justshootme

I had planned on booking a guided tour for the Reichstag, I sent an email to the email address listed on their website at least 2 weeks ago, I got a reply that the email address is incorrect and that the tour request email address on the website is no longer for that department. The Reichstag also wrote in the email that my email would be forwarded to the tour department and to not use this email address anymore. Well, that's it, I haven't heard back and I have had no reponse regarding my tour request. A tour is now out of the question. I will be in Berlin in November and I am wondering if lines in Nov are just as long as in summer. If so, what is the best time of day to go to avoid the lines?

Thanks.

DalaiLlama

Was that email address besucherdienst@ bundestag.de?

Did you call (030) 227-32152 (plus 49 for Germany - omit the leading zero when calling from outside of Germany), and our country's international access code of course. Fax is (030) 227-30027

Access depends on activities - if the Bundestag is in session or not.

And just which parts did you want to visit?

The website says "If you have any questions regarding the services we offer, please contact us by telephone: +49 (0)30 227-32152 or +49 (0)30 227-35908."

Hope this helps.

justshootme

Yes, that is the email address I used, this is the reply I got:-

Thank you for your email.

It will be forwarded to the responsible members of staff, who will then contact you direct.

To enable us to deal with your message as quickly as possible, we would like to request that in the meantime you refrain from sending us further emails on the same matter.

Visitors' Service, German Bundestag

------------------------------------

I have checked when Bundestag is not in session and I am in Berlin during this time, I emailed them asking for a tour on a specific date with a few different tour times as per the instructions on their website.

I will call and see if I can make any progress, failing that, I would like to know when I should try to visit to avoid lines.

CarolJean

I was there in early Dec. and went around 9 a.m. (maybe 9:30). There were a few people gathered on the steps. It was rather quick to get in. When I came out, the line was all the way out to the street. So, I would say, "go early."

yk

I'd say either go early, or late.

I've been up the Reichstag both during day time and night time, and honestly, I like the night time visit better because there are far fewer tourists, and we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves; this was in early Oct last year. But of course, you probably should go during the day time in order to see the view better.

Alternatively, you can always make a reservation for the restaurant (eg, for breakfast or lunch). With the restaurant reservation, you get to skip the line and enter via a separate entrance.

DalaiLlama

"...you refrain from sending us further emails on the same matter. ..."
I guess that is to avoid having you restart the inquiry over again - and since they don't seem to have a system where they assign a case number you have no way to refer to your earlier inquiry either.

Sounds like a phone call is in order. Hope you have cheap international calls on your plan.

JerryS

Are you a Senior Citizen? If so, there is usually someone available at the front (to the right of the line) and tell them. We did so and they escorted us to a side entrance, entering on the floor below the main floor and we were able to avoid the line.

shoonye

Do not worry. This is a standard message and the same one that we received. They respond to you depending on the timing of your visit. I sent a request in June for a September trip and only heard back from them in August. Therefore for your November trip expect to hear back in late Sept or early Oct. They will surely respond as they did to us with a proper confirmation letter and other details.

justshootme

Thanks for all the replies.

JerryS, I am not a senior.

I'd given up on the tour and I've made other arrangements for the morning that I had requested the tour. Great. I guess I'll send another request and request an afternoon tour.

I did call and I was given another number, (49-30-227-31269) to call to ask about tours, I've called that number at least 10 times and all that I get is a recorded message that they are unavailable. I have been calling in the morning or early afternoon Berlin time.

My plan was to go early in the morning to avoid a long line.

shoonye, if you've already been to Berlin, how was the tour?

shoonye

We are in Berlin next week. I'll be sure to post back on the experience.

justshootme

Thanks shoonye, enjoy Berlin.

justshootme

Just want to report back to let fodorites who may be thinking of the tour that I did finally hear from Bundestag confirming a tour for the day I requested. It took them almost 2 months to respond as I'd given up on the I made other arrangements just posting so that if fodorites do send a request for a tour don't make other arrangements like I did as they will eventually respond even if it takes them along time to do so.

nyse

Thanks for reporting back ~ this is what makes Fodors such a valuable research site. Looking forward to a Berlin TR!