🏛️ Quadriga and Berlin's division: how Brandenburg Gate changed

Brandenburg Gate has stood on Pariser Platz for more than two centuries. It is the only surviving city gate of Berlin and the main symbol of the country's reunification. You can see it at any time of day: admission is free, no ticket needed. The structure is 26 m high and 65.5 m wide (according to Wikipedia). Below we explain what sets the gate apart from other Berlin landmarks and how to get there.

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Brandenburg Gate: the essentials

Berlin's main landmark stands between the Tiergarten and Mitte districts. A pedestrian axis runs through it from the Reichstag to the Unter den Linden boulevard.

💡 In short:

Admission is free and open around the clock: no tickets or turnstiles.
The best view of the facade is from the east, from Pariser Platz.
The Raum der Stille is open in the north wing: 11:00-18:00, free entry.
Hours and admission: 09/2026, verified on the official website.

Construction history

In the 18th century, Berlin was surrounded by a customs wall. It had 14 passageways, but only one has survived to this day: Brandenburg Gate. It was originally called the Gate of Peace. It was built in 1789-1793 by order of Prussian King Frederick William II (according to German Wikipedia). The design was prepared by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans.

Brandenburg Gate with the Quadriga in the morning under overcast skies

Langhans used the Propylaea of the Athenian Acropolis as his model. The road through the arch led to the city of Brandenburg, which gave the gate its name. The ensemble was completed by a quadriga: the four horses with the goddess of peace Eirene were sculpted by Johann Gottfried Schadow.

The quadriga has its own story. In 1806, Napoleon occupied Berlin and took the chariot to Paris as a trophy. It returned only eight years later, after the French emperor's defeat. The goddess was renamed Victoria and crowned with an iron cross bearing a laurel wreath and a Prussian eagle (according to German Wikipedia).

From 1814 to 1919, passage through the central arch was permitted only to the royal family, ambassadors of other states, and relatives of General Karl von Pfuel. In 1933, a torchlight procession of Hitler's supporters marched past the gate. That marked the beginning of the darkest period in the monument's history.

The division of Germany

In 1945, the Soviet flag was raised over the gate. In 1957, when the city was already divided, the GDR flag flew over the arch. Four years later, construction of the Berlin Wall began: it cut the city in two, and the gate ended up in the restricted zone.

Brandenburg Gate at night with the Quadriga on top

In those years, only East German border guards were allowed to approach the gate. For ordinary people, the structure remained out of reach and symbolized the country's division. Access returned only in December 1989, when the wall fell and the gate was opened to everyone again.

Description

The Brandenburg Gate is a triumphal arch made of sandstone. It stands at the junction of the Tiergarten and Mitte districts. To the west it borders Platz des 18. März, and to the east lies Pariser Platz.

The material used was stone blocks faced with Saxon sandstone. The arch is 26 m high, 65.5 m wide, and 11 m deep (according to German Wikipedia). The structure consists of two rows of columns on six supports, which form five open passageways.

Originally, buildings for customs and military purposes stood on both sides. In 1867-1868 they were replaced with open porticos and aligned with the arch. The entire structure is crowned by a 6 m high copper quadriga: four horses driven by the winged goddess Victoria.

In the goddess's hand is a staff bearing a cross, an eagle, and laurel leaves. The victor's gaze is directed eastward. In the north wing, in the former guardhouse, the Raum der Stille operates, and in the south wing there is a tourist information office.

Artistic value

The construction of the gate marked the beginning of the classicism era in Prussian architecture. Until the 18th century, baroque dominated here. The Brandenburg Gate became the first building in the German classicist style, modeled on the architecture of Greek and Roman antiquity.

Doric columns and reliefs in the gate passageways

The imitation of antiquity is visible in the central section: six Doric columns 15 m high with a base diameter of 1.75 m (according to German Wikipedia). Inside, the columns are reinforced with massive load-bearing masonry, which makes them different from their Athenian prototypes.

In the niches of the passageways stand statues of warlike Mars and Minerva seated on a throne with a spear. The ceilings, attic, and interior walls are decorated with allegorical engravings depicting scenes of Hercules' labors and battles between the Lapiths and centaurs. According to Schadow's design, the heroic subjects were meant to recall the reign of Frederick William II.

Restoration of the monument

World War II bombs caused serious damage to the gate. The quadriga suffered the most: its remains were sent to a warehouse of the West Berlin firm Noack. In 1950, the authorities of East and West Germany agreed on a joint restoration, which was completed only in 1958.

The Quadriga with Victoria atop the Brandenburg Gate at night

In 1958, the gate was once again adorned with the chariot, cast from the original molds. The restored quadriga lost the iron cross with the Prussian eagle: East German authorities considered these regalia symbols of the Nazi regime.

On New Year's Eve 1989/90, the quadriga was damaged again. Victoria got her cross back in 1991, after the country's reunification in 1990. In 2000-2002, the gate was closed for restoration carried out by a private monument protection foundation. The work cost 4.3 million euros (according to German Wikipedia).

The restorers reinforced the load-bearing structures. Using a laser system, they removed the darkening that had formed on the western side of the structure. On German Unity Day, October 3, 2002, the gate was ceremonially reopened after restoration.

The modern ensemble

In 2002, the Berlin Senate closed the area around the gate to traffic. The reason was exhaust fumes, which were damaging the sandstone. Pariser Platz was also turned into a pedestrian zone. Today the arch and the neighboring buildings form a single ensemble.

Pariser Platz with Brandenburg Gate at dusk

To the right and left of the gate stand the symmetrical Liebermann and Sommer buildings. They were built on the model of the destroyed structures by Prussian architect Friedrich Stüler. The classical style of the lost buildings is also echoed by the Hotel Adlon, one of Germany's most famous hotels.

On the south side next to the hotel you will see the glass facade of the Akademie der Künste and the DZ Bank office, designed by American architect Frank Gehry. The ensemble is completed by the US Embassy, built in 2008. To the north, the Kennedy Museum and the French Embassy adjoin the arch, and Pariser Platz is graced by two twin fountains.

The Brandenburg Gate today

Today the gate has long ceased to be just a stop on the tourist itinerary. Several times a year, hundreds of thousands of people gather here: for national holidays, sporting events, the New Year's party, and free gala concerts.

Brandenburg Gate with the Quadriga illuminated at night

The New Year's party starts on the morning of December 31. Well-known musical acts perform on the stage in front of the gate. After nine in the evening, the street from the Victory Column to the gate fills with people, and at exactly midnight the sky over Berlin lights up with fireworks.

The Berlin Marathon usually takes place in September, but the date changes every year. Tens of thousands of runners take part. The finish line is located beyond the gate, on Straße des 17. Juni. It's easier to watch from the west side, but arrive early.

The Fan Mile attracts the largest number of football fans in Germany. During the World Cup and European Championship, the area in front of the arch is transformed. A large screen and several monitors are set up along Straße des 17. Juni so that everyone can follow the matches.

How to get to the Brandenburg Gate

The gate stands in the center of Berlin, not far from the Spree river embankment. Getting there by public transport is easy. You need the S+U Brandenburger Tor station: S-Bahn lines S1, S2, and S25 stop here, as well as U-Bahn line U5 (according to BVG). The station exit leads directly to Pariser Platz, and from the turnstiles to the arch it's about a two-minute walk (according to the map).

Address: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin.
How to get there: S+U Brandenburger Tor station, lines S1, S2, S25, and U5.
Who it's for: for those who want to see Berlin's main symbol and walk through the historic center.
Not for: those looking for a quiet place: on holidays, hundreds of thousands of people gather at the gate.
The catch: on New Year's Eve and during the marathon, the square is closed to pedestrians.
Where to stay: hotels in central Berlin on Trip.com.

Tours and tickets in Berlin

Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.

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Brandenburg Gate on the map

Exact coordinates of the gate: 52°30'57"N 13°22'40"E. Build a route from your hotel or open the point on the map so you don't get lost. Open on the map

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter the Brandenburg Gate?

Entry is free. The gate is open around the clock, no tickets or ticket offices needed. You'll only pay for a guided tour, souvenirs, or coffee nearby. The only site with fixed opening hours, the Raum der Stille in the north wing, welcomes visitors from 11:00 to 18:00 (as of 09/2026, official website).

How do I get to the gate by public transport?

The nearest station is S+U Brandenburger Tor, lines S1, S2, S25, and U5. The exit leads directly to Pariser Platz.

When is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds?

Come in the morning, around 8 to 9 am. At that time the gate is almost empty, and the light on the eastern facade is softer. During the day and evening there are more people, especially in summer. On New Year's Eve and during the Berlin Marathon, the square is closed off, so through passage is blocked.

Can you go up to the quadriga?

No. The quadriga stands at the very top of the arch and is closed to visitors. You can't go up, neither by stairs nor by elevator. But you can view the four horses and the goddess Victoria from below: details are visible from both sides, but from the east, from Pariser Platz, the angle is better.

What is near the Brandenburg Gate?

Several well-known sights are within walking distance: the Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Unter den Linden boulevard, and the Hotel Adlon. You can walk to the Reichstag in 5 to 7 minutes (according to the map). Unter den Linden starts to the east and leads to Museum Island.

When does the Berlin Marathon pass the gate?

Usually in September, the exact date changes every year. The finish is on the west side of the gate, on Straße des 17. Juni.

In short: what to book

The gate doesn't sell tickets, so there's nothing to book here. But a tour of the center and a nearby hotel are worth choosing in advance, while there are still spots available.

If you want to see the gate with a guide: Berlin tours on GetYourGuide.
If you're looking for a hotel within walking distance of Pariser Platz: hotels near the Brandenburg Gate on Trip.com.

Plan your visit for the morning: at 8 to 9 am the gate is almost deserted, and the sun lights up the facade from the Pariser Platz side. That way you'll see the monument calmly, without crowds and bustle.

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin: free entry and route from the metro