Visitors disappointed by Berlin’s distinctly unroyal demeanor can get their Kaiserly fix by taking the S-Bahn to Potsdam (pop. 146,000), the glittering city of Friedrich II (the Great). While his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I (the “Soldier King”), wanted to turn Potsdam into a huge garrison of the tall, tall men he had kidnapped to serve as his toy soldiers, the more aesthetically-minded Friedrich II beautified the city. His additions include Schloß Sanssouci and the surrounding park, and the nearby Neues Garten with its Marmorpalais. Potsdam was Germany’s “Little Hollywood” in the 1920s and 30s, when the suburb of Babelsberg played a critical role in the early film industry. A 20min. air raid in April 1945 brought Potsdam’s cinematic glory days to an end. As the site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference, in which the Allies divvied up the country, Potsdam’s name became synonymous with German defeat. After hosting Communist Party fat cats for 45 years, the 1000-year-old city gained independence from Berlin in 1991, recovering its eminent status as capital of the Land. Much of the residential city has been renovated to create long boulevards adorned with gateways and historic buildings. Today, the city moves at a leisurely pace, its palaces and avenues swelling with curious visitors.
Public Transportation: Potsdam is in Zone C of Berlin’s BVG transit network. It is also divided into its own subdivisions of A, B, and C; special Potsdam-only tickets can be purchased on any bus or tram ...more
Tourist Office: Brandenburger Str. 3, (☎ 0331 27 55 80; www.potsdamtourismus.de), by Brandenburg Gate. Buy city maps and book a room (from €15). Open Apr.-Oct. M-F 9:30am-6pm Sa-Su 9:30am-4pm ...more
Budget options are limited in Potsdam. The tourist office finds private rooms and has a list of campgrounds in the area. Consider staying in Wannsee, 10min. away by S-Bahn, or at one of the many hostels ...more
Bright, renovated Brandenburger Str., the local pedestrian zone, encompasses many of the city’s restaurants, fast-food stands, and markets. The dozens of cafes near Brandenburger Tor are lovely but pricey ...more
A Premium Day Ticket (€15, students €10) is a good investment for anyone interested in serious sightseeing. It is valid and available at all castles in Potsdam, including Sanssouci, which requires ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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