Snapshot: Admire the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dome)

It paints a striking picture in a city where muted shades of grey dominate the cityscape- a vibrant green dome crowning the baroque styled cathedral dating back to the 1400s.

The Berlin Cathedral, or the Berliner Dome, is the Evangelical Supreme Parish and Collegiate Church located on Spree Island in Berlin.  It began as a modest church but went through a transformation in the late 1800s when the then ruling family of Hohenzollern wanted to project a more grandiose image of themselves.

The cathedral’s complete makeover took a decade and its new look was unveiled in an inauguration ceremony in 1905. Sadly, the magnificent structure took major hits during World War 2, and was left in a state of disrepair until the GDR embarked on a restoration process in 1975. Rebuilding works took almost two decades, it was finally completed in 1993, four years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Today, the striking structure is like a magnet, drawing people to it daily with its magnificent dome. Its strategic location in the historical city center filled with low-rise buildings makes the four-storey building easy to spot from various points.

Tip: You can get a sweeping view of the center of Berlin, with sights of Museum Island, the Reichstag, the synagogue and more if you take the stairs (270 steps!) to the top of the dome and stroll along the dome walkway.

You can explore the cathedral at your own pace, but do take note that any exploration is out of bounds if there’s a service ongoing.

Here are the timings of church services:

• Mon – Sat 12pm Midday Prayers
• Mon – Fri 6pm Evening Prayers
• Thu 6pm Evensong
• Sat 6pm Vespers
• Sun and Holy Days 10am Lord’s Supper (with English translation)

Also, do note that the church is also a popular venue for weddings. I visited on a day where a wedding service was held. I learnt from wedding guests that the happy couple booked the cathedral two years in advance because of its massive popularity! Despite not being able to enter, I still managed to admire its beautiful architecture. The cathedral’s intricate façade was enough to keep me occupied for over half an hour.

If you do manage to get in, check out the imperial staircase with colored marble decoration, the interior of the dome (at 70 meters high) with its gorgeous mosaic design and the museum that tells you everything about the history of the church.

Find out what other sights to see in Berlin.