Reichstag Building

The Reichstag building is the home of the German federal parliament (the Bundestag) and one of Berlin’s most recognizable landmarks. It is best known for its striking glass dome, added during a major renovation in the 1990s, which offers panoramic views over the city. After the visit, you can easily continue on foot through the Tiergarten to the Brandenburg Gate.

Tickets

Admission to the Reichstag is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance online through the Bundestag’s official reservation page. Availability is generally good, but since tickets are free there is no financial risk to booking ahead of your trip — it is worth doing before you go.

Arrival and Security

Plan extra time for arrival. Because the Reichstag is an active government building, entry requires full airport-style security screening. You will also need to present a passport or official ID, as your ticket is tied to your name.

When we visited, there was construction in the immediate area around the building that made the approach somewhat difficult. We partially traveled in the street to reach the entrance, though notably, other visitors were doing the same. Check for current construction conditions before your visit, as this may affect your route.

From Berlin Hauptbahnhof (the main train station), the walk to the Reichstag is manageable, and from there you can continue to the Brandenburg Gate through the Tiergarten. Overall, Berlin is quite walkable. Like many European cities, it has stone curb cuts that can cause occasional jolts, but the area around these landmarks was generally navigable without significant difficulty.

Inside the Reichstag

The Reichstag itself is accessible. The wheelchair-accessible entrance is slightly different from the main entrance and involves crossing a short section of stonework — roughly the width of a street — but this was manageable and did not present a barrier to entry. Beyond that transition, the interior was smooth and fully accessible.

A dedicated elevator operator brings visitors up to the glass dome. Once inside the dome, there is a sloping ramp that spirals both upward and downward. You can navigate the ramp independently and go as high as you choose to take in the views of Berlin from above and below through the glass. The surface throughout the dome is smooth and presented no accessibility issues.

A Note on Service

The students serving as guides inside were wonderful, and the security personnel were helpful and welcoming. That said, we did encounter one elevator operator who responded to a politely asked question about wheelchair access by raising their voice at us. It was an isolated incident in an otherwise positive visit, but worth mentioning so you are not caught off guard.

Overall

The Reichstag is a worthwhile stop and is genuinely accessible for wheelchair users. Plan ahead for security and, if construction is still ongoing, allow a little extra time for the approach. From start to finish, the visit can reasonably be completed in about an hour.

Have questions or your own experience to share? Get in touch.