The grand Brandenburg Gate on Pariser Platz is the symbol of Germany's unity. This makes it not only the most important landmark in Berlin, but also a national symbol of Germany.
Once an emblem of Berlin's division into East and West, today it stands for the eventful history of the German capital like no other structure.
It's no wonder that the 18th-century city gate is on every Berlin traveler's itinerary.
Read this guide to find out everything you need to know before your visit. This includes helpful tips, directions and the history of the Brandenburg Gate.
Let's go!
Things to Do at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
The famous Brandenburg Gate is one of the most visited attractions in Berlin as a historical landmark of Germany's unity.
See here what you can do on-site:
1. Admire the Architecture
The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most beautiful examples of German classicism. So it makes sense to first take a leisurely look at the gate's grandiose architecture.
The monument was built of sandstone by Carl Gotthard Langhans and is modeled on the Athenian Acropolis. Especially impressive are the metope reliefs, which thematize "the quarrel of the Centaurs with the Lapiths", the Quadriga as well as the altogether twelve Doric columns, which were arranged in two rows.
With a total height of 26 meters and a width of 62.5 meters, the Brandenburg Gate, meanwhile the only preserved city gate in Berlin, towers majestically over Pariser Platz.
2. Gaze at the Quadriga
When looking at the building, one immediately notices the Quadriga, the quadruped on the Brandenburg Gate. It was designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow and placed on the Brandenburg Gate in 1793. On display is none other than Victoria, the goddess of victory, standing in a chariot drawn by four horses.
Can you imagine that the Quadriga was in France for several years? Napoleon himself had it brought to Paris in 1806 as a sign of his victory over Prussia. It was only eight years later, after Prussia freed itself from French occupation and marched into Paris, that the Quadriga returned to its ancestral place.
Although many claim it was placed the wrong way around, it continues to face east.
3. Discover Reliefs of the Passages
Step closer to the structure to discover the masterful reliefs located in the five passageways.
You can see scenes from the Hercules legend, such as Hercules fighting a giant, a dragon or a centaur. These exploits of the divine heroic figure from Greek mythology were meant to be allegorical of the deeds of Frederick the Great.
4. Snap Souvenir Photos
Being an absolute must-see, a selfie at the Brandenburg Gate is part of every tourist's must-do list.
Therefore, take the opportunity to capture one or the other souvenir photo.
Tip: Come back after dark and admire the Brandenburg Gate at night, because illuminated and without the crowds, the famous building looks particularly sublime and spectacular.
4. Visit the Room of Silence
What many visitors do not know is that the so-called Room of Silence (“Raum der Stille”) is hidden in the north wing of the Brandenburg Gate.
Inside the 30 m² small room you can pause for a moment, turn inward and let the historical place have an effect on you.
The Room of Silence wants to remind of the "fraternity and tolerance among people" and be understood as "a constant reminder against violence and xenophobia".
- For more information about the Room of Silence, visit the official website.
5. Events at the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate also excels as a popular event location and fan mile. In addition to public viewing and concerts, the Brandenburg Gate is probably the most famous address for New Year's Eve. During these events, the gate turns into a huge open-air party venue.
If you are lucky enough to be in the metropolis for a World Cup or other event, don't miss the charged atmosphere at the Brandenburg Gate.
Entrance, Tickets & Tours to Brandenburg Gate
- Entrance: The Brandenburg Gate can be visited daily around the clock. The Room of Silence, on the other hand, is open from 11 am to 6 pm.
- Tickets: Admission to the Brandenburg Gate, including the "Room of Silence," is free.
- Tours: Many guided tours include a visit to the Brandenburg Gate.
- Traveler’s Tip: If you would like to discover these and other highlights of the German capital flexibly and on your own, we recommend the audio guide app Best of Berlin Tour from YourMobileGuide.
How to get to the Brandenburg Gate?
The Brandenburg Gate is located at Pariser Platz in Berlin-Mitte and can therefore be easily reached from all parts of the city.
- From Alexanderplatz: Take the U5 and go four stops to the Brandenburg Gate stop.
- From Potsdamer Platz: Take the S1, S2, S25 or S26 one stop, or alternatively walk 12 minutes.
FAQ about the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Brandenburg Gate is located at Pariser Platz in the district of Berlin-Mitte. The address is: Pariser Platz 5, 10117 Berlin Mitte
Brandenburg Gate was built in the years 1788 to 1791.
The Brandenburg Gate was built at the behest of Prussian King Frederick William II, who envisioned a worthy architectural completion of the boulevard Unter den Linden. The architect Carl Gotthard Langhans was commissioned with the construction of the, who built the city gate of sandstone in the years 1788 to 1791.
The Brandenburg Gate is crowned by the statue of Victoria, the victory goddess, in a chariot with four horses, the Quadriga. The east-facing quadriga was designed by sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow and placed on the gate in 1793.
In the past, the Brandenburg Gate on Pariser Platz was the symbol of Berlin's division into East and West. Since the fall of the Wall, it is the symbol of German unity and one of the most important landmarks of the metropolis.
History & Facts about the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate was built at the request of Prussian King Frederick William II, who sought a worthy architectural addition to the boulevard Unter den Linden. The construction of the Peace Gate was commissioned to Carl Gotthard Langhans, who built the sandstone city gate between 1788 and 1791 based on the model of the Acropolis in Athens.
Brandenburg Gate during the 2nd World War
In the course of Nazi rule, the Brandenburg Gate increasingly became the site of Nazi stagings or torchlight parades. As a parade backdrop for the Nazis, the Brandenburg Gate draped with swastika flags witnessed numerous demonstrations of power and parades that did not even exist on this scale in the Empire.
During the Second World War and the Battle of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate was severely damaged by bombs and grenades. Only one horse's head, which can be seen today in the Märkisches Museum, was spared from the quadriga, which was deliberately shot to pieces by German soldiers on April 30, 1945.
Brandenburg Gate during the Division of Berlin
After the division of the city into East and West and the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Brandenburg Gate stood in the middle of the restricted area and could not be entered from either the West or the East. Only GDR border guards and groups of visitors, mostly consisting of state guests of the GDR, could visit the structure. Commenting on this situation years later, German President Richard von Weizsäcker said, "As long as the Brandenburg Gate is closed, the German question is open."
On June 12, 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan famously said in front of the Brandenburg Gate, "Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Fall of the Berlin Wall
After reports such as "GDR opens border" spread on the radio and television on the evening of November 9, 1989, crowds of people stormed the Brandenburg Gate. Numerous people tried to climb the Wall from the west. Especially on the west side, people poured up to the Wall, sometimes even carrying champagne bottles or hammers and chisels, shouting, "The Wall must go!"
On December 22, 1989, just a few weeks after the fall of the Wall, the Brandenburg Gate was officially opened to cheering choirs and a celebration attended by 100,000 people. Today, nothing remains of the former barriers.
Contact & Map
- Address: Brandenburg Gate, Pariser Platz 5 - 10117 Berlin
- Hours: Daily, around the clock
- Public Transport: U5 to stop Brandenburger Tor
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