The Reichstag building in Berlin, photographed on 12 June 2022. Photo: Ebeling-Marius · CC0 · Resized.
Berlin tells the story of 20th-century Europe better than any other city, and many of its most important history sites are free. Register for the Reichstag dome in advance, spend a morning at the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße, and leave time for Museum Island and Schloss Charlottenburg.
This guide was researched on 5 November 2026 using official memorial, museum and transport websites. Opening hours and prices change, so check them before you go.
History sites at a glance
Swipe or scroll horizontally to see the full table.
| Site | Cost | Open | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reichstag dome | Free | Daily, except listed closures | Advance registration required |
| Berlin Wall Memorial | Free | Outdoor area 8:00–22:00; centres Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 | Observation tower over the border strip |
| East Side Gallery | Free | Outdoors, any time | The longest surviving section of the Wall |
| Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe | Free | Field of stelae 24 hours; information centre Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 | Closed on Mondays (centre) |
| Topography of Terror | Free | Daily 10:00–20:00 | On the site of the Gestapo and SS headquarters |
| Museum Island | €24 day ticket | Check museum hours | Pergamonmuseum closed until 2027 |
| Schloss Charlottenburg | €12; €19 combined | Tue–Sun 10:00–16:30 (winter) | Closed on Mondays |
The Reichstag dome
The Reichstag, seat of the German Bundestag, burned in 1933, was badly damaged in 1945 and was rebuilt after reunification with Norman Foster's glass dome. Visiting the dome and roof terrace is free, but advance registration is required. Book online as early as you can and bring photo ID for the security check. If there are spare places, the visitor service centre near the building can register you on the day, at least two hours before your visit.
The dome closes during some parliamentary weeks; in 2026, closures included several weeks in June, September and October. The roof terrace usually stays open when the dome is closed.
The Berlin Wall
For the clearest sense of how the Wall divided the city, go to the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße. A preserved section of the border strip, watchtower and "death strip" runs along the street, and the observation tower at the Documentation Center looks over it. Entry is free. The outdoor exhibition is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00, and the visitor and documentation centres from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00.
The East Side Gallery on Mühlenstraße is the longest surviving section of the Wall, covered in murals painted after 1989. At Checkpoint Charlie, the former crossing point, there is an outdoor exhibition on the square; a permanent educational centre is planned, with construction due to start in 2030.
Memorials and the Nazi era
Just south of the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a field of concrete stelae, open 24 hours and free. The underground information centre is also free, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 45 minutes before closing) and closed on Mondays. Please treat it as a memorial, not a playground.
The Topography of Terror, on the site of the former Gestapo and SS headquarters, documents the Nazi regime's crimes. It is free and open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Museum Island and Charlottenburg
Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, groups five major museums on the Spree. A Museum Island day ticket costs €24. The Pergamonmuseum is closed for a major renovation: its North Wing is due to reopen in 2027, while the South Wing stays closed until 2037. The Pergamon Panorama nearby remains open.
Schloss Charlottenburg, the largest palace in Berlin, is a good half-day outside the centre. The Old Palace and the New Wing cost €12 each; the charlottenburg+ ticket (€19) covers all the palace buildings in the garden for a day, and a family ticket costs €45. In winter it is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–16:30.
Getting around
Berlin's U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses are run by BVG and S-Bahn Berlin. A single ticket costs from €4.00 and is valid for two hours; a 24-hour ticket costs from €11.20. If you are staying several days, the Berlin WelcomeCard (from €28.50 for 48 hours) combines transport with discounts, and a Museum Island version includes museum entry. Visitors from Germany and the EU on longer trips may prefer the Deutschlandticket (€63 per month).
See our Germany travel guide for more ideas, and Prague, Vienna and Budapest by train if you are continuing east.
A two-day history plan
- Day 1, the centre: the Reichstag dome (booked), the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Topography of Terror.
- Day 2, the Wall and the palaces: the Berlin Wall Memorial in the morning, Museum Island at midday, then the East Side Gallery at sunset, or Schloss Charlottenburg instead.
Berlin: FAQ
Is the Reichstag dome free?
Yes, but you must register in advance online or, if places remain, at the visitor service centre on the day.
Where is the best place to see the Berlin Wall?
The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße shows the border strip best; the East Side Gallery is the longest stretch and the most colourful.
Is the Pergamon Museum open?
No. It is closed for renovation; the North Wing is due to reopen in 2027.
Sources and planning checks
Facts were checked on 5 November 2026 against the German Bundestag, the Berlin Wall Foundation, the Foundation Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the National Museums in Berlin, SPSG and BVG. Reichstag opening hours and Museum Island hours could not be confirmed and should be checked before you go. The itinerary is an editorial suggestion.
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