How To Visit The German Parliament Or Reichstag
If you are lucky enough to travel to Berlin, you cannot miss the German Parliament. This historic place stars in many of the tourist itineraries. Over the years, it has become a symbol of the German capital. Read on and find out why.
A bit of the history of the Reichstag
The Berlin Parliament complex, or Reichstag, in German, took 10 years to build. It was inaugurated in 1894, both the main building and the dome. There is a great history hidden in it and it has undergone numerous reconstructions.
One of the most important historical moments that he starred in happened in 1918. With the end of World War I, workers and soldiers occupied the building and Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the beginning of the Weimar Republic.
But, with the arrival of the Nazis and their policies of repression and intimidation, Parliament ended up losing its power. In 1933 a fire broke out that greatly damaged the building and benefited the Nazi faction. It was never known who caused the fire.
Soon after, Hitler abolished many of the fundamental rights contained in the Constitution of 1919, that of the Weimar Republic. Finally, after World War II, the building was completely destroyed.
Much later, in 1996, it would be the architect Sir Norman Foster who would be in charge of its transformation. It was based on the historical dimensions to expand it and turn it into a modern and functional building, already with the dome included. A glass dome allows you to walk inside and admire the views of the city.
The glass dome: a symbol of parliamentary democracy
The visit to Parliament does not focus on the building as such, but on the glass dome designed by Norman Foster. And it is not surprising, since it is the most impressive element of the complex. It is located just above the Plenary Hall.
This dome represents the center of parliamentary democracy. It is made of glass and is intended to show that the people, from above, must see that all matters are carried out clearly.
The visit to the German Parliament
Now that you know the history and importance of this iconic building, surely you have wanted to visit it. Well, you should know that the visit is free. Of course, that does not mean that you can arrive and enter directly.
Before, the entrance was free. This caused long lines and, as you can imagine, a long waiting time. To avoid this they developed an early entry system. It is still free, but to be able to enter and avoid queues you have to make an advance reservation on the website of the German Parliament.
How to make the reservation
Too easy. First of all, you will have to decide what type of visit you want. They offer two: the visit to the dome or the guided tour with subsequent ascent to the dome. Once this is done, you will have to enter the number of people, names and surnames, dates of birth and the date and time that you request.
On the day of the visit, you must go to the booths in front of the building to confirm entry. From there you will enter the building and then go up to the dome. We recommend you take a free audio guide. They are available in many different languages.
Or, if you are interested in knowing more about the architecture and art of the building, it is always interesting to sign up for a guided tour (it is also free).
Practical information: hours and how to get there
The German Parliament is, as we have said, in Berlin. Specifically, it is located in Platz der Republik, 1. It can be reached both by metro and bus.
- Metro: line U55 to the Bundestag stop.
- Bus: line 100
It is open from 8:00 to 24:00, although the last entries are given at 22:00. Therefore, do not go later than that time or you will not be able to enter.
The German Parliament, in addition to an impressive building, is a key place in the history of the country. So don’t miss it if you visit Berlin.
