We are not going to Berlin until September, but I am in the habit of checking out reservation systems early so I know when to reserve and how to do it. WE want just the dome visit, not a tour. Some time back I tried and it said reservations for my week in September were not available, so I just assumed I was too early. Tried again a few weeks ago and got the same message. so I looked at other weeks. For every week beginning July 1, it shows the same message---"reservations for this week are not available." (Tried both the English and German websites, so it is not just a problem with the English one). Checked again today---every week of 2013 beginning July 1 not available. Yet you can get reservations for any date in June. I saw a post on Tripadvisor about this, and most people assumed it is simply sold out. But one person emailed and got this response: "In response to warnings issued by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, additional security measures have been put in place for the German Bundestag. These have led among other things to a reduction in the permissible number of visitors to the Reichstag Building. We would like to assure you that we are taking this step only after an exhaustive examination of possible alternatives, as we are aware of the disappointment it will undoubtedly cause." But there is no announcement on the website itself, as far as I can tell. Anyone know what is going on?
Posted by
Sammamish, WA
403 posts
I don't know what's going on officially, but I can tell you what happened to us last summer:
We visited Berlin in July. Like you, I checked obsessively ahead of time for tickets, but the website always said none were available for the entire month of July. I finally gave up and decided we would just miss seeing the dome. WELL, we took the Fat Tire Bike tour on our first day (awesome!) and the guide recommended visiting the dome. We told her that we really wanted to, but it was not available. She said that was nuts. When we got back to the office, she immediately pulled up the Reichstag site, and lo and behold, there were plenty of spots available! She booked them for us on the spot, so we got to go up that very evening. I am not sure what happened. Were spots opened up at the last minute? Can one not book from the US? (The guide thought that might be the case.) Is the ticketing just a moving target? No idea. But don't give up hope. You may be able to work something out, even when you get to Berlin. BTW, the dome was totally worth it. Very impressive and meaningful to see.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
So it was that way last summer too? Interesting. But it can't be that one cannot book from the US, as the website would let me book any date in June, just not July 1 or later. But maybe something changes in July, like you found last year. I'll keep checking, and if nothing changes I will try booking when we get to London. . . and then when we get to Berlin, and if still nothing we'll walk over and see if we can get a time slot for later that evening. I don't give up this easy!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5847 posts
Lola, I just tried checking the first week of September for a guided tour and that does show availability ... Maybe they've changed the way they handle dome only visits? If you can squeeze in the tour, it is really well done. I took one last May and thought it was quite interesting.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33819 posts
Hi Lola I just looked for this Sunday and found 6 or so slots for a party of 4, then next Wednesday availability early, mid and late for a "visit dome" only. I didn't look later in the summer. Good luck with it... did you use https://visite.bundestag.de/BAPWeb/pages/createBookingRequest.jsf?lang=en (with the question mark in the link I can't make it live - sorry)
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
Thanks for your suggestions, Laura and Nigel. Unfortunately a guided tour won't work, as we will be there on a Saturday, and they aren't offered that day. Yes, one day and two nights for Berlin, but I have been there before, and we will return again, probably next year. Mthis is just a quick stop to start our trip south to Italy. I had planned to visit the dome on Friday evening after we arrive. And Nigel, the problem starts with Week 27, the first week in July. For the rest of the year ( I checked every week) the booking site ( same one you posted) says dome visits are not available. I guess I will wait and see if things open up when we get into July. It is hard to imagine they would change the policy without explaining on the website, but that email message I quoted in my OP suggests that may be the case.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33819 posts
54 slots for a group of 4 dome only on Saturday 27th August. Nothing from 1st September onwards, but my guess is that's a release thing. It is nearly 10 weeks out. If 'twere me I'd breathe a little easier...
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
Nigel, you are right! Earlier today it was still blocked from July 1, but I am now seeing availability for dome visits up through Week 31 (through August 4). don't see August 27 yeat, though. but it must be a rolling thing, a month at a time. So I will breathe easy and just check back in late July or early August.
Posted by
Victoria
23 posts
Hi: I just signed into the website listed on this forum and have tentatively reserved a spot on the Reichstag Tour. The web site asks you for 3 dates and times and then sends an e-mail asking for the names of the people planning to visit. They then tell you that your request is being sent to the visitor center and they will contact you and confirm the date and time.
Posted by
United States, New York, United States
1 posts
Does anyone know if a copy of a passport or drivers license will work for admission to the Reichstag Dome? Thanks
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA
17422 posts
Likely they will tell you what you need in the way of ID when they confirm your online reservation.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9219 posts
Copies of ID like a passport or drivers license are useless. Think about how easy it is to fake something like this. Bring the real thing.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2081 posts
A few weeks ago we got in the line around 7 PM for Dome reservations. The office closed at 8 . The guy in front of us got in that evening, we had a few early or late choices for the next day and we took the suggestion for around 9 PM to see the the city as it lit up. I am almost positive that a passport was required, but we had that and DL so frankly I stopped listening knowing we were OK. The young and friendly staff were outstanding.