Reichstag Tickets and Tours in Berlin

Berlin's Reichstag building is an old historic building with the appearance of a neoclassical temple crowned at the top by a modern glass dome. Today the majestic Reichstag operates as the official seat of the German Parliament and can be visited by tourists and locals alike. Here's everything you need to know about getting tickets to the Reichstag Berlin.

The first and most important thing to know is that the Reichstag tour is free for both tourists and locals, but an appointment is required by registration. The reason is simple: since it is one of the most visited monuments in Berlin, it is very necessary to coordinate groups of visitors in advance. However, with the online booking of the guided tour of the Reichstag you don't have to rack your brains.

It's very simple: just choose the date and time (you have two options available) of the tour and you will meet your guide at the entrance on the agreed day. During the two-hour tour you will visit the Plenary Hall, go up to the Dome for the best panoramic view of the city and you will also have the opportunity to tour the government district to understand how the German political system works. Complete, isn't it?

If you still prefer to visit the monument on your own, you can book your general admission tickets to the Reichstag building in Berlin with these options:

• Book your Reichstag tickets online: Through the official website Deutscher Bundestag you can book your visit to the dome of the Reichstag building in Berlin up to weeks before your trip.
• Booking to visit the Reichstag on the same day: If you are in Berlin and wish to visit the dome but have not booked in advance, it is good to know that you can apply for your Reichstag ticket directly at the Visitor Service area located on the south side of Scheidemannstrasse, very close to the Berlin Pavilion.

Please note that places to visit the Reichstag are subject to availability, and during peak tourist seasons it can be difficult to get tickets for the same day. Tickets are issued a minimum of two hours before the visit and expire within two days of issue.

In both cases you will need to provide your details and show an official photo ID, usually a passport is sufficient for foreigners. The service centre is open from 1pm to 5.30pm.

Tours are one of the best ways to get to know a city and learn about its monuments thanks to the professional guides who accompany you. If the city is as important as Berlin, this option is highly recommended.

The guided tours of the city stop at the main attractions in the city centre, which of course include the Reichstag. From the outside you can admire its impressive architecture and with the guide's explanations you can understand the history and uses of the German Parliament. A visit to the interior is not included, but it's a great way to get an insight into the history of this building.

Guided tours of the Reichstag Dome are available whenever the German Parliament is not in session.

• Price: Guided tours of the Reichstag Berlin are available from €16.

On whether or not a guided tour is worth it... totally! It's definitely one of the best ways to get to know the iconic building and learn some really interesting details. Choosing a guided tour has many advantages and I'll share them with you below.

Learn about the history of the city

Berlin is a European city that has been at the centre of important historical events mainly in the last century, including events linked to the Second World War and the subsequent Cold War. Having an expert native guide to lead you through the most important landmarks is really enriching.

Skip the line at the entrance

Waiting time to enter the dome, and many other attractions in Berlin, can be really long especially in the peak tourist months. However, guided tours avoid this kind of inconvenience and are especially useful if you're only in the city for a day or two.

Variety of options

Guided tours of the Reichstag can be combined with other experiences such as lunch at the Reichstag restaurant or a tour of other important historical buildings or museums in Berlin.

In Berlin you will find a tourist card known as the Berlin Pass which offers free entry to over 60 attractions and museums throughout the city; however the Reichstag is not included in this list of attractions as it is already a free attraction and free of charge even for tourists.

However, I recommend you book the Berlin Pass service to see the other attractions of the city, including the Museum Island, the Berlin Cathedral and you can even get a ticket for a Cruise on the Spree River.

The Reichstag Building is located on Platz der Republik; it is located in the centre of Berlin specifically at the western end. The beautiful building is surrounded by several points of interest that you can visit before or after your visit: to the south you will find Hauptbahnhof and to the north you will find Tiergarten and the famous Brandenburg Gate.

Due to its central location you will be able to get here very easily using any of the following means of transport.

• Bus: You will find several bus stops nearby, Reichstag/Bundestag 3 minutes walk; S+U Brandenburg Gate 9 minutes walk; Behrenstr./Wilhelmstr. 12 minutes walk and Schumannstra 12 minutes walk. The Berlin Sightseeing Bus stops at the Reichstag.
• Underground: The nearest underground station is the Bundestag 6 minutes walk away, you can get here by taking the Berlin Underground lines U2 and U5.
• S-Bahn: You will find two nearby stations S+U Brandenburg Gate 11 minutes walk away and S+U Friedrichstr. BHF 13 minutes walk away.
• Private vehicle: Parking available in the complex is limited and often difficult to come by, however you will find parking options all around.

A visit to the Reichstag dome is definitely an uplifting experience for both children and adults, especially if you hire an expert guide who can take the family through the highlights of the exhibition.

If you decide to do the tour on your own, please note that the pre-booked Reichstag tour comes with an audio guide which you receive immediately upon entering the dome and the exhibition area. The audio guides are easy to use and are available in several languages including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Russian. If you are visiting Berlin with children, you can request a special audio guide for children.

There is a lot to see inside the Reichstag and every traveller is likely to find their own list of favourite elements; in a personal consideration, I find that every visit to the Parliament complex deserves a pause to admire the following highlights.

• The architecture of the dome: redesigned by famed architect Norman Foster, the Reichstag dome sought to establish a conceptual and symbolic link between modern Germany and its historical past; paying homage to a unified and stronger Germany after the fall of East Germany and the end of the Cold War.

The impressive structure is made entirely of steel and glass, the choice of material combined with its privileged position gives fabulous 360 degree views of the centre of Berlin.

• The cone of mirrors

The Reichstag Dome is positioned directly above the Plenary Hall of Parliament and in addition to providing panoramic views of Berlin, it has another eye-catching element at its centre: an inverted cone made of mirrors. This ingenious device provides natural light for the chambers of Parliament just below. From inside the dome it is possible to view the halls below.

• Photographic exhibition

Inside the Parliament building you will find hundreds of old photographs which describe the history of the building and the most important historical moments of the city.

• Bundestag Restaurant

On the rooftop of the Parliament building you will find a restaurant that offers amazing views of the centre of Berlin; apart from the good food it is worth a visit just for the wonderful panoramic view. If you decide to have lunch or dinner here, be aware that booking in advance (at least two days before) is absolutely necessary. Another popular alternative is to book a Reichstag tour that includes lunch at the restaurant.

As you'll realise once you enter the Reichstag, there's a lot to see inside the building; if you want to just walk around and see the highlights you can take a quick 40-minute tour.

But if you really want to enjoy the wonderful views of the city from the gigantic glass dome, if you want to appreciate the architecture of the Parliament and if you want to absorb all the historical information inside the building, you'll need to set aside 2-3 hours of your itinerary. This is the time that most guided tours of the Reichstag usually take to give tourists a full tour of the Reichstag.

Access to the Reichstag Dome is available to the public from 8am to midnight; the last entrance for tours is at 9:45pm, making a visit to the Reichstag one of the best things to do in Berlin at night. If you are planning a trip to Berlin it is important to be aware of the Reichstag's limited opening and closing times.

• 24th December: Reichstag will be closed all day.
• 31 December: Limited opening hours, with the Reichstag closed from 4pm.
• Rest of the year: Access to the Reichstag Dome will be closed on several days of the year for cleaning and maintenance work; it is important to consult the official website before visiting.

The best time to visit the Reichstag may vary depending on your objectives and what you want to get out of your visit.

• To avoid queuing, it's best to book a guided tour in advance of your trip, as due to the monument's popularity you'll find lines almost all year round.
• For photo opportunities and fabulous views of the city, it's best to visit the Reichstag during the day. Take the opportunity to include other interesting visits or activities in the centre of Berlin.
• For a dramatic and out-of-the-ordinaryexperience I recommend visiting the Reichstag on an evening tour and combining it with a show or dinner.