Potsdam Tours from Berlin

Written by Viator, August 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Tip - What to See & Do, Castle, Monument - Historical, Palace, Town / City

Potsdam is the capital of Brandenburg state, located on the Havel River only 24 km (15 mi) southwest of Berlin city. In the 17th century, Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg made it his second residence, and Friedrich II (Frederick the Great) built many of the marvelous palaces which visitors flock to today. Perfect for a day-trip from Berlin, there's plenty to enjoy, from the relaxing scenery of gorgeous parks surrounding peaceful lakes, to magnificent castles, the infamous 'spy bridge' or film studio and theme park Babelsberg, the German Hollywood of the 1920s.

Discover the "Versailles of Germany," former residence of the kings of Prussia, where you'll see UNESCO World Heritage-listed parks, museums and the celebrated palace of Sanssouci. The famous rococo palace was the summer residence of Frederick the Great, where he came to relax ('sans souci' means 'carefree').

Potsdam's fairy-tale landscapes look like a blessing from nature, but are the result of hundreds of years of human endeavor. Wander the mock-16th century palace of Cecilienhof, see the lakeside Marble Palace with its Greek temple ruins and the dreamlike castle of Babelsberg.

Discover what an idyllic Russian village, beautiful churches from the Italian Renaissance, and an 18th century Dutch town are doing here, and find out how the cruel realities of 20th century history shattered this world in 1945. Enter Cecilenhof Palace, where Truman, Stalin and Churchill concluded the Potsdam Agreement, sealing the fate of Germany and Europe and ushering in the Cold War.

Ride between West Berlin and East Germany over the Glienicke Bridge or "spy swap" bridge, find out where the KGB Prison was in the so-called Forbidden Town, and see the former Stasi Prison. The ideal way to compare the Potsdam of today - a creative energetic university town - with its contrasting past under communist rule, behind the Iron Curtain.

Studio Babelsberg built in 1911 is the oldest large-scale film studio in the world, and now features a film theme park. Legendary in the 1920's, hundreds of films were filmed here, including Fritz Lang's classic Metropolis and The Blue Angel (starring Marlene Dietrich).

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All Potsdam Tours from Berlin Reviews

Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Discover Potsdam Walking Tour

Thanks to Jim, our guide, we discovered all Potsdam in one day. Walking and very wisely taking the city bus, we did all we had to do in half a day. The tour is finisching in front of the Sanssouci Palace, and this gives you the opportunity to visit the Palace yourself, if you want to. We did it and for sure it's a must in Potsdam. The day was rainy but the beauty of Potsdam makes you forget about the rain.

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Reply by Viator, January 2013
Doing what: Potsdam Half-Day Trip from Berlin

It was a great trip and I reccommend that if you are interested in seeing Potsdam from Berlin you look into the tour. It was comprehensive but not boring.

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Reply by Viator, October 2012
Doing what: Discover Potsdam Walking Tour

This was fantastic! We had a wonderful guide, an American living in Berlin. He was so knowledgeable and did an excellent presentation while we walked all over Potsdam. Beautiful countryside and lovely town. Truly enjoyed! Nice small group!

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