Free advance online reservations are the best way to see the Reichstag parliament building and cupola in Berlin. Prior reservations and official identification are essential for all visitors.
The cupola on the Reichstag building in Berlin is the second most popular sight in Germany. Queuing for tickets is no longer necessary, or indeed possible, for free admission to the spiral walkway in the dome at the top if the German parliament. Advance online reservations for the Reichstag are free and the best way to get tickets. Alternatively, tickets can be requested outside the parliament building but the number of available tickets is very limited. Some Berlin sightseeing tours also include a visit to the roof of the Reichstag.
The Reichstag German Parliamentary Building
The Reichstag building in Berlin is considered the second most popular sites in Germany (only the Cologne cathedral can claim more visitors).
The Reichstag building is not particularly old – it was constructed at the end of the nineteenth century but hugely remodeled a century later with the popular Kuppel walkway designed by Sir Norman Foster added. The views from the roof and the dome are the main attractions of visiting the Reichstag.
The building originally housed the Reichstag, or lower house of the German parliament. Reichstag means imperial diet – Reich = empire, Tag = meeting. The name stuck – with the German Reich long gone, it now houses the Bundestag or Federal Parliament of Germany.
Free Online Reservations for the Reichstag in Berlin
For about a decade after the opening of the cupola on the Reichstag building, queuing outside the building to enter for free was the norm. Clever visitors judged the line from bus 100 – if it was more than halfway down the staircase, it was more sensible to stay on the bus and try later.
However, currently advance reservations are not only possible but also needed. The process is not surprisingly bureaucratic but surprisingly not fully automated. In addition, for a nation fairly obsessed with internet security and data protection, the German Bundestag requires quite a bit of personal information even before confirming whether tickets are available.
At the Bundestag website go to Visit the Bundestag, then online registration to select the type of visit – visit to the dome is the more common but free guided tours of the building or attending a plenary session followed by a visit to the roof cupola are also available.
Available dates are listed for the same day and for up to a year in advance – up to three dates or times may be specified. Then enter details, wait for an email reply, click the link in the email and provide personal details of people in the group. Then wait for an email to actually confirm that the time selected is available. (This email can take several minutes.)
The final email with pdf document confirms the date and time but reverts to personal data paranoia by not actually listing any of the names of members of the group but be sure that names and birthdates correspond when turning up at the Reichstag. The ticket is not transferable.
Reichstag Visitors’ Information
The cupola and roof of the Reichstag is open daily from 8 am to 23:00 (last admissions at 22:00). Visitors enter in groups every 15 minutes – turn up 15 minutes earlier than the stated time.
The Reichstag dome is closed on December 24, close late afternoon on December 31, and may be closed on a few other days, mostly for maintenance (usually a few days in March and July).
Once inside, visitors can stay as long as they please. A free audio guide (available in 10 languages) gives a tour of the history and sights that can be seen on the walk up to the top of the dome.
Proof of identity is required at the Bundestag and expect airport style security.
Alternative Options for Visiting the Reichstag
Online reservations are the preferred method of visiting the cupola of the Reichstag and the only method that will ensure admission. Telephone reservations are not taken but email and snail mail are other options.
Visitors without advance reservation can enquire from the Visitors Service kiosk in Scheidemannstraße next to the Berlin Pavilion if tickets are available. Admission times will be at least two hours later. It is also possible to register for a visit within the following two days if space is available. Preference is given to online reservations meaning there may not actually be any tickets available on some days.
A further alternative is to take a guided tour of Berlin sights with a visit to the Reichstag cupola included. Get Your Guide has several available ranging from a short guided tour of the Berlin federal government district to a full city tour. Many other companies have similar offers. For these tours, the reservations usually have to be confirmed up to a week in advance.
The visit to the Reichstag roof and cupola is usually at the end of these tours, as everything is free, and handled by the Bundestag, once the Reichstag building is entered. Visitors can stay as long as they please once inside.
Getting to the Reichstag is easiest using public transportation. Bus 100 and M85 stop right in front of the side of the building in Scheidemannstraße at bus stop Reichstag / Bundestag. From the Hauptbahnhof, it is also possible to use U-Bahn U55 to the Bundestag – one stop – but bus M85 is more pleasant and stops closer to the Reichstag’s visitors entrance.