Potsdam

Potsdam is the capital of Brandenburg and borders Berlin. The town has a population of approx. 175,000. It is widely known for its castles and landscape as a World Heritage Site. Potsdam is more than 1000 years old. Many historic buildings are under re-construction after World War II and the period of the GDR.

Located about 30 km southwest of the capital, Potsdam was used as a residence for the kings of Prussia when they wanted to get away from the big-city trouble (and potential rabble-rousers) in Berlin, and in a way it still has a similar function, as many well-to-do people from Berlin have either moved here or have bought a second residence here since reunification in 1990. Potsdam also serves as the capital of the Bundesland of Brandenburg, after an attempt to reunite Berlin and Brandenburg in a single Bundesland failed in the early 1990s.

During last days of World War II, following the surrender of the Nazis, the Potsdam Conference was held here from 17 July to 2 August 1945, where British prime minister Clement Attlee, American president Harry Truman and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met to discuss the administration of occupied Germany. Potsdam was chosen due to being close to Berlin, but still offering a relatively undestroyed representative building that could host major world leaders for a conference.

For most of its recent history Potsdam has not been accessible from the former West Berlin. The last station before the former GDR was Wannsee. Many of the buildings that are visible today have been reconstructed after the bombings of the Second World War and after the lax care of the East German Government. The city as we see it today is the work of five architects (After the Great Elector said: "Das ganze Eyland muß ein Paradies werden" [The whole island must become a paradise]): Peter Joseph Lenné, Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, Carl Phillipp Christian von Gontard, Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Friedrich Ludwig Persius, and of course King Frederick the Great and Emperor Wilhelm II.

Most attractions in the city are UNESCO World Heritage sites: Sanssouci Park and the Crown estate of Bornstedt, The New Garden (including the Pfingstberg and the Russian colony of Alxandrowka), Babelsberg Park and Sacrow Park.

The suburb Babelsberg is home to the Media City Babelsberg (Medienstadt Babelsberg), an area joining movie and media people together. The film studio Babelsberg, the Konrad Wolf Film University of Babelsberg and other schools, radio and TV stations, a museum and an archive, an amusement park and much more is located there. Babelsberg was one of the first large scale studio complexes in the world and movies produced here enjoyed an excellent reputation until the Nazi era and World War II destroyed much of Germany's cultural output and potential. Today the Berlin area is competing with the Cologne region for the top spot in the German media landscape.

Most palaces are managed by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg, SPSG. They offer a combined ticket (sanssouci+ Ticket) giving you access to most of their palaces in Potsdam on one day. The price for adults is €19 and for concessions €14.

• Holländisches Viertel. 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.
• Alter Markt. The old market is the historic city center, the Stadtschloss (city castle) is under re-construction. You can visit the Nikolaikirche there.
• New Market. The new market is an original preserved market square from the 18th century.
• Park Babelsberg. A beautiful park with a gothic-style castle. It is also part of the World Heritage site. One part of the university is placed here, so expect some students.
• Krongut Bornstedt, Ribbeckstraße 6/7. An architectural complex in Italian style with a palace and a garden.

• Park Sanssouci. Daily 08:00-dusk. 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 castles, follies, cascading terraces, mini-gardens, and romantic ruins. Free.
• Sanssouci Palace, Maulbeerallee, +49 331 9694200. Mon closed. 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. Adults €12, concessions €8.
• Gemäldegaleria. The beautiful collection of paintings at the Sanssouci Palace.
• New Palace, Am Neuen Palais, +49 331 9694200. Tue closed. 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. Adults €8, concessions €6 (including guided tour or audio guide).

Park Sanssouci. Daily 08:00-dusk. 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 castles, follies, cascading terraces, mini-gardens, and romantic ruins. Free.

Sanssouci Palace, Maulbeerallee, +49 331 9694200. Mon closed. 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. Adults €12, concessions €8.

Gemäldegaleria. The beautiful collection of paintings at the Sanssouci Palace.

New Palace, Am Neuen Palais, +49 331 9694200. Tue closed. 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. Adults €8, concessions €6 (including guided tour or audio guide).

• The New Garden. Daily 08:00-dusk. Stroll around New Garden (part of the UNESCO world heritage ensemble), on the banks of the river Havel. Spanning an area of 102 hectare, 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 Churchill, Stalin and Truman met for the Potsdam Conference, at the end of World War II. Free (suggested donation €2).
• Cecilienhof Palace, Im Neuen Garten 11 (in the New Garden, +49 331 9694200. Mon closed.
• Marble Palace, Im Neuen Garten 10, +49 331 9694222. Mon closed. In winter only open on weekends. Adults €6, concessions €5.
• Former KGB Prison Potsdam, Leistikowstr. 1. Tue-Sun 14:00-18:00, Mon closed. Memorial and meeting place at the former KGB prison. From August 1945 it was occupied by soviet forces. It has been reconstructed as a prison for the counterintelligence. Today it's been left standing to remind people of the depressing reality of dictatorships. Free entry.
• Russian Colony, Alexandrowka 2. 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.

The New Garden. Daily 08:00-dusk. Stroll around New Garden (part of the UNESCO world heritage ensemble), on the banks of the river Havel. Spanning an area of 102 hectare, 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 Churchill, Stalin and Truman met for the Potsdam Conference, at the end of World War II. Free (suggested donation €2).

Cecilienhof Palace, Im Neuen Garten 11 (in the New Garden, +49 331 9694200. Mon closed.

Marble Palace, Im Neuen Garten 10, +49 331 9694222. Mon closed. In winter only open on weekends. Adults €6, concessions €5.

Former KGB Prison Potsdam, Leistikowstr. 1. Tue-Sun 14:00-18:00, Mon closed. Memorial and meeting place at the former KGB prison. From August 1945 it was occupied by soviet forces. It has been reconstructed as a prison for the counterintelligence. Today it's been left standing to remind people of the depressing reality of dictatorships. Free entry.

Russian Colony, Alexandrowka 2. 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.

Potsdam has several interesting museums to offer.

• Haus der Brandenburgisch-Preußischen Geschichte, Am Neuen Markt 9, +49 331 6208550. A museum about Prussia's history.
• Museum of Natural History, Breite Straße 13, +49 331 2896707.
• Film Museum, Breite Straße 1A, +49 331 2718112. Exhibitions about cinema history in Potsdam and movie theatre.
• Potsdam Museum, Am Alten Markt 9 (at the Dutch District., +49 331 2896808. Mon closed.
• Altes Rathaus. Changing exhibitions at the old town hall.
• Glienicke Bridge. It is a bridge between Berlin and Potsdam which 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.

Haus der Brandenburgisch-Preußischen Geschichte, Am Neuen Markt 9, +49 331 6208550. A museum about Prussia's history.

Museum of Natural History, Breite Straße 13, +49 331 2896707.

Film Museum, Breite Straße 1A, +49 331 2718112. Exhibitions about cinema history in Potsdam and movie theatre.

Potsdam Museum, Am Alten Markt 9 (at the Dutch District., +49 331 2896808. Mon closed.

Altes Rathaus. Changing exhibitions at the old town hall.

Glienicke Bridge. It is a bridge between [[Berlin]] and Potsdam which 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.

• Schloss und Schlosspark Glienicke (Glienicke Palace, Casino and Garden) in Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf
• The Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) in Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf is a small island with free living peacocks.

Schloss und Schlosspark Glienicke (Glienicke Palace, Casino and Garden) in [[Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf]]

The Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island) in [[Berlin/Steglitz-Zehlendorf]] is a small island with free living peacocks.

Holländisches Viertel. 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.

Alter Markt. The old market is the historic city center, the Stadtschloss (city castle) is under re-construction. You can visit the Nikolaikirche there.

New Market. The new market is an original preserved market square from the 18th century.

Park Babelsberg. A beautiful park with a gothic-style castle. It is also part of the World Heritage site. One part of the university is placed here, so expect some students.

Krongut Bornstedt, Ribbeckstraße 6/7. An architectural complex in Italian style with a palace and a garden.

• Cycling. Take a cycling tour of the city.
• Climb the Babelsberg
• Visit the Dutch quarter, the Russian Colony, and the Weberviertel in Babelsberg (the 'weaver's quarter', built to accommodate artisans from Bohemia) - three architectural oddities commissioned by the Prussian kings to attract foreign craftsmen to Potsdam.
• Nikolskoe. 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.
• Lake Griebnitz and Neubabelsberg. 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.
• Filmpark Babelsberg, Großbeerenstraße 200, +49 331 7212750. 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. Day tickets: €21 adults, €17 students, €14 children (4-16).
• Studio Babelsberg, August-Bebel-Straße 26-53. 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; more recently, Quentin Tarantino shot Inglourious Basterds on the premises. Studio tours are offered (in German only) on request at least 10 days in advance (phone: +49 331 7212132) and cost €25 per person (minimum 2 people).
• Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg. Based in the Studio Babelsberg, this orchestra gives public concerts (not only in Potsdam).
• Potsdam Royals, Am Luftschiffhafen 2. The Potsdam Royals play their first ever German Football League season in 2018, ironically having beaten the Berlin Adler in the promotion/relegation round.
• Potsdam Palace Night. In August. A two-day event with concerts, dances, theatre, lectures on literature and fireworks. See details in English for the 2018 event. Adults €39, concessions €29.25 (valid for one day only).

Cycling. Take a cycling tour of the city.

Nikolskoe. 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.

Lake Griebnitz and Neubabelsberg. 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.

Filmpark Babelsberg, Großbeerenstraße 200, +49 331 7212750. 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. Day tickets: €21 adults, €17 students, €14 children (4-16).

Studio Babelsberg, August-Bebel-Straße 26-53. 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; more recently, Quentin Tarantino shot Inglourious Basterds on the premises. Studio tours are offered (in German only) on request at least 10 days in advance (phone: +49 331 7212132) and cost €25 per person (minimum 2 people).

Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg. Based in the Studio Babelsberg, this orchestra gives public concerts (not only in Potsdam).

Potsdam Royals, Am Luftschiffhafen 2. The Potsdam Royals play their first ever German Football League season in 2018, ironically having beaten the Berlin Adler in the promotion/relegation round.

Potsdam Palace Night. In August. A two-day event with concerts, dances, theatre, lectures on literature and fireworks. See details in English for the 2018 event. Adults €39, concessions €29.25 (valid for one day only).

• The Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel) has over 70 antique shops.
• Fruit Wines are made in the Potsdam-Werder area with flavours such as sour cherry, strawberry, blackberry. There is a store at the central station (opposite of the S-Bahn information center) where you can buy them, although if you have time, the nearby Kaufland (where the Sanssouci buses leave, also in the train station) has the same wines at far cheaper rates.

The Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel) has over 70 antique shops.

Fruit Wines are made in the Potsdam-Werder area with flavours such as sour cherry, strawberry, blackberry. There is a store at the central station (opposite of the S-Bahn information center) where you can buy them, although if you have time, the nearby Kaufland (where the Sanssouci buses leave, also in the train station) has the same wines at far cheaper rates.

• Lindner Esskultur, Jägerstraße 16, +49 331 73042562. Mon-Fri 09:30-19:00, Sat 08:30-19:00, Sun closed. The Potsdam branch of the bakery and delicatessen chain.

Lindner Esskultur, Jägerstraße 16, +49 331 73042562. Mon-Fri 09:30-19:00, Sat 08:30-19:00, Sun closed. The Potsdam branch of the bakery and delicatessen chain.

Potsdam's nightlife is a bit dominated by the near Berlin. But there are some good clubs and pubs worth visiting. Interesting pubs you find in the Holländer Viertel around Mittelstraße or in the city.

• Pub à la Pub, Breite Straße 1 (near the new city castle, +49 331 240726. Student pub.
• KuZe, Hermann-Elflein-Straße 10, +49 331 6471026. Cultural Centre and pub.
• Olga, Charlottenstraße 28. Alternative pub. Very basic furniture. The pub is operated by basic democratic club.

Pub à la Pub, Breite Straße 1 (near the new city castle, +49 331 240726. Student pub.

KuZe, Hermann-Elflein-Straße 10, +49 331 6471026. Cultural Centre and pub.

Olga, Charlottenstraße 28. Alternative pub. Very basic furniture. The pub is operated by basic democratic club.

• Archiv, Leipziger Straße 60. Alternative youth centre. Here you regularly find parties and concerts.
• Freiland Potsdam, Friedrich-Engels-Straße 22. 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.

Archiv, Leipziger Straße 60. Alternative youth centre. Here you regularly find parties and concerts.

Freiland Potsdam, Friedrich-Engels-Straße 22. 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.

• Hafthorn, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 90, +49 331 2800820. Famous pub with a really nice Biergarten in summer and it is famous for it's handmade burger.
• La Leander, Benkertstraße 1, +49 331 5838408. Coffee/bar for the gay-lesbian-scene, but also hetero guest are very welcome.
• Das Café Heider, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 29, +49 331 2705596.
• Waschbar, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 82. Szenekneipe. Here you have a lot of different beers, menus and you can wash your clothes.
• On the Rocks. Rockbar in the Lindenstraße.
• Rückholz, Sellostraße. Gemütliche Kneipe in the Sellostraße. You can sit on sofa or easy chairs while you have a talk or watch the art that you find on the walls. Eating is recommended because the hosts have a lot of good ideas and all the dishes are handmade and with good ingredients.

Hafthorn, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 90, +49 331 2800820. Famous pub with a really nice Biergarten in summer and it is famous for it's handmade burger.

La Leander, Benkertstraße 1, +49 331 5838408. Coffee/bar for the gay-lesbian-scene, but also hetero guest are very welcome.

Das Café Heider, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 29, +49 331 2705596.

Waschbar, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 82. Szenekneipe. Here you have a lot of different beers, menus and you can wash your clothes.

On the Rocks. Rockbar in the Lindenstraße.

Rückholz, Sellostraße. Gemütliche Kneipe in the Sellostraße. You can sit on sofa or easy chairs while you have a talk or watch the art that you find on the walls. Eating is recommended because the hosts have a lot of good ideas and all the dishes are handmade and with good ingredients.

• Club Charlotte, Charlottenstraße (located directly in the city. Here you find nice concerts and parties.
• Waschhaus, Schiffbauergasse 6 (near the Hans-Otto-theatre, +49 331 271560. Here you find parties, concerts, cinema, art exhibitions etc.
• Lindenpark. The traditional address in Babelsberg - concerts, parties, skater park and more.
• Palmenzelt. This club is only open in autumn, winter and early spring. The parties take place between a lot of palmes in summer the club organises regularly parties on a ship. Located at the harbour (near main station
• Speicher.
• Stilbruch - Lounge.

Club Charlotte, Charlottenstraße (located directly in the city. Here you find nice concerts and parties.

Waschhaus, Schiffbauergasse 6 (near the Hans-Otto-theatre, +49 331 271560. Here you find parties, concerts, cinema, art exhibitions etc.

Lindenpark. The traditional address in Babelsberg - concerts, parties, skater park and more.

Palmenzelt. This club is only open in autumn, winter and early spring. The parties take place between a lot of palmes in summer the club organises regularly parties on a ship. Located at the harbour (near main station

Speicher.

Stilbruch - Lounge.

Potsdam is a safe city for tourists. During daylight the city is full of tourists that visit the amazing castles and gardens.

• Berlin — this is the most obvious place to go, unless you already came from there
• Werder an der Havel — a small town just west of Potsdam. Every year it is the home of the Baumblutenfest, to celebrate the large amount of fruit trees blooming in spring (especially sour cherry trees, of which they make wine).
• Brandenburg an der Havel — less than 30 minutes away by train
• Magdeburg — the historic capital of Saxony-Anhalt, taking an hour from Potsdam to cover the distance (the train to Brandenburg an der Havel continues to Magdeburg)
• The Potsdam railway station is on a bit of a side line, so for high-speed connections to German cities farther afield, one has to go back to Berlin#Go next