Berlin Photo Gallery - Berliner Dom

When Berlin became the capital of the new German Empire in 1871, there was a need to build a grand cathedral fit for its status. Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted a beautiful city of monuments and grand buildigns, and the Berliner Dom was designed to rival St. Peter's Basilica. Inaugurated in 1905, the dome was rebuilt after World War II and stands at 98m with a viewing terrace to see the city from above. After paying a discounted admission of 7 euros with my Welcome Card, I entered into the richly-decorated church. The cathedral's website states the admission fee pays for the expensive upkeep, which amounts to about 15,000 euros a day. It's only 270 steps up to the viewing terrace. The initial climb is easy with a wide and straight staircase but it narrows as you go higher. Emerging from the staircase, you will first see the eastern part of Berlin with Alexanderplatz's skyscrapers within a short walk. There was a bit of scaffolding covering the southern side but luckily that is not the main view. Looking north, you see a lot of lowrises and the rest of Museumsinsel's buildings. The best view is facing west with Unter den Linden's grand buildings, Gendarmenmarkt, and Potsdamer Platz's skyscrapers in the distance. Come before lunch so the sun is behind you, the best lighting.