Rotes Rathaus

The Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall) has long been the political heart of Berlin. The Governing Mayor and the senate chancellery have their offices here, and the city senate meets in the building. The hefty brick structure went up between 1861 and 1871 to plans by the architect Hermann Friedrich Waesemann in the round-arch style, which blends northern Italian Renaissance echoes with Prussian severity. The name has nothing to do with politics; it simply comes from the distinctive red brick facade.

Visible from far off is the roughly 243-foot (74-meter) tower that gives the building its unmistakable silhouette. One architectural curiosity is the "Steinerne Chronik" (stone chronicle), a terracotta frieze running around the building below the second floor, telling the story of Berlin in 36 panels from its beginnings to the founding of the German Empire in 1871. Badly damaged in World War II, the city hall was rebuilt by 1958 and served as the seat of the East Berlin magistrate during the GDR years before becoming the seat of government for the whole reunified city.

The Rotes Rathaus sits centrally between the TV tower, the Nikolai Quarter and Alexanderplatz, so it slots easily into a walk through the historic center. The grand interior rooms such as the Wappensaal and the Säulensaal can be seen during official occasions or on pre-booked guided tours, and from the outside the building is a rewarding photo subject at any hour. The Neptune Fountain right in front is a good place to sit for a while.

A city hall for a growing metropolis

When the city hall was built, Berlin was on its way to becoming a big city. The population was growing fast and the old administrative buildings were no longer enough. The new building was meant to show the self-confidence of the citizens in the face of the royal palace, which stood only a few hundred meters away. That’s why the tower is deliberately tall and the facade richly decorated. The building’s official name is Berliner Rathaus; the nickname “Rotes Rathaus” comes from its bricks.

The division of the city is reflected in the building’s history too. From 1948 the East Berlin magistrate governed from the Rotes Rathaus, while the West Berlin senate moved into the Rathaus Schöneberg. Only in October 1991 did the government of reunified Berlin return here.

What to look out for

On the outside, look up at the terracotta band above the ground floor, known as the Steinerne Chronik (Stone Chronicle). Its reliefs show scenes from the city’s history, from settlers and margraves to buildings and events of the 19th century. It’s worth walking once around the building, as the panels run along all four sides.

In front of the city hall on Rathausstraße stand two bronze figures by Fritz Cremer, a woman and a man helping with reconstruction. They commemorate the people who cleared the city’s rubble after 1945 and began rebuilding it.

On weekdays you can see some areas inside. The senate chancellery shows changing exhibitions in its corridors and halls, for example on gifts received through the city’s partnerships with other cities, or on Berlin’s history. The staircase and halls give you a sense of the building’s ambition to impress.

Planning your visit

• Opening hours: According to the senate chancellery, the exhibitions in the Rotes Rathaus are open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, except on public holidays and during private events. Admission is free (as of October 2026). The senate chancellery recommends calling ahead to check whether the building is open on the day you plan to go.
• Tours: The senate chancellery organizes guided tours for groups by appointment.
• Getting there: U5 to Rotes Rathaus; the station is right in front of the building. Alternatively, take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to Alexanderplatz, about a five-minute walk.
• How long: 30 to 60 minutes is enough for a walk around the outside and a look at the exhibitions.

Tips and common mistakes

The city hall is a seat of government, so expect security checks at the entrance. Larger luggage is best left at your hotel. On days with state visits, senate meetings or receptions, access may be restricted at short notice. If you want to see more of the building, look out for the open day, when halls that are normally closed are open to the public.

A common misunderstanding concerns the parliament. The Rotes Rathaus houses the Governing Mayor and the Senate, in other words the state government. Berlin’s state parliament, the Abgeordnetenhaus, meets in the former Prussian Landtag on Niederkirchnerstraße, near Potsdamer Platz. If you want to watch a plenary session, that’s where you need to go.

For the best photo with the tower, stand on the opposite side of Spandauer Straße or near the Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain). The fountain originally stood in front of the Stadtschloss (City Palace), by the way, and was only moved to its current spot in 1969.

Nearby

Right next door are the Nikolaiviertel, the TV Tower and the Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church). Across the Spree you’ll reach the Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island within a few minutes. The DDR Museum sits right on the riverbank opposite the cathedral. For more on the area, see our guide to Mitte.