Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building on the northern edge of Berlin's Tiergarten has housed the German federal parliament since reunification in 1990, after decades of disuse following the fire of 1933 and bomb damage in the Second World War. British architect Norman Foster's 1999 renovation retained the 19th-century neoclassical shell — including the restored inscription 'Dem Deutschen Volke' (To the German People) above the west portico — and added the now-iconic glass dome on the roof. The dome rises 23.5 metres, contains a mirrored central funnel that reflects daylight into the plenary chamber below, and is accessed via a double spiral ramp walkway that circles up to an open terrace with 360-degree views of central Berlin. Audio guide units are provided free at the dome entrance and commentary tracks correspond to visible landmarks. The interior of the plenary chamber, visible through the glass floor of the dome, can sometimes be seen in session if the Bundestag is sitting. Access to the dome and rooftop restaurant is free but must be pre-booked online through the Bundestag's official registration system; registration opens three days to three weeks in advance and identity documents are required on entry for security processing. The building's west facade faces the Spreebogen riverside walk and looks toward the Brandenburg Gate 700 metres east. Sunset visits — arriving around 8 PM in summer — offer the best combination of blue-sky panorama and gradually darkening city lights.