want the view, register yourself. If you’d like the history explained and to see the plenary chamber, book the guided tour with plenary chamber in German or English. Travelling as a family or small group and prefer your own pace? The private tour is ideal, though non-refundable. And if you’d like to sit down rather than just stand at the top, reserve breakfast, lunch or dinner at Käfer. For details on how registration works, see our registration guide.
Entry until 21:45: the dome is also worth visiting after sunset.
Clear answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Reichstag dome.
Is the Reichstag dome free to visit?
Yes. The Reichstag dome and roof terrace are free to visit, but you must register in advance with the German Bundestag. You only pay if you book a guided tour, a private tour or a table at the rooftop restaurant. How to register step by step.
How do you book the Reichstag dome?
Online via the Bundestag’s registration form, by fax or by post, not by phone. You can only request slots for the current month and the following month, and your appointment is confirmed only once you receive the confirmation. The Bundestag requires each person’s full name and date of birth.
Can you get Reichstag tickets on the same day?
If slots are available, yes: at the service centre on Platz der Republik in front of the building, at least two hours before your desired time and with your original ID. You can also book for the next two days there.
How long is the Reichstag dome open?
According to the Bundestag, entry is every 15 minutes, with the last admission at 21:45; some city portals list 22:00. The dome is closed on 24 December and from 16:00 on 31 December. In 2026, it will also be closed from 19 to 30 October for maintenance. All tips for your visit.
Can you visit the Reichstag in English?
Yes. The free audioguide in the dome is available in twelve languages, and several tours on this page are in English. The Bundestag offers the plenary chamber talk in English only on Tuesdays at 11:00; on GetYourGuide, the plenary chamber is mainly included in the German-language tours.
Can you take a bag into the Reichstag?
Small bags are allowed and will be X-rayed. Large luggage is not permitted for security reasons, and there is no storage on site. Knives, bottles, pepper spray and laser pointers are among the prohibited items.
Is there a dress code in the Reichstag?
The Bundestag does not specify a formal dress code. Clothing with racist, violent, antisemitic or extremist content is prohibited. A jacket is recommended for the roof terrace, even in summer.
Are the Bundestag and the Reichstag the same?
No. The Bundestag is the parliament, and the Reichstag Building is the building where it has met since 1999. The word Reichstag roughly means assembly of the realm; ‘Tag’ here refers to assembly, not a calendar day. The building’s history.
Who designed the Reichstag dome?
British architect Norman Foster with his firm Foster + Partners. On 19 April 1999, he handed over the symbolic key to Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse. More on the architecture.
Is the Reichstag dome worth visiting?
For most visitors to Berlin, yes: two spiralling ramps each 230 metres long, a view down into the plenary chamber from above, and a 360-degree panorama over Tiergarten, the Chancellery and Brandenburg Gate, all free of charge. Be sure to register in good time.
What happens if the Bundestag cancels my appointment?
It can happen: dome visits depend on parliamentary sessions, events, weather and security conditions, and even confirmed slots may be cancelled on site. For booked tours, what applies next is per the listing; the cancellation terms are shown for each tour on this page.
Ready for your visit
Berlin from above, through glass.
Guided tours including the plenary chamber, a private tour and breakfast next to the dome, with registration via the Bundestag included.
Only your group
1.5 hoursPrivate, up to 6 peopleNon-refundable
