Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus)

The basics

Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus) is a staple of Berlin sightseeing tours that showcase Berlin’s top landmarks—they often stop to admire the exterior of Berlin City Hall, plus other Mitte district highlights such as Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag building, Checkpoint Charlie, and Bebelplatz. Choose from walking, biking, hop-on hop-off bus tours, self-drive Trabi tours, rickshaw tours, or smartphone escape games for unconventional exploration of the city.

Things to know before you go

• The ground outside the City Hall is flat and wheelchair-accessible and there is wheelchair access on Judenstrasse 1.

• A popular spot to visit at the City Hall is the Neptune Fountain, which dates back to 1891 and depicts the Roman god Neptune and the city’s maritime connections.

• Don’t miss the City Hall’s tower for a panoramic view of the Berlin skyline.

• It’s free to enter the Berlin City Hall (Rotes Rathaus).

How to get there

Well served by public transport, it’s easy to travel to Berlin City Hall by either U-Bahn or bus. If traveling on the U-Bahn, get the U5 line to Rotes Rathaus station, which is next to the hall. Alternatively, you can get the 200 or 300 buses to the Rotes Rathaus stop.

When to get there

Berlin City Hall and its exhibitions are usually open on weekdays from morning until early evening. However, it might sometimes be closed due to day-to-day operations or security reasons. To ensure you have the most up-to-date information on opening hours, call before your visit.

What to see inside Berlin City Hall

With over 247 rooms, there’s a lot to discover inside Berlin City Hall. The Column Hall features beautiful vaulted ceilings and busts of prominent historical figures, while the Ceremonial Hall is the setting of grand events and ceremonies. It’s also worth looking out for the windows of the Hall of Arms, as these feature the coats of arms of Berlin and all of its former districts.