Potsdam walking tour & city guide
Prussian palaces and gardens next to Berlin.
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Potsdam, just south-west of Berlin, was the summer residence of the Prussian kings. Its palaces and gardens, set among lakes and rivers, form one of the largest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany, and its elegant old town makes it one of the most popular day trips from the capital.
Sanssouci
Sanssouci Palace, the summer palace of Frederick the Great, sits at the top of terraced vineyards in a vast park. The name means without worries in French. The park also holds the grand New Palace, the Chinese House, the Orangery and many more buildings, and a stroll through it can easily fill a whole day.
The old town and Cecilienhof
The Dutch Quarter, built in the 1730s for Dutch craftsmen, has rows of red-brick gabled houses now filled with cafés and shops. The Old Market Square has the domed St Nicholas Church and the rebuilt City Palace, now the state parliament, next to the Museum Barberini. North of town, Cecilienhof Palace, built in English country-house style, hosted the Potsdam Conference of 1945.
A classic walk from the old town to Sanssouci
Start at the Old Market Square and walk north along Brandenburger Straße, the pedestrian shopping street, to the Dutch Quarter. Continue west to the Brandenburg Gate of Potsdam, older than the one in Berlin, and enter Sanssouci Park.
Climb the vineyard terraces to Sanssouci Palace, then walk along the main avenue through the park to the New Palace. The walk is about 5 kilometers.
Visiting tips
Potsdam is about 30 minutes from central Berlin by regional train or S-Bahn. Spring and summer are best for the gardens. Book palace tickets in advance, as entry to Sanssouci is by timed ticket.
Top sights in Potsdam
- 1
Sanssouci Palace
Frederick the Great's summer palace.
- 2
Sanssouci Park
Huge gardens with many palaces.
- 3
New Palace
A grand baroque palace.
- 4
Dutch Quarter
Red-brick gabled houses.
- 5
Cecilienhof Palace
Site of the 1945 conference.
- 6
Museum Barberini
Impressionist art on the Old Market.
Food markets & where to eat in Potsdam
Dutch Quarter
Cafés and restaurants.
Brandenburger Straße
The pedestrian main street.
Bassinplatz market
A weekly market.
Food to try in Potsdam
Currywurst
A Berlin-region street food.
Brandenburg asparagus
A spring specialty.
Plum cake
A traditional local cake.
Berliner Weisse
A sour wheat beer.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Potsdam
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in PotsdamCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Potsdam.
- eSIM for GermanyStay online from the moment you land.
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