Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is Germany's most famous landmark and the country's symbol of reunification. Built in the late 18th century as a city gate, it later stood in the no-man's-land of the Berlin Wall, and its reopening in December 1989 became one of the defining images of the end of the Cold War. Today it is free to visit at any hour and sits within walking distance of the Reichstag and the Holocaust Memorial.

Where it is and how to get there

The gate stands at Pariser Platz in the Mitte district, at the western end of the boulevard Unter den Linden and the eastern edge of the Tiergarten park. It is easy to reach on Berlin's public transportation:

• Subway and S-Bahn: Brandenburger Tor station lies directly beneath the gate, served by the U5 subway line and the S1, S2, S25 and S26 S-Bahn lines.
• From Berlin Hauptbahnhof (central station): take the U5 a few stops to Brandenburger Tor, or walk about 20 minutes past the Reichstag.
• From BER airport: take a train to the central station or to Friedrichstraße and change there.

Driving is not recommended. The gate has been closed to car traffic since 2002, and parking in central Berlin is scarce.

A short history

Prussian King Frederick William II commissioned the gate, designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans and built between 1789 and 1793. Its model was the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis in Athens. On top stands the Quadriga, a four-horse chariot driven by Victoria, the goddess of victory, designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow.

The gate has been at the center of German history ever since. Napoleon marched through it in 1806 and took the Quadriga to Paris; it came back in 1814. After World War II damage, it was restored in the late 1950s. From August 1961 the Berlin Wall sealed it off, and for 28 years nobody could pass through. On December 22, 1989, more than 100,000 people celebrated as it reopened. A thorough restoration was completed in 2002.

What to see

• The Quadriga: best viewed from the east side, on Pariser Platz.
• Five passages and twelve Doric columns: the gate is about 26 m (85 ft) high including the sculpture and 62.5 m (205 ft) wide.
• Room of Silence: a small, quiet room for reflection in the northern gatehouse, open since 1994.
• Berlin Tourist Info: in the southern gatehouse, a handy stop for maps and tickets.
• Pariser Platz: lined with embassies, the Academy of Arts and the Hotel Adlon.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026, the gate is a public square that is open 24 hours a day with free entry; no tickets are needed. According to visitBerlin, the Tourist Info in the gate is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Note that large events such as New Year's Eve celebrations, concerts and demonstrations can close off the area, sometimes for several days of setup.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, and it takes little time: allow 15 to 30 minutes for the gate itself. Come early in the morning for photos without crowds, or after dark when the columns are floodlit. The square is flat and paved, and visitBerlin lists the site as suitable for wheelchair users.

The gate is the natural starting point for a walking tour of things to do in Berlin. The Reichstag with its glass dome is a five-minute walk north, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe lies just south, and Unter den Linden leads east toward Museum Island. Many guided city walks in English also start at the gate.