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The Tor is an incredible piece of both history and cultural. The fleeing Ossies trying to escape the GDR and risking their lives in the process. Both Kennedy's famous speech and misquote.... Reagan's challenge to Gorbachev and of course, that night in November,1989. So standing here, takes your breath away and makes it hard to processing everything over just the last fifty years and I haven't even thought about Napoleon and his troops.
This neoclassical gate stands as a symbol of Germany, both in its disunity and reunification. It was a point along the Berlin Wall demarcating the divide, and also the formal gate leading up to Unter den Linden, the main road connecting the western section of the city to the Berlin Cathedral and former Prussian City Palace (now the Humboldt Forum). While there isn't much to do from a tourist's standpoint aside from walking thru it, taking in the view and snapping a few pics, it's one of those sights that deserves a moment of pause and reflection to contemplate Germany's turbulent past. When I visited in October, it happened to coincide with the Festival of Lights going on in Berlin where creative media displays are choreographed to music and projected onto key buildings in the city. The evening atmosphere brimmed with curiosity and excited energy as onlookers watched the normally stoic buildings or structures lit up with dancing images. They closed off the streets to automobiles directly around the monument and large crowds of people gathered eager to watch the spectacle. Yea the hoards of people made for a crowded subway ride back to my hotel but it was a lovely moment gathering with others to enjoy the show.
Built between 1789 and 1793 by Willhelm II this gate is the only one of the last 18 Berlin city gates to survive and is the most recognizable Berlin landmark and a German national symbol. I have seen this gate many times and it has been in almost all of my modern history textbooks because it has been involved in many significant historical events throughout the 19th and 20th century. It is absolutely beautiful and I especially like seeing it at dusk when it's lit up. This area can get extremely busy so beware of pick pockets and it's also impossible to get a picture without some people in the background or foreground because it's a popular meeting place and a very busy tourist attraction. Given the importance of it, I would say this is a must see site while visiting Berlin and I plan to see it many more times in the future.
Date of visit: May 30, 2024 I was expecting something akin to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but this unfortunately does not compare. It is certainly historic and in good shape for its age, but lacks the grandeur of the Arc. During my visit there was a lot of construction in the area, so perhaps that was dulling my enthusiasm and appreciation for this historic landmark but I really came away quite underwhelmed. On the positive side, there is a subway station very close to the gate, making it very accessible as well as to get away quickly, too!
10/2/23 this was definitely one of my favorite sights in Berlin. I highly suggest going early in the morning to avoid crowds. We were there around 7am and there was hardly any people. I wished we got to go back to see it at night all lit up. There were people jogging and riding bikes through the gate. The subway is right there and there's a Starbucks, cafes and souvenir shops in the area.
To see it in person was awesome, after seeing it so many times on TV etc. We went by many times and if you want to avoid people, go early in the morning. The place is also a meeting place for protest, etc, so be mindful of that when you visit, we ran into few and we altered our travel paths.
This is a very popular spot to visit in Berlin. Although I have no idea what it means or represents. There is usually tons of people here at any given time. I saw a few protesters (no idea what they were protesting) protesting stuff, people dressed for photos, people walking around with their country flags, music, etc. I enjoyed walking through here, people watching and snapping a few photos.
Iconic landmark in Berlin; part of East Berlin when the city was still divided before the downfall of the Berlin Wall. It is symbolic for being a site where a lot of historical events in Europe and Germany occurred in the past. I was lucky enough to catch a demonstration by a group of cyberpunks during my visit. Not sure what the protest was about, but it seemed fit for the city best known for their underground techno scene and anti-authoritarian subculture. Spectacular archaic structure standing in the middle of a concrete jungle.
The Brandenburg Gate is a beautiful structure and must-see place when you're in Berlin. It's simple yet architecturally beautiful and is a symbol of German's history (craziness then peace). One block away is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which you must also check out and pay your respects. Coming to a selfie near you, the Brandenburger Tor!
The Brandenburg gate is a must see when visiting Berlin. Lots of history, and it's an icon of the city. Look for hidden gems near the gate, such as the plaque to Ronald Reagan speech and the Caller sculpture, calling out to the east German side. Even in the off-season and the dead of winter beware of scammers near the Brandenburg gate. The scammers will ask for a signature and pretend to be collecting donations for a charitable cause. These are not bona fide charities, these are scammers working the tourists. read more
You know how sometimes, there just aren't enough, or maybe any, words to describe something? That's how I feel with the Brandenburg Gate. All the photos and videos that you've seen of it over the course of your lifetime do not do it justice. The thing is huge. We toured the nearby Reichstag, and were able to look down on the gate, then pass through it as we walked down Unter den Linden boulevard. This is probably the best known landmark in Berlin and is definitely a must see while here. It's mind boggling to see photos before the reunification compared to after and to think that you're standing in the same spot shown in those photos. It's a beautiful monument from top to bottom, and I could have spent hours there, just marvelling at how much history this thing has seen and been in the middle of. I hope I can get back to see it again! 82/2025 read more
First time I came here was in 1987, I have witnessed the extreme changes around the Gate, but amazed as to how the gate itself has remained unchanged for so many years. It's great walking around the gate itself, but what's great is to look up photos through the years to see the changes. I always walk around the area and take in the culture, and it is interesting to see the cobblestone line where the wall used to be. Such incredible history... read more
1 year ago
The Tor is an incredible piece of both history and cultural. The fleeing Ossies trying to escape the GDR and risking their lives in the process. Both Kennedy's famous speech and misquote.... Reagan's challenge to Gorbachev and of course, that night in November,1989. So standing here, takes your breath away and makes it hard to processing everything over just the last fifty years and I haven't even thought about Napoleon and his troops. read more
This neoclassical gate stands as a symbol of Germany, both in its disunity and reunification. It was a point along the Berlin Wall demarcating the divide, and also the formal gate leading up to Unter den Linden, the main road connecting the western section of the city to the Berlin Cathedral and former Prussian City Palace (now the Humboldt Forum). While there isn't much to do from a tourist's standpoint aside from walking thru it, taking in the view and snapping a few pics, it's one of those sights that deserves a moment of pause and reflection to contemplate Germany's turbulent past. When I visited in October, it happened to coincide with the Festival of Lights going on in Berlin where creative media displays are choreographed to music and projected onto key buildings in the city. The evening atmosphere brimmed with curiosity and excited energy as onlookers watched the normally stoic buildings or structures lit up with dancing images. They closed off the streets to automobiles directly around the monument and large crowds of people gathered eager to watch the spectacle. Yea the hoards of people made for a crowded subway ride back to my hotel but it was a lovely moment gathering with others to enjoy the show. read more
1 year ago
Wow, Brandenburg Gate was impressive. This is one of the top things you should see in Berlin. read more
Built between 1789 and 1793 by Willhelm II this gate is the only one of the last 18 Berlin city gates to survive and is the most recognizable Berlin landmark and a German national symbol. I have seen this gate many times and it has been in almost all of my modern history textbooks because it has been involved in many significant historical events throughout the 19th and 20th century. It is absolutely beautiful and I especially like seeing it at dusk when it's lit up. This area can get extremely busy so beware of pick pockets and it's also impossible to get a picture without some people in the background or foreground because it's a popular meeting place and a very busy tourist attraction. Given the importance of it, I would say this is a must see site while visiting Berlin and I plan to see it many more times in the future. read more
Date of visit: May 30, 2024 I was expecting something akin to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but this unfortunately does not compare. It is certainly historic and in good shape for its age, but lacks the grandeur of the Arc. During my visit there was a lot of construction in the area, so perhaps that was dulling my enthusiasm and appreciation for this historic landmark but I really came away quite underwhelmed. On the positive side, there is a subway station very close to the gate, making it very accessible as well as to get away quickly, too! read more
10/2/23 this was definitely one of my favorite sights in Berlin. I highly suggest going early in the morning to avoid crowds. We were there around 7am and there was hardly any people. I wished we got to go back to see it at night all lit up. There were people jogging and riding bikes through the gate. The subway is right there and there's a Starbucks, cafes and souvenir shops in the area. read more
To see it in person was awesome, after seeing it so many times on TV etc. We went by many times and if you want to avoid people, go early in the morning. The place is also a meeting place for protest, etc, so be mindful of that when you visit, we ran into few and we altered our travel paths. read more
This is a very popular spot to visit in Berlin. Although I have no idea what it means or represents. There is usually tons of people here at any given time. I saw a few protesters (no idea what they were protesting) protesting stuff, people dressed for photos, people walking around with their country flags, music, etc. I enjoyed walking through here, people watching and snapping a few photos. read more
Iconic landmark in Berlin; part of East Berlin when the city was still divided before the downfall of the Berlin Wall. It is symbolic for being a site where a lot of historical events in Europe and Germany occurred in the past. I was lucky enough to catch a demonstration by a group of cyberpunks during my visit. Not sure what the protest was about, but it seemed fit for the city best known for their underground techno scene and anti-authoritarian subculture. Spectacular archaic structure standing in the middle of a concrete jungle. read more
The Brandenburg Gate is a beautiful structure and must-see place when you're in Berlin. It's simple yet architecturally beautiful and is a symbol of German's history (craziness then peace). One block away is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which you must also check out and pay your respects. Coming to a selfie near you, the Brandenburger Tor! read more
Quintessential Berlin! In order to truly appreciate the true beauty of this gate I researched the history prior to visiting. The Brandenburg Gate was part of the Berlin Wall, dividing East and West Germany during the Cold War. After reunification, it became a symbol of German unity and is now recognizable throughout the world. As an American, I was proud to learn that John F. Kenendy famously visited Brandenburg Gate on June 26, 1963. Later that day, he spoke to an audience of 120,000 on the steps of Rathaus Schöneberg. read more
The gate is 26 meters high and 65.5 meters long. The quadriga on top symbolizes peace entering the city- the goddess of victory, Victoria, is on a chariot pulled by horses. The monument was in the restricted area and couldn't be visited when the Berlin Wall was put up. When the wall fell, the gate became a symbol of reunification. It's a must see when in Berlin. read more
Several years ago, my first view of the Brandenburger Tor came at dusk, exiting the U-bahn station at Pariser Platz, with a crescent moon rising behind it. Whether night or day, it's a beautiful spot, with its history of war, but now a symbol of freedom of peace. read more
History and historical landmarks/monuments is plentiful in Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate that is 230 years old has so much history even before the Cold War and now post Cold War, and generations should learn from all that has happened in Germany during the world wars and years after. Built between 1788 and 1791 by Prussian King Frederick William II as a key entry point to the city of Berlin. Brandenburg Gate was topped off with a statue known as the "Quadriga," which depicted a statue of the goddess of victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses. During the Cold War, the Gate stood between East and West Germany, becoming part of the Berlin Wall. You can see where the wall existing as it winds it way across and along streets with the Reichstag building on one side and the U.S. Embassy on the other side. It is amazing to see all of the symbols and shifts in power from the Prussian to Germany to the divided Germany and back to a unified Germany today. read more
This gate is best at night for photos. It's nicely lighted up and makes a great backdrop for your selfies or whatever. It's better to see it during the light of day to really see the minute details as well as the statues at the top of the gate too. It's vibrant and beautiful at night. Reminds me of he historic and iconic symbolism of the arc de triomphe in Paris. I think the photo from there looked almost identical in fact. read more
3 years ago
Such a remarkable structure, it is absolutely phenomenal and for its age, in very good condition. It is located in the western part of the city centre of Berlin, immediately west of the Pariser Platz. One of the best-known landmarks of Germany, it was built on the site of a former city gate. To be standing at such a powerful piece of history is such a rush! There is a cafe nearby with outdoor seating. read more
4 years ago
Located near the Reichstag and packed with tourists this restored 18th Century structure has a history you'll learn nothing about by visiting, so go and snap a selfie then read about it on Wiki. read more
I don't think you can rate a free historical attraction any less than 5 stars. It's one of those landmarks that I've always wanted to see and when I finally arrived in Berlin, it gave me chills! Yes, it's touristy, but the later in the evening (or the earlier in the morning) that you visit, the better chance you'll have of snapping private photos. I'd recommend going at dusk because the Gate is lit up and is absolutely gorgeous. It's free and open 24 hours. Doesn't get much better than that. read more
Sadly we didn't get the opportunity to see its glory. It was under construction in preparation for the NYE's celebration. Tried to get tickets too on the 1st and the 29th of December but to no avail. Waited and waited in queue online then redirected me to a page that stated sold-out. We still went to celebrate the NYE along the Unter den Linden. This was the nearest and safest place we could go as far as the distance to the Brandenburg Gate. Glad to see many police as a select group of crowds were just being a bit out of control. The presence of the police made us feel safe, but we still tried to avoid getting near some rowdy groups. Overall, we enjoyed the fireworks even if we didn't get to see the show at the gate. Grateful for the presence of the police. read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
Very iconic, and very Berlin. This is a must see. It's right by many other monuments and attractions so to not stop and see this would be hard! We started at the Riechstag Building rooftop and headed south to check out the gate and Tiergarten. It is a cool structure and to be fair, I don't know much about the background. From what I gather: built by a Frederick and topped with a victory related goddess "Quadriga". There was some back and forth with Napoleon and the communists, then restored in the 90s after unification. I'm sure I butchered that but that is the gist of it. There is a cool square like area on the east side of it and some nice stores and things to visit as well. The street performers were cool too, some very neat traditional German music box ones too. A must see and being so centrally located, its hard to miss! read more
10 years ago
Also known as, "The Gate," to simply put it! Goddess of Victoria with her horses, sits majestically up on top! It's very symbolic and a great reminder! I think it's the best gate to date! read more
When I visited West Berlin in the early 1980s, I walked to the Brandenburg gate from both side of the Berlin Wall. What I experienced was a stunning monument that was "damaged" WWII and the Cold War. Then came 1989 and all those pictures of people on top of the wall and walking travelling through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time. It wasn't until a few years later (~2000-2002) that this last City gate was fully restored. So what a treat it was last year to walk freely back and forth through the Brandenburg Gate. And while in the neighborhood, I made it a point to walk into one of the Ghost stations, that I only slowly rode through during the Berlin Wall Days. These examples were one taste of Freedom that I still relish to this day. read more
11 years ago
If you're a tourist you better be here! This is the best known landmark in all of Berlin. Brandenburger Tor is awesome! Filled with culture, history, people and photo ops galore. I'm not going to give a history lesson here but Brandenburger Tor is a place of strength, unity and peace not just for European's but American's as well. Stop through and take in the energy as you pose for the camera in front of this beautiful monumental gate. read more
10 years ago
A must go to tourist destination when coming to Berlin. I had been to Berlin six years ago when the weather was pretty bad; so at that time I didn't get to visit the Brandenburger Tor. The Brandenburger Tor (gate) was built in the 18th century and served as a city gate for many years. During the reunification of East and West Germany, the Tor became a symbol of reunification of both East and West. I finally had my chance to visit the Tor last week at two times in the day--once in the early morning (8AM) and once in the mid afternoon (4PM). Both experiences where pretty different as the number of tourists were dramatically more in the mid afternoon than in the early morning. It was much easier to take picture of the Tor without too many tourists in the way at 8AM vs 4PM. Depending on how busy you like your photos to be, I think the better time would be coming in early morning so that you get the Tor basically to yourself. Brandenburger Tor is easy to get to, within close walking distance to Friedrichstrasse shopping areas, Potsdamer Platz, multiple cultural museums, and has an S/U-Bahn station that gives you upfront access to the Tor (S1, S2, U55 lines at Brandenburger Tor station). Definitely easy to get to by foot or public transit. read more
While it is called a gate, it actually never was used as a gate, but rather a memorial built by one of the kings of Prussia back in the 18th Century during a period that he managed to restore order to the fledgeling country. Anyway, this is probably one of the most famous landmarks in Germany, thanks of course to Bismark who managed to make Berlin the capital, as well as uniting what used to be a disparate collection of principalities under a single monarch. It is quite interesting though, particularly with the twelve tasks of Heracles emblazoned upon it. read more
This is the one snapshot every tourist takes in Berlin because it represents the same iconic image for that metropolis that the Eiffel Tower does for Paris, that the Empire State Building does for New York, that Big Ben does for London, that the House of Prime Rib does for San Francisco. Hey, we all have our own landmarks, and there is no arguing with the majesty of its classic architecture based on the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. There is the famous chariot, the Quadriga, which crowns the top as Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, steers the horses. She is statue. Hear her roar. For some reason, I thought auto traffic drove through it but no, the area is mostly pedestrianized. It stands west of the cobblestone Parisier Platz where many of the embassies are. The Kennedy Museum is here and so is a very busy Starbucks, as well as the Hotel Adlon where Michael Jackson infamously dangled "Blanket" out of a window a decade ago to the horror of the world. But he wasn't the only headline grabber here as this is where Reagan told Gorbachev to tear down the wall back in 1987. I have to say that the Brandenburg Gate looks exactly the way it looks in pictures (see my gallery). Unlike me where the camera adds ten pounds, and please don't ask me how many cameras were pointed at me. read more
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Brandenburger Tor - landmarks - Updated June 2026
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