The New Palace in Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, Germany

Things to do in  Potsdam

Berlin’s best day trip

While the holiday season brings classic Christmas cheer to Potsdam, there are plenty more things to do than just fill your cup with gluhwein. This former summer retreat for Prussian royalty is full of palaces and parks worth exploring—so many in fact, the whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cross over bridges where spies had clandestine meetings and see where the world’s first silent film was made. With its charming brick houses, the Dutch Quarter alone is well worth the short train ride from Berlin.

Learn more

Top 8 attractions in Potsdam

#1

Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen

star-59,793
Located just north of Berlin, Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen was once one of the Nazi regime’s harshest prison camps. Today, Sachsenhausen is a memorial to those who lost their lives here, as well as a museum with a library, archive, and open-air exhibits to educate visitors.More
Tours & Tickets
#2

New Palace (Neues Palais)

star-5936
Featuring four halls and an enduring mission to support innovation within music, the Wiener Konzerthaus is one of Vienna’s most important musical institutions. The concert hall opened in 1913 and holds roughly 750 performances each calendar season, from classical orchestral concerts to jazz and world music.More
Tours & Tickets
#3

Sanssouci Palace

star-51,669
Glimpse the lavish days of the aristocracy in 18th-century Prussia at Sanssouci Palace. Built for King Frederik the Great, the palace is a fine example of rococo opulence. Gilded ornaments and priceless antiques fill the interiors, while perfectly manicured grounds with fountains and follies, and even a vineyard, are outdoors.More
Tours & Tickets
#4

Glienicke Bridge

star-5603
Glienicke Bridge is better known by its Cold War-era monikers, “the Bridge of Spies” or “the Bridge of Unity.” Dating back to the 17th century, the bridge became notorious during the Cold War, when it served as the official border between East and West Berlin. Today, it’s an important historic landmark, marking the boundary of the Brandenburg and Berlin regions.More
Tours & Tickets
#5

Cecilienhof Palace (Schloss Cecilienhof)

star-5779
History buffs flock to the Cecilienhof Palace—the former home of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia—to see where the Potsdam Conference, a pivotal event in shaping the post-World War II era, took place. However, with its timber-framed edifices and beautiful English gardens, this palace is a delight for anyone fond of design or architecture.More
Tours & Tickets
#6

Babelsberg Film Park (Filmpark Babelsberg)

star-411
Step inside the world of cinema and TV at the Babelsberg Film Park, and discover what goes on behind the scenes at one of Europe’s most prolific film studios. With 4D movies, stunt shows, and real movie sets to explore, the theme park is action-packed and suitable for the whole family.More
Tours & Tickets
#7

Potsdam's Gardens

star-5526
Potsdam’s stunning gardens, and the historic buildings within them, comprise part of the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany. Built during the reign of Frederick the Great of Prussia, in the middle of the 18th century, these gardens originally surrounded the palaces and buildings that made up the royal family’s summer residence.More
Tours & Tickets
#8

Marble Palace (Marmorpalais)

star-533
The only surviving early neo-classic Prussian palace, Potsdam’s Marble Palace was commissioned by King Frederick William II in the late 1700s and remained a royal residence until the early 20th century. Now, it’s a museum with beautifully preserved interiors. Highlights include marble fireplaces from Italy, Wedgwood vases, and grandfather clocks from Parisian trendsetter Madame de Pompadour.More
Tours & Tickets

Explore Potsdam by interest

Top activities in Potsdam

City and Palaces Tour Potsdam - Stadt- und Schloesserrundfahrt Potsdam

City and Palaces Tour Potsdam - Stadt- und Schloesserrundfahrt Potsdam

star-4.5
272
From
$26.03
City Sightseeing Potsdam Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

City Sightseeing Potsdam Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

star-3.5
69
From
$20.83
Private Walking Tour of Potsdam and Sanssouci

Private Walking Tour of Potsdam and Sanssouci

star-5
23
From
$130.17
Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Sachsenhausen and Berlin Tour

Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Sachsenhausen and Berlin Tour

star-5
12
From
$780.00
Private Potsdam City Tour in an authentic vintage van

Private Potsdam City Tour in an authentic vintage van

star-5
13
From
$520.69
per group
Private Berlin & Sachsenhausen Shore Excursion from Warnemünde and Rostock Port

Private Berlin & Sachsenhausen Shore Excursion from Warnemünde and Rostock Port

From
$795.62
Potsdam Highlights - Private sightseeing tour by minibus

Potsdam Highlights - Private sightseeing tour by minibus

star-5
3
From
$624.83
per group
Gems of Potsdam - Guided Walking Tour

Gems of Potsdam - Guided Walking Tour

star-4
1
From
$244.73
Remarkable Cecilienhof Palace and Potsdam – Private Walking Tour

Remarkable Cecilienhof Palace and Potsdam – Private Walking Tour

From
$192.66
The Best of Potsdam Walking Tour

The Best of Potsdam Walking Tour

From
$320.74
per group
Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour

Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour

star-3
2
From
$320.74
per group
Private City Tour Potsdam Conference 1945

Private City Tour Potsdam Conference 1945

star-5
1
From
$466.69
per group
Departure Airport Transfer from Potsdam Hotels to Berlin BER Airport

Departure Airport Transfer from Potsdam Hotels to Berlin BER Airport

From
$165.58
per group
Private Transfer from Potsdam to Berlin Tegel Airport

Private Transfer from Potsdam to Berlin Tegel Airport

From
$152.74
per group
Vacation Photographer in Potsdam

Vacation Photographer in Potsdam

From
$260.35
per group
Fascinating Sites of Potsdam – Walking Tour for Couples

Fascinating Sites of Potsdam – Walking Tour for Couples

From
$192.66
Private Photo Session with a Local Photographer in Potsdam

Private Photo Session with a Local Photographer in Potsdam

From
$260.35
per group
Christmas Walking Tour of Magical Potsdam

Christmas Walking Tour of Magical Potsdam

From
$244.73
Berlin Airport Departure Transfer from Potsdam Hotels

Berlin Airport Departure Transfer from Potsdam Hotels

From
$165.58
per group
Explore Potsdam’s Art and Culture with a Local

Explore Potsdam’s Art and Culture with a Local

From
$103.10
See all Potsdam tours

All about Potsdam

When to visit

Winter is a great time to visit Potsdam, especially if you’re a fan of Germany's famous Christmas Markets. Visiting the palaces in the colder months offers a culturally rich way to stay cozy. However, the cultural quarters and waterways are debatably more enjoyable in the warmer months of May through September. Summer brings hours of sunshine best spent on Lake Griebnitzsee or in Sanssouci Park. Spring and fall have lighter crowds and fuller harvests, making them ideal times for visiting foodies.

Getting around

Even though it’s a separate city, Potsdam is part of Berlin’s C zone. You can use a Berlin ABC public transport ticket on all transport in Potsdam—first by getting to Potsdam HBF from Berlin HBF. Trams, buses, and water taxis are convenient and cheap ways of getting around Potsdam compared to rental cars and taxis. However, many sites are reachable on foot or by bicycle.

Traveler tips

One of the best ways to maximize your time in Berlin and Potsdam while sticking to a budget is to buy The Berlin Welcome Card - Potsdam Edition. These cards are available for durations from 48 hours up to six days and offer you free public transport in both cities plus discounts on more than 200 attractions. So you can get cheaper entry to highlights such as Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam Biosphere, and Museum Barberini.

Local Currency
Euro (€)
Time Zone
CET (UTC +1)
Country Code
+49
Language(s)
German
Attractions
8
Tours
36
Reviews
431
EN
364c77b5-5278-4cfe-85a6-45f86a1c5b45
geo_hub

People Also Ask

How do you get to Potsdam?

A perk of Potsdam is that it’s close to Berlin—so you can easily visit by private car, with a taxi, or by taking the train. The S7 S-Bahn is the cheapest way to travel from Berlin’s city center to Potsdam, but you can also take a slightly shorter and more expensive ride on the regional trains.

...More
Is it worth visiting Potsdam?

Yes, it’s worth visiting Potsdam. Especially if you’re looking to explore a smaller German city rich with heritage that doesn’t require a long stay. It’s easily accessible from Berlin via public transport. During December, Christmas markets add an extra reason for a day trip to Potsdam.

...More
Why is Potsdam famous?

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Potsdam was both a royal capital and the Brandenburg state capital. It’s a popular day trip destination from Berlin; its many palaces and diverse neighborhoods are a draw. During the Cold War, Potsdam’s Glienicke Bridge was a clandestine meeting place for spies.

...More
Where can I walk in Potsdam?

Potsdam is very walkable, albeit with a little help from the city-wide trams. If you arrive in Potsdam at the central station, you can easily walk to sites such as Brandenburg Gate (not to be confused with Berlin's Brandenburg Gate), the Dutch Quarter, and the Uferweg hiking area. Use the trams to access Schloss Cecilienhoff, Neues Palais, and the Einstein Tower.

...More
Is Potsdam worth visiting in winter?

Yes, Potsdam is an especially wonderful destination to visit during the winter months. The quiet streets fill with both snow and the annual Christmas markets. Much less crowded than the Christmas markets in nearby Berlin, as many as five different Christmas markets operate in Potsdam during December.

...More
Is one day enough for Potsdam?

For many visitors, a single day is enough time for a fulfilling visit to Potsdam. History buffs may have trouble fitting in every single palace and historical site, but most people find it's enough time to stroll through schlosses (palaces), see the Bridge of Spies, and go shopping.

...More
Frequently Asked Questions

More Tours in Potsdam