No Berlin tour is complete without a glimpse of the Brandenburg Gate. Whether you choose to explore Berlin on a walking tour, on a bike tour, by Segway, or in a Trabant vintage car, you’ll surely stop to snap a photo by this iconic landmark. There are tours to suit all preferences—small-group and private tours that offer a more personalized experience; Berlin Wall and Third Reich tours that offer a greater insight into Berlin’s history; and hop-on hop-off bus tours for those who want to discover Berlin at their own pace.
The tourist information center at the Brandenburg Gate has free Wi-Fi.
The Brandenburg Gate and many surrounding attractions are wheelchair accessible.
The Brandenburg Gate is located on the historic square of Pariser Platz in West Berlin, at the western end of Unter den Linden Boulevard and bordering the eastern entrance to Tiergarten Park. The closest subway station is Brandenburger Tor. Monuments such as the Holocaust Memorial and the Reichstag building are within easy walking distance.
As one of the most popular Berlin attractions, the Brandenburg Gate is often surrounded by crowds, especially during the busy months of July and August. Visit after dark to see the monument lit up by dramatic spotlights, or stop by in the early morning to avoid the crush of tourists or grab a rare photograph of the gate without crowds. The Brandenburg Gate is also an important part of annual events such as the October Berlin Lights Festival, Berlin’s holiday illuminations, and the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Built in 1791 in a neoclassical style, the Brandenburg Gate is the last of Berlin’s original city gates. Originally commissioned by Prussian King Frederick William II, the monument took center stage years later during the Cold War, when it was located in an exclusion zone on the Soviet side and inaccessible to residents of both East and West Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was heralded as a symbol of unified Berlin, with huge crowds gathering to celebrate its monumental reopening.
