Reichstag Tickets Berlin: how to buy and prices

The Reichstag building in Berlin is a historic building with a neoclassical temple-like appearance, crowned by a modern glass dome. Today, the majestic Reichstag serves as the official seat of the German Parliament and is open to tourists and locals alike. Here's everything you need to know to get tickets to the Reichstag in Berlin.

The first and most important thing you need to know is that visiting the Reichstag is free for both tourists and locals, but you need to book in advance. The reason is simple: as it is one of the most visited monuments in Berlin, it is necessary to coordinate visitor groups in advance. However, with an online booking for a guided tour of the Reichstag, you won't have to worry about a thing.

It's very simple: just choose the date and time (there are two options available) of your visit and meet your guide at the entrance on the agreed day. During the two-hour tour, you can visit the Plenary Hall, climb up to the dome to enjoy the best panoramic view of the city and also have the opportunity to explore the government district to understand how the German political system works. Pretty comprehensive, right?

If you still prefer to visit this monument on your own, you have the following options for booking your general admission ticket to the Reichstag building in Berlin:

• Book your tickets to the Reichstag online: Through the official Deutscher Bundestag website, you can book your visit to the dome of the Reichstag building in Berlin up to several weeks before your trip.
• Same-day tickets for the Reichstag: If you are in Berlin and would like to visit the dome but have not booked in advance, you can request your ticket for the Reichstag 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 building are subject to availability, and during busy tourist seasons it can be difficult to get tickets for the same day. Tickets are issued at least two hours before the visit and expire two days after issuance.

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

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

Guided tours of the city stop at the main attractions in the centre, including, of course, 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 is an ideal way to introduce yourself to 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 in Berlin are available from £16.

Is a guided tour worth it? Absolutely! It is undoubtedly one of the best ways to explore this iconic building and learn some really interesting facts. There are many advantages to choosing a guided tour, which I will share with you below.

Learn about the history of the city

Berlin is a European city that has been the scene 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 local guide to take you through the most important landmarks is a truly enriching experience.

Skip the queue

The waiting time to enter the dome and many other attractions in Berlin can be really long, especially during the busy tourist months. However, guided tours avoid this type of inconvenience, which is especially useful if you are only in the city for one or two days.

Variety of options

Guided tours of the Reichstag can be combined with other experiences such as lunch at the complex's 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 admission to more than 60 attractions and museums throughout the city. However, the Reichstag is not included in this list of attractions because it is already free of charge, even for tourists.

However, I recommend purchasing the Berlin Pass to see the city's other attractions, including Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, and even a ticket for a cruise on the River Spree.

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

Due to its central location, you can easily reach it using any of the following means of transport.

• Bus: There are several bus stops in the surrounding area, Reichstag/Bundestag is a 3-minute walk away; S+U Brandenburg Gate is a 9-minute walk away; Behrenstr./Wilhelmstr is a 12-minute walk away and Schumannstra is a 12-minute walk away. The Berlin Tourist Bus stops at the Reichstag.
• Underground: The nearest underground station is Bundestag, a 6-minute walk away, which you can reach by taking the U2 and U5 lines of the Berlin underground.
• S-Bahn: There are two stations nearby: S+U Brandenburg Gate, an 11-minute walk away, and S+U Friedrichstr. BHF, a 13-minute walk away.
• Private vehicle: Parking is limited at the complex and can be difficult to find, but there are parking options nearby.

A visit to the Reichstag dome is definitely an inspiring experience for both children and adults, especially if you hire an expert guide who can accompany your family through the most interesting parts of the exhibition.

If you decide to do the tour on your own, please note that advance booking for the Reichstag tour includes an audio guide, which you will receive as soon as you enter the dome and the exhibition area. The audio guides are easy to use and 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 visitor is likely to find their own list of favourite things. Personally, I think every visit to the Parliament complex deserves a pause to admire the following highlights.

• The architecture of the dome: redesigned by renowned architect Norman Foster, the Reichstag dome sought to establish a conceptual and symbolic link between modern Germany and its historical past, paying tribute 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, and the choice of materials, combined with its privileged position, offers fabulous 360-degree views of central Berlin.

• The mirror cone

The Reichstag Dome is located directly above the Parliament's Plenary Hall and, in addition to offering panoramic views of Berlin, has another striking feature at its centre: an inverted cone made of mirrors. This ingenious device provides natural light to the Parliament chambers below. From inside the dome, it is possible to see the halls below.

• Photographic exhibition

Inside the Parliament building, you will find hundreds of old photographs depicting the history of the building along with the most important historical moments of the city.

• Bundestag restaurant

On the roof of the Parliament building, you will find a restaurant offering amazing views of the centre of Berlin. In addition to the good food, the wonderful panoramic view alone makes it well worth a visit. If you decide to have lunch or dinner here, please note that advance booking (at least two days in advance) is essential. Another popular alternative is to book a tour of the Reichstag that includes lunch in the restaurant.

As you will realise once you enter the Reichstag, there is a lot to see inside the building. If you just want to take a look around and see the main features, you can take a quick 40-minute tour .

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

Access to the Reichstag Dome is open to the public from 8 a.m. to midnight; the last admission for tours is at 9:45 p.m., 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 keep in mind the days when the Reichstag has limited hours or is closed.

• 24 December: The Reichstag will be closed all day.
• 31 December: Limited opening hours, with the building closing at 4pm.
• Rest of the year: Access to the Reichstag Dome will be closed on several days of the year for cleaning and maintenance; it is important to check the official website before your visit.

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 queues, it is best to book a guided tour in advance of your trip, as due to the popularity of the monument, you will find queues almost all year round.
• To take photographs and get fabulous views of the city, it is 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 unusualexperience, I recommend visiting the Reichstag on a night tour and combining it with a show or dinner.