Day Trips to Potsdam from Berlin

Berlin is an amazing city. Modern, creative, multicultural... always full of things to see and where every corner breathes culture and history. A different place that is easy to get caught because it is always renewed and surprises us with many novelties.

However, on the outskirts of the German capital is located a magnificent city that is worth leaving Berlin and reserve a day of your vacation to visit it. It represents the ideal combination of nature, history and art and for many years was home to Prussian royalty - I'm talking about Potsdam, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe!

Potsdam is known for being the former residence of the Prussian royal family and the German kaisers, so it abounds with stately palaces and beautiful gardens.

Its baroque architecture and the role that this city played at the end of World War II (with the famous letter of the Potsdam Conference) are reasons that attract thousands of travelers every year.

This tour of Potsdam and its palaces is ideal for those travelers who visit Berlin but do not have much time in the agenda to make an excursion in the outskirts because in just 3 hours you can see the highlights of the city with a professional guide, who will tell you historical anecdotes, curiosities and will also show you details of sites that might go unnoticed if you do the visit on your own.

During the bus tour of Potsdam you will be able to use headphones so as not to miss any of the guide's explanations and you will visit on foot the New Palace (with a Renaissance air) and the majestic palaces of Sanssouci (known as the German Versailles) and Cecilienhof (with the appearance of a British country house). You will also stroll through the beautiful baroque old town of Potsdam and walk in the footsteps of Frederick II "the Great".

At the end of the Potsdam tour, I recommend you to visit inside some of the palaces of the city because they are amazing. And if your excursion to Potsdam coincides with the summer months, you are in luck! because this activity includes a tourist bus ticket with free stops to explore the town comfortably seated with fantastic views.

What will you see?

• Old Town Potsdam
• Sanssouci Palace
• Cecilienhof Castle
• New Palace

Useful information about Potsdam

Recommended: for those who want to enjoy the palatial architecture and gardens of this beautiful city while learning about its history and culture both on foot and aboard a sightseeing bus in summer.

If you have more time for sightseeing during your stay in Berlin, then this half-day excursion to discover Potsdam on foot and with a guide on an exciting 6-hour tour through the streets of this Unesco World Heritage City is the one for you.

During the route you will see the main tourist attractions of Potsdam that have given it its international fame as the gardens and the Sanssouci Palace (rococo air), the Marble Palace of Frederick William II (summer residence of the Prussian monarch), the Cecilienhof Castle (site of the Potsdam Conference at the end of World War II) or the Babelsberg Castle (which has stunning views over the Havel River).

Other sights you will have the opportunity to see on this Potsdam tour include the picturesque Dutch Quarter, crossing the popular "Bridge of Spies" or walking through the Brandenburg Gate (older than the German capital).

Before returning to Berlin, you will have time to have lunch on your own at one of the local restaurants and taste the local specialties.

And if you wish, at the end of the tour of Potsdam you can do the route again by yourself, visiting in more detail those places that have caught your attention, entering some of the palaces you have seen or even stay for dinner because the return to Berlin is up to you, so you decide how you manage your time.

What will you see?

Useful information

Gardens and Sanssouci Palace

This impressive 18th century palace was built by order of the Prussian King Frederick II "the Great" with the intention of being his summer residence near Berlin and a meeting place for artists, philosophers, musicians and other intellectuals of the time with whom he shared his concerns.

The Sanssouci Palace (which means "carefree") is considered the "German Versailles" for its elegant architecture and tasteful decorations, although it is a small building compared to the French palace.

Undoubtedly, the Sanssouci Palace is one of the most interesting places in Potsdam and I recommend you enjoy a relaxing stroll through the beautiful gardens that surround it, which are a Unesco heritage site.

Marble Palace of Frederick William II

The monarch also commissioned the Marble Palace on the shores of Lake Heiliger See as his summer residence.

It is striking for the beautiful landscape that surrounds it and for being the only Prussian palace in the Classicist style with a cubic shape. The truth is that when it came to creating, Prussian architects were quite original and racked their brains so that no palace looked like the others.

Cecilienhof Castle

This beautiful palace built in Gothic-Tudor style by order of Emperor William II and reminiscent of a large English country house is not only striking for its appearance, but because here took place an important chapter of European history of the twentieth century.

It was the place where Churchill (Great Britain), Truman (USA) and Stalin (USSR) met at the end of World War II to draw up the charter of the Potsdam Conference where they agreed on how Germany would be administered after the conflict and how Europe would be divided into areas of influence.

New Palace

Near Sanssouci is the New Palace, the largest of all those in Potsdam, which was also erected by King Frederick II in the eighteenth century.

It stands out for its Renaissance style and sober appearance on the outside but, if you have time, it is worth visiting the inside after the tour because it is amazing. You will have the opportunity to contemplate the sumptuous reception rooms, the marble gallery and the luxurious palatial rooms, among other spaces.

Pay attention to the marine gallery! Its walls are decorated with precious stones, marble and shells.

Babelsberg Castle

This is another of Potsdam's most charming castles. It dates back to the 19th century and has spectacular views over the Havel River, so be warned that you won't stop taking pictures!

The Dutch Quarter

This is one of the most peculiar places in Potsdam. In the 18th century, many Dutch workers and craftsmen who came to work in the city at the invitation of King Frederick William I settled here.

It is affectionately called "little Amsterdam" because its red brick buildings are very reminiscent of those in the capital of the Netherlands. In fact, the Dutch themselves came to feel at home here and if you have visited Amsterdam you can certainly understand them.

Bridge of the Spies

This bridge has an amazing history. Located over the waters of the Have River, during the Cold War it became a kind of border for the USSR and the United States in which they carried out their respective exchanges of prisoners and spies captured by the adversary. Curious, isn't it? That's where it gets its peculiar name, and also from the many movies about spies that have been filmed here.

Brandenburg Gate

Although the most famous Brandenburg Gate is located in the German capital, the oldest is actually in Potsdam. It dates back to the 18th century and was built in the historic center (next to the Luisenplatz) inspired by the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

Old Town Potsdam

During the tour you will have the opportunity to stroll through the beautiful old town of Potsdam. A place that despite having suffered several bombings during World War II was later restored to regain its former grandeur.

Take the opportunity to visit the main shopping street of the old town known as Brandenburger Strasse and buy some souvenirs of your visit, there are very cool local stores!

Given the proximity of Potsdam to Berlin (it is located just 25 kilometers southwest of the German capital) is a good idea to reserve a day of your vacation to make a trip to this ancient city that was the residence of the Prussian kings and German kaisers and get to know a little better the surroundings of Berlin.

As "Imperial City" that was preserved a very well maintained and really nice historic center. King Frederick II "the Great" had a weakness for this town, so he devoted much effort to beautify it and turn it into a place worthy of admiration by building many palaces and gardens.

In fact, it is said that Potsdam represents the ideal fusion of nature, history and art and in my opinion there is some truth in it because anyone who has ever visited Potsdam knows that it is a jewel.

Another reason to make an excursion to Potsdam from Berlin is to learn more about the recent history of Europe. This is where the Potsdam Conference was held where the victors of World War II divided Germany and other areas of influence.

If you like the historical theme, and specifically this period, you can combine the visit to Berlin and Potsdam with the visit to the concentration camp Sachsenhausen, which is also located very close to the capital of Germany. I tell you more about it in the post Visiting the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

When booking online any of these excursions to Potsdam from Berlin you must take into account that they do not include the transfer to and from Potsdam. That is, transportation is at your own expense. The easiest and fastest way to get to Potsdam from Berlin is by train.

In Berlin, S-Bahn trains run from Hackescher Markt to Potsdam Central Station directly and the journey takes about 45 minutes. An all-day ticket for the ABC zone costs 7.70 euros but you can also buy a ticket for 3.40 euros for the ABC zone valid for two hours.

The good news is that to get around Potsdam by public transport you can use the transport pass you use in Berlin, as long as it is valid for the ABC zones.

How much do tickets cost?

I recommend you to have a look at the tickets to go on a tour to Potsdam from Berlin in Hellotickets because there are usually several options and the prices are quite tight. Here you can compare ticket availability, prices, schedules and guided tours. Currently there are no tours to Potsdam available but take a look at the rest of the activities you can do in Berlin.

When is the best time to go to Potsdam?

The best time to take a tour to Potsdam from Berlin is summer. However, the city is still just as beautiful during other seasons but the weather gets colder and there is a greater chance of rain. My advice is to plan your getaway for the months of July, August and September.

How to book?

If you plan to take a tour to Potsdam from Berlin in the summer, i.e. in high season, I recommend booking online as early as possible.

Booking your place on the tour is very easy. All you have to do is choose the date you want to do the activity and select the number of participants. To secure your place in the group you will have to pay at the time of booking.

Berlin is a lively and constantly changing city where there are always new places to see and things to do. It is also one of the European cities with more history and personality.

If you want to discover all the secrets of Berlin during your vacation, take a look at the article The best tours and excursions from Berlin where you will find a selection of very interesting tours to get the most out of your trip.