Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall
★ 4.7🇩🇪 BerlinSuggested visit 2-3 hoursBest season May to September, warm with long daylight
Historic siteCity walkModern history
The neoclassical gate and the surviving wall trace Berlin's modern history.
Overview
Built between 1788 and 1791, the Brandenburg Gate is the last surviving city gate in Berlin, its quadriga of Victory twice carried off. West of it stand the Reichstag and Tiergarten; east runs the 1.3-kilometre East Side Gallery, the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, covered with more than a hundred murals — the Kiss of Death being the most famous.
History
Completed in 1791, it was sealed off by the Wall in 1961 as a symbol of division and became a symbol of reunification when the Wall fell on 9 November 1989.
Highlights
- •The Brandenburg Gate and its quadriga
- •The East Side Gallery murals
- •The Reichstag glass dome
- •Tiergarten and the Victory Column
Practical tips
- •The Reichstag dome needs an online booking
- •The East Side Gallery runs along the river; late afternoon light is best
Practical information
- Best time
- May-September
- Tickets
- Free; the Reichstag is free but must be booked
- Opening hours
- Gate and wall open all day; Reichstag 8:00-24:00
- Local food
- Currywurst, Berliner Weisse, döner kebab
- Getting around
- S+U Brandenburger Tor for the gate; Warschauer Strasse for the East Side Gallery.
- Visa
- A Schengen visa is required; apply about one month in advance.
Traveller reviews
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