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Capital of Brandenburg, Germany
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Potsdam is the capital of Brandenburg and borders Berlin. The town has a population of about 190,000 (2024). It is widely known for its palaces and landscape as a World Heritage Site. Potsdam is more than 1000 years old. The appearance of the city centre and the parks mostly goes back to the 18th and 19th century with more recent additions.
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Right in the middle of Potsdam are the "Dutch Quarters", built in the 18th century by Dutch master builder Johann Boumann to attract other Dutch artisans. The quarters consist of 134 red-brick houses, divided into four blocks. The history of the Dutch Quarters can be seen in the Jan Bouman house in Mittelstraße 8.
Old Market
The old market is the historic city center, with the Stadtschloss (City Palace) next to it. You can visit the Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church) there.
Neuer Markt
The new market is an original preserved market square from the 18th century.
Garnisonkirche
The Garrison Church includes a Coventry Cross of Nails chapel, an exhibition about the history of the place and a viewing platform at a height of 57 metres (prices: adults €12, children €7, families (up to three children) €25).
A beautiful park with a Gothic-style palace, several nature paths, and a few other historical landmarks. It is also part of the World Heritage site. A university housing complex is placed here, so expect some students. From the park, you can cross a bridge into Klein Glienicke, where you could, by foot, walk to Schloss Glienicke and Jagdschloß Glienicke in Berlin.
An architectural complex in Italian style with a palace and a garden.
This immense park outside Berlin in the city of Potsdam is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, along with all its outbuildings, such as Sanssouci Palace and New Palace. Walk around this park with its many palaces, follies, cascading terraces, mini-gardens, and romantic ruins.
Schloss Sanssouci
A fabulous rococo palace with amazing interiors. The baroque decoration is wonderful. Get there early: there is a 2000 person/day entry limit at Schloss Sanssouci.
The beautiful collection of paintings at the Sanssouci Palace.
Neues Palais
The Neues Palais is also worth a visit. One of the most noteworthy rooms in the palace is the Konzertsaal (concert hall) - dripping in rococo glory. This is also adjacent to one of the University of Potsdam's campuses, Am Neuen Palais, so you can expect students and faculty in the surrounding areas.
Neuer Garten
Stroll around New Garden (part of the UNESCO world heritage ensemble), on the banks of the river Havel. Spanning an area of 102 hectares, this park was created in 1787 by Friedrich Wilhelm II in contrast to the Baroque Park Sanssouci. It borders with two lakes, and hosts the Marble Palace and the Palace Cecilienhof. It was here that Attlee, Stalin and Truman met for the Potsdam Conference, at the end of World War II.
Schloss Cecilienhof
Marmorpalais
Gedenk- und Begegnungsstätte Ehemaliges KGB-Gefängnis Potsdam
Memorial and meeting place at the former KGB prison. From August 1945 it was occupied by Soviet forces. It was reconstructed as a prison for counterintelligence. Today it's been left standing to remind people of the depressing reality of dictatorships.
Alexandrowka consists of a few "Russian Style" houses built for Russian immigrants during the reign of "The Soldier King". House No. 2 (Haus 2) has a very interesting museum while House No. 4 (Haus 4) has an excellent café.
A museum about Prussia's history.
Naturkundemuseum Potsdam
Exhibitions about cinema history in Potsdam and movie theatre.
Changing exhibitions at the old town hall.
Glienicker Brücke
This bridge between Berlin and Potsdam spans the Havel River to connect the cities of Potsdam and Berlin near Klein Glienicke. It was completed in 1907. The bridge was used to exchange spies.
Take a cycling tour of the city.
Just north of the city, in the woods overlooking the river, is a historic Russian church and lodge by the name of Nikolskoe. Now a popular cafe, it makes for a good pit stop on the way to nearby Peacock Island.
Walk around the picturesque south bank of lake Griebnitz, and into the streets of Neubabelsberg - a typical German 'Villenkolonie' of the Belle Epoque. Many of the grand homes' Jewish occupants were evicted by the Nazis, who then moved in themselves.
Movie theme park. Well worth a visit, the first German expressionist film in the world was made at these studios. The next-door studios are home to Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten, a famous German soap opera.
The Babelsberg film studios - Germany's Cinecitta. The centre of German celluloid expressionism, Marlene Dietrich, Fritz Lang and so many others worked here in the 1920s. Quentin Tarantino shot his 2009 film Inglourious Basterds on the premises. Studio tours are offered (in German only) on request at least 10 days in advance (+49 331 7212132) and cost €25 per person (minimum 2 people).
German Film Orchestra Babelsberg
Based in the Studio Babelsberg, this orchestra gives public concerts (not only in Potsdam).
The Potsdam Royals American Football team were founded in 2005, and advanced to the top-level German Football League season in 2018. They play 14 games a season in autumn.
Potsdamer Schlössernacht
A two-day event with concerts, dances, theatre, lectures on literature and fireworks.
The Potsdam branch of the bakery and delicatessen chain.
Student pub.
Cultural centre and pub.
Alternative pub. Very basic furniture. The pub is operated by basic democratic club.
Alternative youth centre. Here you regularly find parties and concerts.
It is a big area near the Hauptbahnhof where you find a lot of different activities: concerts, parties, youth clubs, art clubs and a lot of social organisations.
Famous pub with a really nice Biergarten in summer and it is famous for its handmade burger.
Coffee/bar for the gay-lesbian-scene, but also hetero guests are very welcome.
Szenekneipe. Here you have a lot of different beers, menus and you can wash your clothes.
Nice concerts and parties are being held here.
Here you find parties, concerts, cinema, art exhibitions etc.
The traditional address in Babelsberg for concerts, parties, skater park and more.
This club is only open in autumn, winter and early spring. The parties take place between a lot of palm trees. In summer, the club organizes parties on a ship, located at the harbour (near main station).
Hostel Pension Backpackers
For breakfast, the Potsdam Hostel offers a wide range of option everyday from 07:00. Gender exclusive shared rooms come with 4 beds and include access to bathrooms and showers. Community room offers complete kitchen facilities, TV, free wireless access, as well as a PC.
The hotel rooms are inspired by German film and cinema history.
Hotel is the former "Palais Brühl" from the time of Frederick the Great (19th century). It is in the heart of Potsdam, in the Dutch district.
The socialist-era concrete tower has grown to be a notorious eyesore, with ongoing public discussions whether to have it removed for spoiling the view and harmony of the gradually-rebuilt historic city centre. That said, to a traveller it provides both central location and unparalleled views, also given the Maupassantesque patency that it is the only place from where you cannot see it. Inside, it has been refurbished to a modern standards, even if lacking a bit on the service front.
The congress hotel offers 292 rooms and suites as well as a large pool area.
By bus
While Berlin has had intercity bus service even before the deregulation of the market the fact that buses can't sell tickets for trips shorter than 50 km makes Potsdam somewhat underserved.
By car
By plane
From Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER), suburban train line RB22 provides hourly service to Potsdam Hbf (approx. 50 min, €5 - May 2026). Current schedules require a transfer.
By bike
Nextbike operates in Potsdam. Another operator is Donkey Bike, which has stations in nearby Wannsee, around 6 km away.
By e-hailing
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