The Brandenburg Gate was privately refurbished on 21 December 2000, at a cost of €6 million. It was once again opened on 3 October 2002 following extensive refurbishment, for the 12th anniversary of German reunification.

The Brandenburg Gate has undergone several major repairs and restorations throughout its history to survive as Berlin's most iconic symbol. It was nearly destroyed during World War II, with only one horse's head from the original "Quadriga" sculpture surviving the Allied bombings. A major joint restoration between East and West Berlin took place in 1957–1958, which saw the Gate and the Quadriga meticulously rebuilt from original molds. However, the most significant modern restoration occurred between 2000 and 2002. Over those 22 months, the entire structure was cleaned with lasers and repaired at a cost of nearly €4 million to fix decades of "stone rot" caused by pollution and weather. In 2026, the Gate is in its best condition in over a century, having been fully pedestrianized since 2002 to protect it from the vibrations and exhaust of city traffic, ensuring its sandstone columns remain preserved for future generations.