The Best Day Trip From Berlin – One Day In Potsdam

One of the best things to do when you’re visiting Berlin is taking a day trip to Potsdam. The state capital of Brandenburg is famous for its legacy as the former residence of the kings of Prussia with its numerous and unique palaces and monuments.

In my opinion, Potsdam is definitely worth the day trip when you’re in Berlin. It is the perfect destination to add to your Berlin itinerary and you don't need a lot of time to see the most important sights.

The Best Day Trip from Berlin – One Day in Potsdam

How to get to Potsdam from berlin

The actual distance between Berlin and Potsdam is roughly 30km. The easiest way to get to Potsdam is to take the S7 or RE1 from Berlin Hauptbahnhof (main station) - or Alexanderplatz. It departs every 10-20 minutes and only takes around 30 minutes to Potsdam.

What is Potsdam famous for?

In 1990 the "Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin" were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, due to their uniqueness, their recognizable influence on the history of art and their demonstrable connection to historically significant events of worldwide significance.

Marvel At The Sanssouci Palace and Park

NEW PALACE

The largest castle by far is the New Palace. Its impressive location marks the western end of the main avenue and is visible through the entire Sanssouci Park. 

The large and representative palace complex can be traced back to Frederick the Great. It was built from 1756 to 1763 as a symbol of the high efficiency of the state of Prussia. The New Palace was then used as an apartment for guests and for festivities.

The Orangery

The Orangery Palace was built between 1851 and 1864 and is the largest and youngest of the palaces in Sanssouci Park.

SANSSOUCI PALACE

One of the most famous destinations in Potsdam is the Sanssouci Palace. The palace is considered a major work of German rococo architecture and many consider the Sanssouci Palace to be the Prussian Versailles. 

HISTORICAL MILL OF SANSSOUCI

The mill houses the Museum of Technology. Besides technical aspects about mills, you can also learn about the Dutch immigrants in Potsdam. I honestly can't tell if it's worth the visit as I only admired the outside of the mill.

Things to do on a day trip to Potsdam

Visit the OLd MARKet, ST. NIKOLAI Church, old Town hall & state parliament

Another highlight is a visit to the baroque square of the Old Market Square with the St. Nikolai Church and the New State Parliament Building. The Old Market was completely destroyed during the air raid on Potsdam in 1945 and has only been reconstructed and rebuilt according to historical plans for a few years.

Especially worth a visit is the St. Nikolai Church. The huge dome of the sacred building is one of the defining elements of Potsdam. You can actually climb over 216 steps to reach the viewing platform for a fantastic view over the city.

Opposite the St. Nikolai Church you will find the Brandenburg State Parliament as well as the Barberini Museum.

The Old Market of Potsdam is not very busy. That's probably one of the main reasons why I really enjoyed it there, plus the pretty architecture! 

Visit the BABELSBERG PALACE

Potsdam's impressive and extensive cultural landscape also includes the Babelsberg Park and Babelsberg Palace on the banks of the Havel. From here you can enjoy exciting views of the Glienicke Bridge.

Walk Over The Glienicker Brücke

The Glienicke Bridge, completed in 1907, is one of the most famous symbols of the Cold War. It owes its international fame above all to an elaborately staged exchange of agents in 1986. This was the last of a total of three "human exchanges" in which political prisoners were exchanged between the Western and Soviet worlds.

STroll through the Holländisches Viertel - The dutch quarter

This area is full of small stores, cosy cafés and bars which characterize the flair of the Dutch Quarter. It is particularly famous for its beautiful unplastered brick houses with white joints, shutters and partly curved gables. All in all it is an extremely liveable spot in the center of Potsdam.

THE BRANDENBURGER STRASSE WITH THE PROVOST CHURCH ST. PETER AND PAUL &  BRANDENBURG Gate

The provost Church of St. Peter and Paul is located not far from the Dutch Quarter and marks the eastern end of Potsdam's main shopping street Brandenburger Straße, which begins west of the Brandenburg Gate.

Additionally, the Brandenburg Gate is located at Luisenplatz. It should not be confused (despite its same name) with the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin - the famous landmark of Germany.

From the Brandenburg Gate it is only a stone's throw to the entrance of the Sanssouci Park.

Belvedere Pfingstberg

The beautiful Belvedere on the Pfingstberg is the highest elevation in Potsdam. Here you have the green parks, the pompous palaces and the baroque city center right at your feet.

Einsteinturm AT Telegrafenberg

The Einstein Tower is the most distinctive building on the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam. Until the Second World War, the Einstein Tower was the most scientifically significant solar telescope in Europe. Today it functions as a scientific observatory and is part of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP).

Conclusion

I think this list of the best things to do in Potsdam will help you create the perfect day trip! Potsdam is not a big city but nonetheless has tons of impressive and historic sights.

I've only been to Potsdam once and I can't wait to come back another time and discover even more of it!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write them in the comment section below. ⇣

xx

Nina

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