The 15 things to do in Potsdam

Visit Potsdam: the 15 best things to do and see in Potsdam, a city of Germany’s capital and history!

Voisine Berlin , Potsdam was in the past an important city for the Prussian monarchy and then German. Although Berlin was once the official capital of Prussia and later the German Empire, the Court remained in Potsdam.

From this golden era, the city retains an impressive historical and cultural heritage. So she's worth the detour!

Visiting Potsdam can be done in parallel with a trip to the German capital, a few kilometres away. But the city can discover itself during a charming weekend in love. Discover the 15 best things to do in Potsdam during your stay.

1. Old town

First stage of a visit to Potsdam, the old town is obviously in the heart of the city. If you arrive by train, it will certainly be the first place you will discover. You will then ejaculate the two arms of rivers, can admire the parks of the island in the middle before reaching the Innenstadt .

This lively city centre is famous for its paved streets, authentic restaurants, picturesque cafés and shops.

Take a tour of the beautiful Old Market square and contemplate the magnificent Saint-Nicolas church. Lose yourself in the alleys and enjoy the beautiful historic buildings that populate this old center.

2. The Dutch Quarter

North of the old town is the Dutch district. You will admire houses inspired by the houses of Amsterdam, with gardens on the front and beautiful painted shutters.

Nearby you can see the impressive door of Nauen, testimony of the ancient ramparts. Then walk in the alleys and enjoy some charming boutiques.

3. The Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is located west of the Dutch Quarter and just north of the old town. It is an emblematic monument of Potsdam. Built in 1770 at the request of Frédéric II de Prusse, it is located at the west end of Brandenburg Street . It faces against the Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul, another monument to be admired.

Brandenburger Straße is also the busiest and busiest shopping street in Potsdam during the day and weekend.

Go from the church and go up to the gate. Enjoy the beautiful buildings and shops on the way. After the Gate there are other must-see monuments to visit in Potsdam.

4. Sans-Souci Palace

The palace of Sans-Souci is the former summer palace of the king of Prussia Frederick the Great. This monument is one of the most beautiful and emblematic of the city. If you come to visit Potsdam, you should not miss discovering it.

Built between 1745 and 1747 by architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff in the French-style rococo style, it is in the heart of a sublime park. His name comes from his goal: this palace was the destination of King Frederick II to relax and escape its royal obligations in Berlin.

The palace is located at the top of a terraced vineyard where the king’s simple mausoleum is also located. Its interior designed for comfort and friendliness is all of stucco, carved marbles and gilding typical of the rucoco style. If you can, visit its beautiful rooms in addition to admiring its facades and exterior architecture.

5. Sans-Souci Park

Adjacent to the palace of the same name, Sans-Souci Park is another must-see in Potsdam. The palace and its terraced garden are located in the center of the park. The latter extends over close to 300 hectares and has been built over the decades.

In the park you can discover the Bildergalerie which houses a collection of king’s art. You can also contemplate the Neptungrotte , a Chinese tea house, with its vegetable garden and flower garden, or the magnificent Orangerie castle.

The latter is located north of Sans-Souci Park. Imposing by its size, it is surprising by its singular architecture and its sumptuous rooms. He is inspired by Rome , and more particularly the villa Medici.

6. Neues Palais

Located on the west side of Sans-Souci Royal Park, Neues Palais was built under Frederick the Great and after the end of the Seven Years War, to celebrate the successes of Prussia. It is considered the last great Prussian baroque palace.

A place of reception rather than residence, it is impressive by its marbling, stones and garbage. If you come to visit Potsdam, you must absolutely contemplate it or discover its sublime interior rooms.

7. The castle of Cecilienhof

Located in Neuer Garten , the castle Cecilienhof is the last Prussian castle built under the reign of the house of Hohenzollern. Built in the style of an English Tudor palace, it presents an atypical and quite charming architecture.

But this palace is best known for hosting the Potsdam conference from July 17 to August 2, 1945. The latter was intended to set the fate of the enemy nations, defeated by the allies after the Second World War.

8. Neuer Garten

The Neuer Garten is a park located north of Potsdam, on the shores of the lakes Jungfernsee and Heiliger See . In English style, it is quite different from the park of Sans-Souci where straight paths and parterres dominate.

Grand d’une 100 hectares , nature is left more to the free state. It is a pleasant space for beautiful walks, with some charming and amazing buildings tried from here and there.

9. Belvédère Pfingstberg

West of Cecilienhof and Neuer Garten , you can climb to the top of the window on the Pfingstberg . Built under Frédéric-Guillaume IV of Prussia, it presents a neo-renaissance architecture. This magnificent monument, in addition to its beauty and elegance, offers visitors a superb view of the surroundings and the city.

10. The Barberini Museum

In the heart of the old town is the charming Barberini Museum. Opened in 2017, this art museum presents works from the former German Democratic Republic. The permanent collection comes from the private contributions of Hasso Plattner.

But the museum also presents three exhibitions a year in collaboration with museums around the world. They are dedicated to painting and sculpture and are usually worth visiting!

11. The Potsdam Film Museum

Thanks to Studios Babelsberg , once one of the world’s centers of film production, Potsdam became a city of cinema.

You can visit the Potsdam Film Museum in its centre. You will discover and dive into the history of German cinema. If you have a little time, don't miss to go there!

12. The Russian Quarter

Between the Old Town and the Belvedere Pfingstberg extends Alexandrowka , also named the Russian quarter. If you're visiting Potsdam, don't miss losing yourself. Here you can admire the magnificent Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky church of Potsdam.

You will also discover an amazing part of the city’s history. Alexandrowka was indeed a Russian colony, fruit of a friendship between the Hohenzollern and Romanov houses.

13. Park Babelsberg

Potsdam is rich in palaces and parks. Among them we also recommend you to discover the beautiful Park Babelsberg . This beautiful forest park overlooks the lake and the Havel River. There is also a beautiful castle and especially great views. This is the ideal place for a romantic and refreshing walk in nature!

14. Filmpark Babelsberg

The Filmpark Babelsberg stands in the same place as the studios of the same name. This is a must-see attraction to be made in Potsdam, which will especially delight film lovers and families! This theme park will allow you to discover the German cinema and a part of the history of the Studios Babelsberg .

15. The bridge Glienicker

Known as « bridge des Espions » , the bridge Glienicker once marked the border between Potsdam and Berlin. From 13 August 1961 to 9 November 1989, this bridge was one of the border points between West Berlin and the GDR. Several exchanges of prisoners and agents took place in this place. He appears in a film by Steven Spielberg, The bridge of the Espions .

How to get to Potsdam?

By car

To visit Potsdam, you can take the plane to Berlin and then a train. You can also reach this beautiful city by car from France or another destination. However, the journey lasts more 10 a.m. since Paris and near 6 a.m. From the border. The fastest and most convenient option remains the aircraft and the train.

By plane

The aircraft is certainly the best option to reach and then visit Potsdam. To do this, you will have to land in the German capital, Berlin. The latter is located only 2 hours flight or less from Paris, Lyon , Bordeaux , Toulouse or Marseille .

Flights are provided each week. You can then reach Potsdam by train directly from Berlin-Brandebourg Airport. The beautiful city is less than 1:30 of the latter.

To find your flights at the best prices and with the best connections, we recommend the Compare online Skyscanner , one of our partner sites.

Once on site

To move to Potsdam, you can count on an efficient public transport network. The German city has an excellent network of trams and also various buses. It is well connected to the capital, Berlin, nearby thanks to trains and buses.

As mentioned earlier, the Berlin-Brandebourg airport is connected to Potsdam by a train line. You will thus have no trouble making your transfer from the Berlin airport to the city centre of Potsdam. You can also pair Potsdam's visit to Berlin.

Where to stay in Potsdam?

Tourist and neighboring town of the capital, Potsdam does not lack hotels or charming accommodations at home. We recommend that you stay in the historic centre, but the peripheral areas are also good options. The city is medium-sized and public transport facilitates visits and travel.

To be close to cultural and tourist animation, we can only advise you to stay in the historic centre. But if so, it should not impact your stay.

To choose your hotel, we recommend using the online hotel comparison Booking , also one of our partners. You can also find pleasant accommodations in the home, via the platform Airbnb For example.