Reichstag

There are some fantastic views from the roof and even better ones from inside the glass dome designed by Norman Foster. Entrance is free, but the guidebooks warn you to go either first thing or later in the day. As it’s the German Parliament building, you have to go through a security check first, so you will see the queue stop and start as people have their bags x-rayed and then file into the lifts.

The glass dome is amazing to look at up close and it’s a surreal experience walking up the ascending ramps that follow its curved contours to the top viewing platform. Be warned – it can get very hot inside on a sunny day as it’s like being inside a greenhouse!

We went just before 6pm, and it was only about a 20 minute wait for us.

By itself, the cupola is amazing. Be prepared for a 1-2 hour wait to get into the building. But it is free.

So the present German federal government is called the Bundestag. Just the physical building where it meets is called the Reichstag building. Because the Reich is long gone… no need for anything inflammatory.

a friend of mine decided to run slide/run (i dont remember which) down the long spiraly thing that overlooks the city and got a little too carried away…. ended up flying off the end and landing in a few tourists lol