Tips for your visit to the Reichstag dome

Is the Reichstag dome worth visiting?

Yes, for most visitors to Berlin. It’s free, offers sweeping city views and lets you see one of the most famous modern architectural landmarks from the inside.

According to the Bundestag, well over a million people visit the dome and roof terrace each year. They ascend one of two spiral ramps, each 230 metres long, to the viewing platform at around 40.7 metres high. Along the way, the free audio guide explains the building, the Bundestag’s work and the surrounding sights in about 20 minutes.

The effort is mainly in the preparation: you must register, and the appointment can be cancelled at short notice if parliamentary business, events, weather or security require it. If you can accept that, you’ll get a wide view over Berlin for free and with a manageable time commitment. For more on the structure, see our architecture guide to the dome.

What are the opening hours of the Reichstag dome?

Admission is every 15 minutes, with the last entry at 21:45 per the Bundestag. Some city portals list 22:00.

The Reichstag dome and roof terrace are open daily. The Bundestag’s current pages do not specify a clear opening and closing time for the dome itself, only the last entry time. Do not confuse these details with the service centre’s opening hours (8 am to 6 pm or 8 am to 8 pm), as on-site registrations are only accepted there.

Also account for the fixed closure periods. The table summarises them. Short-notice closures may occur at any time; for queries, contact the visitor service on +49 30 227-32083.

When is the best time to visit the Reichstag dome?

It depends on what you want to see: during the day, you’ll spot the sights most clearly, while in the evening you’ll experience the illuminated city.

In daylight with clear visibility, the audio guide points out the Federal Chancellery, Brandenburg Gate, Victory Column and TV Tower, and you can easily match the buildings. In the late afternoon and at sunset, warm light fills the dome. After dark, you’ll see Berlin as a sea of lights, though the buildings are harder to make out.

We haven’t found official information on when visitor numbers are lowest. What matters most is which slots are still available, as you can only request dates in the current and following month. More important than the time is the weather: the dome is open at the top, and the roof terrace is outdoors. A visit may also be cancelled at short notice due to the weather.

Can you take a bag into the Reichstag?

Yes, a normal bag or small backpack is allowed and will be X-rayed. Large luggage is not permitted, and there are no lockers on site.

At the entrance, bags, coats and other items are scanned, and you pass through a metal detector. For security reasons, large luggage is not permitted in the Reichstag Building, and the Bundestag explicitly states that there are no storage facilities on site. If you are visiting on your arrival or departure day, leave your suitcase at your accommodation.

The following are prohibited:

• Weapons and dangerous objects such as knives and certain tools
• Whistles and laser pointers
• Bottles and pepper spray
• Clothing or materials with extremist, racist or discriminatory content

The full list is in Annex 2 of the Bundestag’s access and conduct rules.

Is there a dress code in the Reichstag?

No, the Bundestag does not specify a formal dress code. The only clothing rule is that items must not display racist, xenophobic, violent, discriminatory, antisemitic or extremist content.

So you can visit dressed as you would for a day out in Berlin. Comfortable shoes are a good idea, as you will walk 230 metres up and 230 metres down the ramps. The incline is a steady 8 percent, which makes for a pleasant, even gradient. In cooler months, bring a jacket: the roof terrace is outdoors, and the dome has an opening about 10 metres wide at the top, through which air escapes.

We haven’t found a dress code for the Käfer Dachgarten-Restaurant either. For details on breakfast, lunch and dinner, see our guide to the Käfer Restaurant.

First breakfast, then per the listing up to the dome: table at Käfer restaurant with reserved entry.

Breakfast at the Käfer restaurant on the Reichstag · 75 minutes · Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Book this →

How does the audio guide work in the dome?

You can borrow the device free of charge on the roof terrace. The audio guide lasts about 20 minutes and accompanies you on the way up and down.

The audio guide is available in twelve languages: German, English, French, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Ukrainian. There is also a version in Easy Language. The content covers the building, the work of the Bundestag and the sights you see on the way up and down.

For children aged 6 to 13, there is a special version featuring the eagle Karlchen. Blind and visually impaired visitors can use a 45-minute German version with tactile reliefs and models. For deaf visitors, there is a video guide with 24 films in German Sign Language, and the device signals via vibration.

Is the Reichstag dome accessible?

Largely yes. There is an accessible entrance (West C), lifts to the roof terrace and ramps with a consistent gradient inside the dome.

Wheelchair users can enter the building via ramps and the accessible entrance West C. Two lifts take all visitors to the roof terrace, and the ramps inside the dome have a constant gradient of 8 percent. On site, there are wheelchairs for loan, induction loops, materials in Braille and tactile models.

According to berlin.de, there are also accessible toilets on every floor, as well as guided tours for blind and deaf visitors. If you need special assistance, it is best to inform the visitor service when you register.

For guided tours, check the individual listings: the tours on GetYourGuide explore the government district on foot and last 1.5 to 3 hours per the listing. If you prefer to avoid long walks, a visit to the dome with the audio guide may be a better option.

How does the visit work, and how do I get there?

You arrive by U5, S-Bahn or bus, go through the security check at the West Portal, take the lift to the roof and walk up and down the ramp.

The nearest underground station is Bundestag (U5), about 300 metres away. From the main station, you can reach it in around four minutes on the U5. The S- and U-Bahn station Brandenburger Tor (S1, S2, S25, S26) is about 400 metres away, and buses 100 and M41 stop at Reichstag/Bundestag. Visitors enter the building via the west portal and take two lifts up to the roof terrace.

At the level of the roof terrace, there is an exhibition on the building’s history. The Bundestag does not specify the total duration of the visit. Allow for the roughly 20 minutes of the audio guide, time for the security check and as much time as you like on the platform. If you prefer a guided tour, you’ll find suitable options in our overview of the tours.

Government district, plenary chamber, roof terrace and dome in 2.5 hours, the provider handles registration with the Bundestag.

Government district with Reichstag and roof terrace · 2.5 hours · cancellation up to 4 days before

Book this →

Frequently asked questions