Attraction · Berlin · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Reichstag Building in Berlin

Reichstag Building is an attraction in Berlin, Germany. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 5 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 860 m you'll find a public toilet, a bench, a water point and a bike pump.

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The story

Wikipedia ↗

Audio tour · Reichstag Building

2:10

You're standing at the Reichstag building in Berlin, on the Platz der Republik. This is where the German parliament, the Bundestag, meets. Look at the front. Above the entrance, in big bronze letters, it says Dem Deutschen Volke, to the German people. Emperor Wilhelm II didn't want those words up there, because they sounded far too democratic. They only went up in 1916, in the middle of the First World War.

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Opening hours and admission

Opening hours: Every day 08:00-24:00
Admission: Free
Wheelchair: Accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

1 / 10

Photo: Jörg Braukmann · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Reichstag Building in Berlin: home of the German parliament

The Reichstag Building in Berlin is where the German parliament meets. The building has seen a great deal. From a balcony, Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the republic. In 1933 it was largely destroyed by fire, and Hitler used the blaze to suspend civil rights. Later, the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the entire building. You will find it on Platz der Republik in Berlin, and the Brandenburg Gate is 280 metres away.

What you can see at the Reichstag Building

On the front, look for the large bronze letters reading "Dem Deutschen Volke", which means "to the people". The 4 corner towers stand for the 4 kingdoms that came together, including Württemberg. The building is known for its glass dome on the roof. You walk around it on a circular route and look out over the whole of Berlin. Looking down through the glass, you can see into the debating chamber, a view that stands for an open democracy. Inside, bullet holes and graffiti left by soldiers in 1945 have been preserved behind plexiglas. You need to register in advance to visit the dome. The view is especially impressive in the evening.

The Reichstag Building's history

Architect Paul Wallot built the Reichstag Building between 1884 and 1894. Emperor Wilhelm II did not want the inscription on the façade, as he felt it sounded too democratic. Only in 1916, in the middle of the war, did the letters finally go up. In February 1933, shortly after Hitler became chancellor, the building was largely destroyed by fire. A Dutch man, Marinus van der Lubbe, was arrested as the perpetrator, but whether he acted alone is still disputed. In 1945, soldiers fought their way inside and raised the red flag. During the period of division, the building stood in West Berlin, close to the border wall, and no parliament met here. After reunification, architect Norman Foster redesigned the building. Since 1999, parliament has sat here.

Opening hours, tickets and accessibility at the Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building is open Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 24:00, according to OpenStreetMap. Entry is free, so you do not need a paid ticket to visit. The building is wheelchair accessible, and there is a wheelchair-accessible toilet inside as well. This means you can visit the building with little preparation, including if you have difficulty walking or use a wheelchair.

Toilet, drinking water and benches near the Reichstag Building

A public toilet near the Reichstag Building in Berlin is 51 metres away, at the Unterirdisches Erschließungssystem. It is free to use and wheelchair accessible. Within 500 metres there are 4 public toilets in total. Benches are plentiful near the Reichstag Building in Berlin: the nearest is 98 metres away, on Paul-Löbe-Allee, and within 500 metres there are 267 benches. Drinking water is available in 1 spot near the Reichstag Building. That water tap is 257 metres away, on Straße des 17. Juni, so fill your bottle when you pass by.

Walking and more to see near the Reichstag Building

After your visit, you can carry on exploring the area on foot. Your first stop is the Brandenburg Gate, which is 280 metres away and has an audio story. From there, it is a 1,052-metre walk to Potsdamer Platz, an attraction that also has an audio story. The Museum Neue Nationalgalerie is 1,417 metres away and also offers an audio story. There is also a 2-minute audio story about the Reichstag Building itself. You can listen to it on the spot in the Outdoor Pitstop app.

Facilities near Reichstag Building

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

50 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 5 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km.

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Brandenburg Gate · 280 m

Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Potsdamer Platz · 1.1 km

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Gendarmenmarkt · 1.2 km

Photo: Christoph Matthias Siebenborn · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

MuseumAudio story · 2 min

Neue Nationalgalerie · 1.4 km

Photo: A.Savin · Wikimedia Commons · FALView the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Checkpoint Charlie · 1.6 km

Photo: Adrian Purser from London, UK · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of Brandenburg Gate on the spot with the app

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Reichstag Building in Berlin free to visit?

Yes, entry to the Reichstag Building is free. To visit the glass dome, you do need to register in advance.

What are the opening hours of the Reichstag Building?

The Reichstag Building is open Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 24:00. The view from the dome is especially impressive in the evening.

What is the difference between the Bundestag and the Reichstag?

The Reichstag is the building, while the Bundestag is the parliament that has met there since 1999. The building was constructed between 1884 and 1894 by architect Paul Wallot, and no parliament met there during the Koude Oorlog.

Where can I find a toilet near the Reichstag Building in Berlin?

The nearest public toilet is 51 metres away, at Unterirdisches Erschließungssystem. It is free and wheelchair accessible. There are 4 public toilets within 500 metres.

Are there benches at the Reichstag Building in Berlin?

Yes, the nearest bench is 98 metres away, on Paul-Löbe-Allee. There are 267 benches within 500 metres.

Where can I get drinking water at the Reichstag Building in Berlin?

The nearest water tap is 257 metres away, on Straße des 17. Juni. There is 1 water tap within 500 metres.

Nearby

More well-known points of interest nearby

Reichstag Building in Berlin

The story

Opening hours and admission

Photos

Reichstag Building in Berlin: home of the German parliament

What you can see at the Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building's history

Opening hours, tickets and accessibility at the Reichstag Building

Toilet, drinking water and benches near the Reichstag Building

Walking and more to see near the Reichstag Building

Facilities near Reichstag Building

Well-known points of interest nearby

Brandenburg Gate · 280 m

Potsdamer Platz · 1.1 km

Gendarmenmarkt · 1.2 km

Neue Nationalgalerie · 1.4 km

Checkpoint Charlie · 1.6 km

Also within walking distance

Walks within 2 km

Cycle routes within 5 km

Explore further

More in Berlin

More points of interest

Frequently asked questions

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