Attraction
Brandenburg Gate
Berlin's best-known landmark, a neoclassical gate completed in 1791 and crowned by the Quadriga, which stood beside the Wall until it reopened in December 1989.
Berlin Cathedral
The domed Protestant cathedral on Museum Island, completed in 1905, with a rich interior, the Hohenzollern crypt and a walkway around the dome.
At a glance
- Type
- Protestant cathedral
- Area
- Museum Island, Berlin, Germany
- Official site
- berlinerdom.de
Good to know
- Online tickets
- Dome walkway
- Hohenzollern crypt
- Concerts
- Café
Why we recommend it
Berlin Cathedral, the Berliner Dom, is the large domed church at the edge of Museum Island facing the Lustgarten, and one of the most recognisable buildings on the city skyline. The present building was designed by Julius Raschdorff and built between 1894 and 1905 in a richly decorated style that draws on the Renaissance and Baroque, as the main Protestant church of Prussia and the court church of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
Allied bombing damaged the cathedral badly; in May 1944 a fire in the lantern of the dome caused it to collapse into the church. A temporary roof kept the building standing, reconstruction began in 1975, and the main church was re-inaugurated in 1993. The dome was rebuilt in a simplified form rather than exactly as it was.
A visit takes in the main sermon church under the dome, with its mosaics, gilded decoration and the large organ built by Wilhelm Sauer, which has 113 stops and is used for regular concerts. The smaller Baptismal and Marriage Church, the cathedral museum and the Hohenzollern crypt, one of the most important dynastic burial places in Europe, are part of the same ticket; the crypt reopened to the public in March 2026 after restoration work. The highlight for many people is the climb to the walkway around the outside of the dome, with views over Museum Island, the Spree and the Humboldt Forum. The climb involves many stairs and is not suitable for everyone.
The cathedral recommends buying tickets online. Opening times change around services, concerts and events, so check the official website on the day you plan to go; church services are free to attend but are not for sightseeing. Allow about an hour, or longer if you climb the dome. Dress respectfully, and keep in mind that the building is a working church. Evening organ concerts and the Christmas services are popular and worth booking.
The cathedral is a short walk from Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station and from Museumsinsel station on the U5. The museums of Museum Island, the Humboldt Forum and the boat landing stages on the Spree, where many river cruises start, are all within a few minutes on foot.
Berlin Cathedral FAQs
Do you need a ticket?
Yes, sightseeing visits need a ticket, and buying online is recommended.
Can you climb the dome?
Yes, the visit includes the walkway around the dome, reached by a climb on many stairs.
Is the crypt open?
Yes, the Hohenzollern crypt reopened to the public in March 2026.
When was the cathedral built?
Between 1894 and 1905, to a design by Julius Raschdorff.
How long should you allow?
About an hour, more if you climb to the dome walkway.
Are there concerts?
Yes, the cathedral holds regular concerts, including organ recitals on the Sauer organ.
Do opening times change?
Yes, they vary around services and events, so check the official website before you go.
How do you get there?
Walk from Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station or take the U5 to Museumsinsel.