I spent my last New Years (2013) in Berlin and I have wanted to go inside the Reichstag ever since I saw it on my first trip to Berlin back in 2006 but I never really took the time to figure out how to go inside (if it was even possible). On a previous trip to Berlin I did some Google-ing and found that you have to request entry a few days in advance. Since I was flying out the next day I didn’t have time to make a reservation and go days later. It was different this year though. I was gonna make it happen. I made a request on New Years Eve and got my notification the next day. I was going into the Reichstag on Jan 2nd, 2013.
There’s a small “application” process that you have to go through in order to go into the Reichstag but I will go over that in another post. Once you make it past the security screening there is a walkway that takes you up to the very front of the Reichstag steps. Above the front entrance there are 3 words engraved in German. “Dem Deutschen Volke”. Do you know what that means?
Once you go inside (through a couple sets of bullet proof doors) there is a small wait to board an elevator to the roof terrace and dome with 360 views of Berlin. It only takes about 15-20 people up at a time but there are a few of them running at a time so they get people in and out pretty quickly. You can see the room where all of the German politicians meet from where you wait for the elevator. It was empty cause they don’t let people visit when important people are present.
Once you get to the roof you can wander around to your hearts content. It was a cold day when I was there so I was inside the dome mostly (which is not heated).
There is a spiral walkway that takes you along the outside of the glass dome so you can get a full 360 view of the city. It was slightly rainy when I was there so my lighting wasn’t the best and the rain on the glass made it difficult for my camera to focus. It’s still one of the absolute greatest ways to see the city of Berlin.
The walkway wraps around a central column of dozens of mirrors that give you a view down into the room below from anywhere in the dome. Under the dome is where the German Government (The Bundestag) meets.It makes for some cool views and some interesting pictures. I suggest you take lots.
You can see all sorts of blue seats in the room below. This is where the German Parliament, known as the Bundestag, meets.
At the top of the Reichstag Dome there is a small sitting area and the highest view in the Reichstag. Take it all in cause Berlin is an amazing city.
Once you are outside you will be able to get some better pictures (there is no rain on glass) of in front of the Reichstag but you cant get very close to the edge so your pictures are kind of limited. There isn’t really all that much to the whole thing. It’s a dome and a terrace on the roof so it only took me about 45 minutes to do everything from start to finish. It is one of the best free things to do in Berlin and I would recommend that you do it if you ever go to Berlin.
Thanks for reading. Please feel free to share this if you or someone you know might find it helpful.
