The Ultimate Guide to a Charming Day Trip to Potsdam, Germany
I stepped off the train, the crisp Autumn air brushing past my face. As I made my way down the tree-lined path, I looked up at the golden leaves stretched out far above me, noticing the peaceful hush in Potsdam. The birds were singing their morning song while the occasional bicyclist whirred past me. And then, peeking out from behind the last tree, I saw the corner of a large rose-colored facade. There it was; the Neues Palace.
If you’re looking for a day trip from Berlin, Germany that is charming and filled with history and beautiful palace grounds, you will want to plan a trip to Potsdam, Germany. Situated just 20-30 minutes from Berlin by train, you can easily spend an entire day (or more!) exploring vast gardens and royal palaces. By the way, you can find all of my Berlin-related posts here.
Even on a cold, blustery late October day, I spent hours upon hours wandering the UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you follow me onInstagram @ChelseaDinen, then you know how much I love days spent touring palaces, castles, and other buildings of historical significance. With 2064 hectares (approx. 5100 acres) of parks and 150 buildings constructed between 1730 and 1916, UNESCO inscribed the “Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin” in the World Heritage List in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Many of the parks had been disfigured beyond recognition due to the 3.60 meter (approx. 12 ft) high wall, watchtowers, and “Death Strip” that tore through them. The UNESCO commendation along with German reunification made it possible to reconstruct the cultural landscape.
Before we get into all the details about what to see while you’re in Potsdam, let’s first discuss how exactly to get there.
Getting to Potsdam
From Berlin Central Station, you can take either the RE1 towards Magdeburg or hop on the S-Bahn and take the S7 towards Potsdam.
You need ABC tickets, as Potsdam is in Zone C. I would recommend buying a day ticket for Berlin ABC (EUR 7,70) as this ticket will also cover the trams and buses in Potsdam as well. You can buy these tickets on the platform from the ticket machines or electronically through the BVG app. Also, if you buy a paper ticket, be sure to validate it in the little red machine on the platform, otherwise you could be fined.
I prefer taking the regional RE1 train into Potsdam because it’s much more convenient if you’d like to start at the Neues Palace, which is what I did. Simply take the RE1 train past Bhf Potsdam and get off at Bhf Park Sanssouci. The Neues Palace is an enjoyable 8-10 minute walk from there.
If you want to go to the Sanssouci Palace first, take either the S7 or RE1 to Bhf Potsdam and take the bus from there to Schloss Sanssouci. I’ve been told this approach is entirely underwhelming as the bus drops you off at the back of the Sanssouci Palace. So, if you want to approach the palace from the front (as it was designed) get off at Potsdam and, instead, take the bus to Luisenplatz-Süd/Park Sanssouci.
Again, I really recommend starting at the Neues Palace and walking through all of the beautiful gardens/Park Sanssouci and ending at Sanssouci Palace. I found the Neues Palace to be far more impressive (and less crowded) than the Sanssouci Palace. But let’s just keep that our little secret ;)
What to Do in Potsdam
Depending on the time of year you visit, be sure to check which attractions will be open. Most palaces/castles are closed on Mondays, with the exception of the Neues Palace (which is currently closed on Tuesdays instead). You can find more information here.
Tickets
The only tickets that may be purchased online are the combined Sanssouci+ Tickets (see below). All other tickets may be purchased at the palace information centers in Potsdam.
Sanssouci+ Ticket: 19,00 €. This is worth it if you’re planning to visit more than one palace. When purchasing online tickets (plus 2 euros service charge), a fixed admission time for Sanssouci Palace will be booked as well. For the details on which palaces are included, check here. You can also buy these tickets in-person but the allotment of tickets is limited, so you might want to buy in advance during the peak summer months.
Regular Day Ticket: 8,00 €.
Photo Permit: 3,00 € for one day for all palaces. No flash/tripod.
Visit the Neues (New) Palace
Built between 1763 and 1769 under Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, this is considered to be the last great Prussian Baroque palace. Though it was not a principal residence for the King, it was used to host guests and royals. After the death of King Frederick, the palace fell into disuse until 1859 when it became the summer residence of the German Crown Prince, Frederick William, later German Emperor Frederick III. (Lot of Fredericks to keep up with!) Then, Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia lived there with Empress Augusta until his abdication and the end of the German monarchy in 1918.
It became a museum until the Second World War when it was looted by members of the Soviet Army. Look for the room with the red letters painted on the wall by Soviet soldiers! Because it escaped bombing in the war, the palace today looks much as it did in 1918.
I had the
What to look for:
The Grotto Hall. This is the most breathtaking room I have ever seen. Over 20,000 shells, stones, marble, quartz
The Marble Gallery, just to the right of the Grotto Hall is the finest example of Rococo decoration within the palace. Similar to the famous Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, the Marble Gallery, windows are set opposite of a wall of mirrors which reflect light throughout the room.
The Marble Hall. Not to be confused with the Marble Gallery, this elaborately-detailed hall spans two stories in height. It is massive and absolutely beautiful. The painting on the ceiling measures 240 square meters, making it the largest canvas ceiling painting north of the Alps
See the Communs
Directly across from the west side of the New Palace, you’ll find the
Park Sanssouci
I stopped into the information center to warm up and grab a little snack. The wind had really started to pick up and I knew I still had a few hours left of outdoor exploring to do. About twenty minutes later, I walked around to the other side of the New Palace and began my lovely Autumnal walk through Park Sanssouci.
If you look at a map, you’ll see that there are a couple paths cutting straight across from the New Palace to the Sanssouci Palace. It’s a gorgeous path that cuts through lush trees (perfect in the Autumn!), various gardens, and grassy areas. There are many buildings and smaller palaces to explore. You could easily spend days here to see it all!
Instead of looking at the map, I just leisurely wandered along the pathway and was pleasantly surprised by what I stumbled upon. The Orangery, the historical Dutch mill, and so many interesting sculptures. Aside from the New Palace, this was my favorite part of my visit to Potsdam. Simply wandering through the gardens.
Sanssouci Palace
Frederick the Great had his Sanssouci summer palace constructed in 1745 –1747. A personal sanctuary for him to relax, it is the most popular palace with beautiful gardens leading up to the front. I did not take a tour of this palace so I cannot give any feedback on that but I recommend walking the sprawling steps up to the front of the palace and taking in the wonderful view of Potsdam.
If you like castles and palaces, don’t miss my guide to Copenhagen!
Alexandrowka, The Russian Colony
Frederick William III and the Russian Czar Alexander were close friends and so he had this small colony built for him. I walked here from the Sanssouci Palace which took me through the most charming German neighborhood. It’s about a 25-minute walk or you can take the bus. There’s a traditional Russian restaurant within the colony, several houses, and a museum.
If you are limited on time, I’d say maybe skip this. Though it’s very unique, the area is quite small and I found it to be slightly underwhelming.
Brandenburger Tor/Heart of Potsdam
Right in the heart of Potsdam, you’ll find all sorts of European charm. I saved this for last and it was a memorable way to end a day trip to the city. As the sun began to set, it cast a warm glow on the Brandenburger Tor/Brandenburg Gate. Not to be confused with the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, this gate stands as a triumphal arch after the Seven Years’ War was won in 1770.
Just behind the Brandenburg Gate, you’ll find Brandenburger Straße, Potsdam’s pedestrian-only area that offers lots of shopping and dining options. The Baroque houses that line this street date back to the 18th Century.
The Dutch Quarter
Built from 1733 to 1740, the Dutch Quarter is a neighborhood that consists of 134 red Dutch brick buildings. I didn’t get a chance to visit while I was in Potsdam recently but it’s definitely on my list for next time.
Accommodation
Book a room at the gorgeous Hotel Brandenburger Tor (pictured above) which is right in the historic center of Potsdam. The Hotel Am Jägertor is another favorite Potsdam hotel.
Since I just took a short day trip from Berlin to Potsdam, I returned home that evening using the bus to Hbf Potsdam and took the S7 from there all the way to Berlin. If you’re planning to stay in Potsdam, I recommend using Booking.com for the best deals on hotels!
As you can see if you’ve made it all the way through, I fell in love with Potsdam and all of its historical charm. If you’re a culture lover like I am, you could easily spend days there exploring everything. A popular destination in the summer months, I found Autumn to be especially beautiful.
If you’ll be in Berlin and are interested in some of my favorite places for a beautiful walk, read this post on The Most Picturesque Walks in Berlin.
You can find my other Berlin guides here.
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