The view from the top: Peeking into Parliament

As the official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag building in Berlin affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its famous dome and roof terrace.

Quick history of the Reichstag

The Reichstag was built in 1894 and housed the Parliament until a fire destroyed it in 1933. Consensus has it that the blaze was started by the Nazis in an attempt to stomp out Communism, cut back on civil liberties, and usher in totalitarian rule. Today, the Reichstag celebrates openness and transparency: Visitors climb a dome atop the Parliamentary chamber, and can look down at their legislators in action. How things have changed!

Visiting the Reichstag

While guided tours of the Reichstag can be set up in advance (see comments section below for more info), we recommend nabbing a Berliner (as we did… thanks Hilary!) or taking advantage of the free explanatory brochure, available just past security.

Once in, you’ll take a quick elevator ride to the top of the building, inside the dome. Snap photos of the dome and its surroundings, and start working your way up the dome’s interior ramp, reading the historical explanations along the way. If you grabbed the free brochure downstairs, it’s a helpful guide to the 360-degree city view from the dome’s top. (So, that’s where the new train station is!) 

And of course, don’t forget to turn around, away from the city, and look down into the Parliament. (See photo above.) If you’re visiting at night, of course, you may only catch sight of some cleaning personnel.

When to visit the Reichstag

First of all, the Reichstag is extremely popular with tourists, foreign and German-born. The building holds profound historical significance, and is on nearly every first-time visitor’s agenda. Therefore, expect to wait. A line stretches outside the Reichstag and down into a grassy field. Wait times can be hefty, especially during the day, so we’ve found it’s nice to visit at night, when crowds are smaller.  (The building stays open until midnight, although the last entry is at 10 PM.)

More information

Check out the Bundestag (German Parliament) web site for details and opening times.

Also, review our list of more free things to do in Berlin.

You can also try this great step-by-step guide available from DK Travel.

Stick with us, Cheapos, and stay tuned for more free tips tomorrow. Next stop? Bratislava!

Popularity: 15% [?]

Berlin is one city where your euros can still pack a punch. And, perhaps even more importantly, it’s also full of art, history, sausage, and frei stuff to do.

Here are six of our favorite freebies in the German capital:

The Reichstag

The official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its famous dome and roof terrace. Wait times can be hefty, so we’ve found it’s best to visit at night (the building stays open until midnight, although the last entry is at 10 PM). Take a quick elevator ride to the top and snap a bunch of photos. A free brochure, available as you enter the building, offers a pictorial guide to the Berlin skyline. (So, that’s the new train station!)

Brandenburg Gate

This majestic gate, called “the trademark of Berlin” by the local authorities, was built by King Wilhelm II in 1788. The Gate has seen a lot. It has survived conquests, bombings, and oppressive regimes. The monument sits at the end of the mighty Unter den Linden, and has recently received a city-sponsored cleaning. We think the best time to view this beauty is at night, when its majesty shines under soft lights.

Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie, the name for the passport control for visitors going between East and West Berlin, is today a major tourist draw. There’s no charge for hanging out next to the original booth once manned by Soviet and American soldiers. Located along busy Friederichstrasse, today guards smile, pose for photos, and answer questions from tourists. Across the street, several creative vendors charge €5 for a “legitimate” stamp for your passport. Ah yes, nostalgia… (Watch out for the Segueways—see photo above.)

The Wall

There are two good spots to see what’s left of the infamous Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery (in Kreuzberg), where artists like Keith Herring have painted over old pieces of the Wall as part of a public exhibit, is the cheerier of the two locations. This part of the Wall bursts with color, celebrates freedom and shows off the graffiti talents of many Berliners and friends of Berliners. For a more somber and realistic take on the Wall, visit the piece that’s still up near the Topography of Terror exhibit (below), in Mitte near Checkpoint Charlie.

Topography of Terror

OK, it sounds ominous (and well, it is), but this exhibit—in Mitte—is one of the most comprehensive one-stop shops for facing the magnitude of World War II, Berlin’s role in it, and the Holocaust. Placards with black and white photos show Hitler’s rise to power, the resurrection of the Wall, and many more key historical moments. Explanations and timelines accompany the photos and follow a clear path that leads you parallel to old S.S. Nazi police baracks. It’s a tad creepy, if you really let your mind go there. But, well worth a visit.

The Holocaust Memorial

The newly-opened “Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe,” designed by architect Peter Eisenman, opened in 2005 and consists of 2,711 concrete slabs arranged on sloping ground. Walking through the enormous memorial can be somber, disorienting, and dizzying. An underground information center is open daily (except Monday). The outdoor monument is open and free to the public at all times.

Cheap eats

Berlin is full of cheap eats. You can hardly walk down the street without bumping into a bargain-priced doner-kabap. In any case, save a couple of euros for a good currywurst and Beck’s beer at the end of the day. You’ll need a breather after a day of intense sightseeing.

Popularity: 19% [?]