Review: Reichstag Building

Tell me: What’s this place all about?
Reduced to rubble after a 1930s fire, and then rebuilt decades later, this stately Neoclassical palace is arguably Germany's most iconic landmark. Completed in 1894, the building has been the home of Germany’s parliament (the Bundestag) since 1999 and now serves as a symbol of the country’s reunification. Today, a glistening glass dome designed by architect Norman Foster sits atop the grand old structure, and anyone with an advanced booking can ascend its 755-foot-long ramp for sweeping views over the city.

What’s it like being there?
It’s hard not to feel inspired as an elevator whisks you to the Reichstag’s roof for 360-degree views over Berlin. Much like the city that surrounds it, the Reichstag experienced a tumultuous 20th century before rising from the ashes and reinventing itself. In 1933, Hitler used a mysterious fire that gutted the building as an excuse to seize power; in 1945, Soviet troops raised their red flag atop the bombed-out building, effectively marking the end of World War II and the start of the Cold War; and in the years since, pop icons like David Bowie and Michael Jackson have used the muscular building as a backdrop for concerts. These days, Foster's dazzling glass dome looks down onto government chambers below and serves as a metaphor for political transparency.

Is there a guide involved?
As you enter the glass dome from the rooftop, you can pick up a free audio guide in English or several other languages. The GPS-activated guides automatically start once you ascend the elevated footpath, and offer a fascinating account of the building’s history as well as the city’s iconic sights nearby, including Tiergarten Park, the Berliner Dom, and Museum Island.

Who comes here?
While history buffs will undoubtedly geek out here, the building and free audio tour serve as a great primer for any visitor who’s curious about Berlin’s complicated past. Part history tour, part sightseeing tour, the Reichstag dome also is a useful way to get your bearings before a long day (or week) of touring the city.

Did it meet expectations?
The Reichstag dome is one of the most enriching free experiences for first-time visitors to the city, where a troubled past exists side by side with a trendsetting future. Few places employ this juxtaposition quite as well as this monument to freedom and openness, which was literally built atop the site that saw Nazis rise to power.

So then what, or who, do you think it’s best for?
A must for all visitors: families, history buffs, and Instagrammers alike.