Reichstag
Germany's reunified democracy made visible in glass and steel.
The Reichstag is the seat of Germany's federal parliament, the Bundestag, and one of the most historically loaded buildings in Europe. Built in the 1890s, it survived fire in 1933 — used as a pretext by the Nazis to seize emergency powers — Allied bombing, Soviet graffiti, and decades of division before being spectacularly reimagined after German reunification. British architect Norman Foster wrapped the restored neo-Renaissance shell in a gleaming glass dome in the late 1990s, creating a building that deliberately places citizens above their government — you walk above the debating chamber itself, which is visible through the dome's glass funnel below.
The experience centers on the rooftop and the dome. You register in advance, pass through security, and take an elevator to the roof terrace, where Berlin unfolds in every direction — the Brandenburg Gate is right there, the Tiergarten stretches west, the TV Tower anchors the eastern skyline. Then you walk a gentle spiral ramp inside the dome itself, past mirrored panels that bounce natural light down into the parliamentary chamber below. Audio guides keyed to your location explain what you're seeing inside and out. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to do it properly, and the views justify every minute.
The visit is free but requires pre-registration on the official website — this trips up a huge number of visitors who show up expecting to walk in. Book at least a few days ahead, more in summer. Evening slots are particularly good: the city lights up, the dome glows, and the queues tend to be shorter than midday. The building is also a working parliament, so access can occasionally be restricted during high-security sessions.