Girl in Florence

A Tuscan Texan immersed in Florentine life

Views from Potsdam

Why you should visit….Potsdam (daytrip)

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Photo Credit: Kerstin Riemer

I didn’t want to include this with my last post about Berlin because I felt it worthy of its own spotlight. After all, I have never even heard of this place before going to Berlin. I feel like many people like myself, want a little diversion from city traveling and get out to the countryside for at least one afternoon.

Since we were in Berlin for a full week, which honestly you really need at least that to get a good idea of the city, we wanted to day trip it up. I originally wanted to go to Poland which I heard was close but after speaking to my Berliner friend, she recommended Potsdam instead which was close enough but very different.

To get there: We purchased the 5 day Berlin welcome card which included the travel to Potsdam. We only needed the 5 days one because we arrived around 6 pm the first day and got metro tickets to the apartment and that’s it. Then of course the last day, the same deal since we left in the morning. ****warning, be careful of people hanging out by the metro ticket machines by the airport when you arrive because it’s very common for people to try and sell you used tickets that they claim are still valid. Just say no, and get your own, remember it’s Germany and you don’t want to get caught with an invalid ticket. Also when we were going back to the airport to leave, someone asked for our tickets and I glared at them and claimed that I was in the same business and wanted to sell my OWN reused tickets..lol…

If you want to go to Potsdam just make sure to get the welcome card with the Potsdam option ( includes zones ABC), its a little more.. and btw the card is valid for all methods of travel.. bus, tram, subway… You need to travel to the Potsdam Hauptbahnhof, which is the final stop for S-Bahn S7 and also served by Regionalexpress RE1 towards Brandenburg or Magdeburg. From the most centrally located station, Friedrichstrasse, it takes 42 min to Potsdam Hbf by S7 and 30 min by RE1. From the central station, it’s very easy to get to the center walking or by tram. The station itself is very pretty.

Welcome card to travel around in Potsdam
welcome card ( without potsdam option) here

First, what is Potsdam? I didn’t know either but its the capital of German federal state of Brandenburg and borders Berlin. The town has population of approx. 146,500. 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 (wikitravel).

If you go in the winter months like we did, try and get to Potsdam earlier rather than later since the sun sets around 4pm in the colder months. I would say getting there by at least 10am which is a good idea if you want to see the palaces and browse around the center. We got lucky and had sunny day and were able to catch the electric tram and visit the famous palaces and gardens surrounding the city. It was to me the German Versailles  ( and apparently has the same status as Windsor has to Britain) and we just wandering around enjoying the sites.  Potsdam was the residence of the Prussian kings and German Kaisers, until 1918. Around the city there are a series of interconnected lakes and unique cultural landmarks, in particular the parks and palaces of Sanssouci, the largest World Heritage Site in Germany.

The fascinating Sanssouci Palace
Photo Credit: Fritz Hendricks
A must visit palace in Berlin
Photo Credit: Thomas Ulrich

Sanssouci is the name of the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, , it was really beautiful if not garish.

The most stunning palace in Germany

After walking around for an hour or two, we headed back into the center of Potsdam and toured the christmas markets in the city. We ended up grabbing a delicious snack, some sort of fried goodness in a ball..

A delicious snack that made my day even better
christmas market goodness
The amazing Christmas markets in Postdam - so much to see
Potsdam Christmas markets

They have all sorts of yummy goodness and gifts… We were tempted to try the yummy smelling garlic mushrooms whose scent is intoxicating but decided to wait for lunch. Good call because it was one of the BEST lunches we had in Germany. I had a local beer ( Berliner Weisse ) infused with insanely delicious raspberry syrup, in fact, I want it now and its about noon on a Sunday 😉

A delicious drink made with all the right ingredients
Berliner Weisse
The best lunch I had in Berlin
my lunch , baked potato with sour cream , salad and grilled chicken

I was obsessed with my plate, it was all I wanted in a German platter, baked potato, sour cream with herbs, and of course a nice salad and chicken. T-man got goulash which was the lunch special and he loved it. He also did a sacred error in the Italia world and had a cappuccino after his meal which he felt was “ok” since we were in Germany ;). We headed out for a walk after and checked out the Dutch quarter of the city. The architecture of the houses is really interesting and covers an area of four city blocks with about 150 houses built of red bricks in the Dutch style. This ensemble of buildings is unique in Europe. It was built in the period from 1734 to 1742 for Dutch craftsmen who were invited to come to Potsdam by King Frederick Wilhelm I, the Soldier King.

The red brick houses surrounding the area of Potsdam
Photo Credit: Alfons Merscher

Potsdam also has its own famous gate and  Potsdam’s Brandenburg Gate was built twenty-one years earlier in 1770 and is a typical baroque construction.

Brandenburg gate located in Potsdam - an amazing structure
Photo Credit: neufal54

I actually really enjoy learning a bit of history along with visiting a city. So, I spent a little time the night before researching the history of Potsdam and the Prussian king. I am not much of a “tour” person, at least not yet but it’s nice to know what you’re looking at, like art you have much more of an appreciation when you understand it. All it really takes is an hour or so of internet research or buying a book but learn a little before you go. Take a guidebook on the train ride from Berlin and you will be pleasantly surprised about how much more fun your trip is.

It was an incredible experience to explore Potsdam
bye Potsdam, until we meet again

Also worth mentioning is the Russian colony in the north of Potsdam, we did not personally have time to check it out but we will make a point to visit next time we go to Berlin. It consists of thirteen wooden houses in Russian style, which were built between 1826 and 1827 on the special wish of the former Prussian king, Friedrich Wilhelm III. In 1999 the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) declared the Russian colony Alexandrowka as part of the cultural heritage of the world.

Try and make it out here if you visit Berlin, we really had a great time. Especially during the holiday season and it was literally the perfect day-trip to get us out and about in the countryside and discover a beautiful and historical place… and did you see the food pictures? Is that not reason enough? ENJOY!

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5 Responses

  1. I lived many years in Potsdam and it is so nice to read an article from someone who shares the same enthusiasm about this beautiful city. I just can agree: Come to Potsdam…it is soooo marvellous!

    1. thank you :), I didn’t really have any expectations but when we got there, i was very pleasantly surprised on how charming it is. It really should be a “must see” in your life. I wish we could have stayed longer, I also had a friend who lived there and loved it. The commute to Berlin doesn’t seem that bad at all. The trains were very convenient. Can’t wait to go back..

  2. Hello! I came across your website as I was searching for information on Potsdam. My husband and I will be visiting Berlin in May and are looking at taking a day trip to Potsdam. Is it easy to tour Potsdam on our own or should we join a tour group? We will be staying in central Berlin and do not speak any German! Also, do you think it is wise to go on Sunday? I was thinking of going on Sunday since many attractions are closed in Berlin.

    Thanks in advance for your help!
    Pauline from Canada

    1. Hello Pauline! I went on my own and found it pretty easy to navigate though if you would like some futher explanations about the history and palaces that might be a good consideration to go with a guide. I would imagine going on a sunday might be that perfect escape and hopefully it will be a nice day. I really liked the dutch quarter and its a very easy city to navigate!

  3. I’m planning to go Potsdam by my own. However, there are a few palaces and places that are quite interesting, just wonder how to plan the routing if starting from Schloss Sanssouci. then Orangerie > Park Sanssonci > Neues Palais > Chineseches Teehaus > Roman Bath > Schloss Charlottenhof > Schloss Cecilienhof ???

    Is it possible to complete all these places in one day? Looking at the entrance fees some said need to join tour in order to enter to the palaces, need to buy any sort of ticket to enter all these palaces?

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Georgette Jupe

Welcome to my personal blog by a curious American girl living and working between Zug, Switzerland and Florence, Italy with my husband Nico, our newborn Annabelle and Ginger the beagle. This space is primarily to share about my love for Italy (currently on a 13 year romance) with a fair amount of real talk, practical advice, travel suggestions and adjusting to a new culture (Switzerland). Find me on IG @girlinflorence @girlinzug

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