If you’re looking for a day trip from Berlin, then look no further than the quaint town of Potsdam. Potsdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a small city just outside of Berlin, Germany. It’s incredibly easily reachable by train, making it a perfect Berlin day trip.
In September, we spent 7 days in Berlin, and so there was plenty of time to explore beyond the main city to see another part of Germany. And although it’s only half an hour away by train, it feels like a whole other world from Berlin. I would describe Potsdam like taking a day trip from Berlin to a miniature Amsterdam. It’s full of picturesque buildings, green spaces, cute streets and plenty of delicious eateries.
Read on for all you need to know about planning a day trip from Berlin to Potsdam.
Where is Potsdam, Germany?
Potsdam is South West of Berlin, and the capital city of the state of Brandenburg. It’s a city with a population of less than 200,000 people.
How To Get From Berlin To Potsdam
The fastest and easiest way to get from Berlin to Potsdam is by train.
The best travel options are departing from Berlin Central Station on the S-Bahn (S7), Berlin’s city train (meaning that not only is it fast, it’s super cheap too) or the Regional train (RE1).
Check out the S-Bahn times and schedules here.
- Depart: Berlin Hbf (Central Station)
- Cost: €3 each way
- Journey: 25 – 35 minutes
When To Go To Potsdam, Germany
A day trip from Berlin to Potsdam is a great idea all year around. However, when you visit may provide different perspectives & alter the overall experience.
Visiting Potsdam Germany in the spring
Temperatures will range from 15°C to 20 °C and the flowers will have started to bloom. Filling Potsdam with as many colours as the rainbow.
Visiting Potsdam Germany in the summer.
Temperatures will rise considerably, as will the volume of visitors, who flock to enjoy all the wonderful outdoor beauty Potsdam has to offer. Not to mention, Potsdamer Schlössernacht, the magical palace illumination, which happens every August. (Find out more about Potsdamer Schlossernacht here).
Visiting Potsdam Germany in the Autumn
Temperatures will range from 15°C to 20 °C again, and the leaves start to turn gorgeous Autumnal colours. Additionally, you can still catch some warm sunny days, without the associated crowds of summertime. (We visited in late September and it was warm enough for just a t-shirt.)
Visiting Potsdam Germany in the Winter
Temperatures will range from 0°C to 10 °C and from December to March temperatures occasionally reach as low as -5°C. But despite the cold, winter in Potsdam brings opportunity for exploring Christmas markets or seeing the beauty of Sanssouci in the snow.
Things To do In Potsdam, Germany
1. Explore The Beauty of Sanssouci Palace
The palace is by far the most stunning attraction in Potsdam. Located inside expansive grounds, the palace itself is a stunning building to walk around. Whether you choose to head inside, and take a tour of the building, or like us, just walk about outside and around the grand staircases taking some incredibly beautiful photos. You won’t regret making Sanssouci Palace a highlight and main stop on your day trip to Potsdam.
2. Take A Stroll Around Sanssouci Park
Alongside the palace itself, the land that the palace is situated in is well worth taking a few hours to explore. Particularly if you are visiting Potsdam in the summer. But, I imagine it will be beautiful all year round. There are rose gardens, an orangery, a Japanese garden and more. Not to mention, the hedge quarter is home to over 3,000 fruit trees. Whether you are super into discovering different botanicals or just like to be outdoors in nature, it’s the perfect place for a stroll. Particularly in contrast to the very concrete Berlin, Potsdam’s Palace Gardens feel like entering another world.
3. Meander Through The Dutch Quarter
The main area of Potsdam is referred to as the Dutch quarter. And as soon as you arrive off the train from Berlin it will be easy to see why. It’s like leaving Germany and entering a miniature Amsterdam. From the cobbled streets to the colourful architecture, spend some time meandering through the many streets and doing some window shopping (or real shopping!)
4. Ride Electric Scooters
Those who know me know how much I absolutely love hiring electric scooters when travelling. Whilst they are perhaps not the most sustainable new craze to hit Europe, I can’t pretend they are not a ton of fun. Whether it be Lime, Bolt or one of the many other brands now available, download the app, pick up a nearby scooter and zip around the outskirts of Potsdam. Whilst the city centre itself is fairly busy and cobbled, the surrounding streets have wide open bike path’s, making it super easy to get from one part of the city to another.
If you’ve never used lime before, get a free unlock credit with this referral code; https://lime.bike/referral_signin/RIZGLYK
5. Take A Tour Of A Windmill
Inside the palace grounds is a gorgeous windmill. Once again making the day trip from Berlin to Potsdam feel like a trip to The Netherlands! The windmill is super pretty for taking some pictures, or you can even choose to buy a ticket and tour inside it and learn about how it has been used throughout the years. As a bonus, there is a lovely little café with gorgeous views of Potsdam and the park right beside it to. It’s the perfect place to stop and refuel after all the exploring.
6. Eat Delicious Dutch Poffertjes
These are one of my absolute favourite Dutch foods, so I was very excited to discover them on our day trip to Potsdam. Order a plate of delicious tiny pancakes from Poffertjes en Pannekoeken and a topping of your choice. I went for the classic dusted icing sugar with apple sauce, but the world is really your oyster when it comes to options.
7. Visit The Four City Gates
Potsdam city used to be walled in and accessed by five main gates which were originally used as the entrances to the city. Whilst the city itself is no longer walled in, three of the gates still stand and make for a picturesque visit. Brandenburg gate (not the famous one in Berlin!) is perhaps the most impressive, although all three are unique in their own ways. Nauen gate resembles a miniature castle with turrets, and Hunters gate is the oldest of the three remaining structures. We used the lime scooters to zip between each of them to fit everything in on our one day trip to Potsdam.
8. Grab A Caffeine Hit From Potsdam’s Local Roastery
Before heading back for our train from Potsdam to Berlin, we picked up a coffee from the highly recommended Buena Vida coffee club. It did not disappoint. Buena Vida coffee club is a local roastery based out of Potsdam, with plenty of freshly baked goods to accompany your caffeine hit. Stop by any time of day to enjoy the forever wonderful smell of freshly ground coffee beans.
And there you have it, a complete guide to taking a day trip from Berlin to Potsdam Germany. Did I miss anything? Drop me a message on Instagram and let me know!
