Location: Potsdam
Top Things to do in Potsdam
Top 10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Potsdam, Brandenburg
Potsdam was the residence of the Prussian kings and German Kaisers until 1918. It is the site of the parks and palaces of Sanssouci, the largest World Heritage Site in Germany. The city is now the capital of the German federal state of Brandenburg and a home to three public colleges and a major film production studio.
Restaurants in Potsdam
1. Stiftung Gedenkstatte Lindenstrasse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Die Stiftung Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße spiegelt am historischen Ort Kontinuität und Wandel politischer Verfolgung und Haft von 1933 bis 1989 - aber auch deren Überwindung und den Sieg der Demokratie in der Friedlichen Revolution 1989/90. Die Stiftung zeigt Ausstellungen zu allen Phasen der Geschichte des Haues und bietet Führungen sowie Veranstaltungen zu damit verbundenen Themen an.
Reviewed By josephhM1718IU
We visited the prison yesterday, we only came across it by accident but when we saw the admission was only €2 we thought we'd give it a try. The man on the counter couldn't speak English but he gave us student price (€1) and gave us a booklet that guides you through the prison that's written in English. The prison is a lot bigger inside than I expected and has a really Interesting creepy feel to it, the history of the place is rich and it made our day to visit this place so I'd definitely make time to visit! It's only a few yards off the main shopping street as well so easy to find.
2. Schloss Cecilienhof
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 871 reviews
This historic country house is the site where Truman, Churchill and Stalin met at the famous Potsdam Conference following World War II.
Reviewed By 999jimw - Schonaich, Germany
Sadly, today's generation simply wants to remove the blemishes of mankind's past mistakes as Confederate statues are being destroyed, defaced, and taken down in my beloved country. When will statues of Thomas Jefferson be removed for the slaves he owned? Luckily, this place serves as an important reminder of three leaders who destroyed the Nazi Empire and evil in its path. This historic country house is the site where Truman, Churchill and Stalin met at the famous Potsdam Conference following World War II. Here, Germany was partitioned up and peace reparations were determined. While the conference and the treaty were signed here, one must keep in mind that President Truman was new to international diplomacy and Sir Winston Churchill was voted out and his replacement, Clement Attlee, signed the final treaty. This meant the Jozef Stalin was able to broker a great deal for the Soviet Union. This is how politics and international agreements work.
3. Neues Palais
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 872 reviews
Reviewed By Vladimiramirela - Mississauga, Canada
Even if you have a day pass, you need to stop at the gate and make a reservation for an entry hour. I found this huge Late Baroque, royal edifice to be the most interesting to visit, out of all the others we had a chance to see. Here is where the meaning of the French phrase "sans souci" which translates to "without worries" or "carefree" is really reflected in the boundless luxury and whimsical ideas of the king, materialised no matter the cost, effort, and oddity. Some of the over 200 rooms, mostly Rococo style, have totally unexpected decorations and finishes - especially the Grotto Hall - which is a unique exhibit of sea-world theme, including shells, marble and semi-precious stones, artfully incorporated into the walls, ceilings and floors. Unforgettable!
4. Biosphere Potsdam
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 182 reviews
SUMMER FOR 365 DAYS A YEAR In the center of Potsdam is a place with a holiday-atmosphere 365 days a year – the Biosphere Potsdam. The jungle landscape of the Biosphere with over 20.000 beautiful plants, many exotic animals and an hourly thunderstorm with thunder and lightning takes you to a world far away. Your journey begins at the waterfall and continues on intertwined paths to the butterfly house and to the high-trail up in the treetops.
Reviewed By LauraD115 - Brighton, United Kingdom
My husband and I super love all things nature related so I was really interested when I came across the reviews for the Biosphere on TripAdvisor and we thought it was worth a little train journey to Potsdam. It was a really grim and rainy day so the perfect weather to be doing something inside, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable time. You wander round the Biosphere, encountering informative interactive displays, different animals and an aquarium section- it's well laid out and definitely enough to keep you occupied for a few hours. Our favourites were the little tamarin monkeys, super cute and engaging! We also stopped for some lunch at the end of the trail in the restaurant and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, normally it's a bit pants in these kind of attraction restaurants, but my husband's flammkuchen and my currywurst were really tasty and resonably priced.
5. Marmorpalais
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By Nadarajen - Lille, France
When I bought my ticket for the 11:30 a.m. Marble Palace tour I was clearly told it would be an hour long and in German but that I could tag along with an audio-guide. It turned out that I was the only one on the tour! Ralf, who took me on this now private visit, graciously explained everything in English. He is really knowledgeable, his love for the palace is undeniable, and his enthusiasm very communicative. Needless to say the building itself is magnificent, full of history and well worth the visit. And I felt a little bit like royalty!
6. Extavium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Extavium: Knowledge at your fingertips: The Extavium offers an outside-the-classroom-experience for anybody who is or wants to become interested in the natural sciences. This experience will spark everybody's interest in the natural sciences and give insight into the complex processes of nature. With its interactive exhibition and many various workshops the museum has been an essential part of the scientific community in and around Potsdam for ten years. Is it possible to freeze your own shadow? And what do marshmallows have to do with air pressure? These are only some of the questions that you will find answers to when visiting the museum. All objects within the exhibition can be explored and lead to unexpected and surprising results.
7. Gedenk- und Begegnungsstatte Leistikowstrasse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
The Leistikow Strasse memorial commemorates the former Soviet military counterintelligence central remand prison that was once located here. There are few historical prisons so authentically preserved. While the mass cells and facilities in the upper floors reveal the conditions in the 1970s, the primitive basement cells with their crude wooden benches testify to the privations endured by prisoners well into the 1950s. Numerous inscriptions carved into the walls by detainees from that time speak of isolation and desperation as well as resilience. The permanent exhibition is illustrated with photographs, endowed with historical artefacts and equipped with media stations that reveal the prison’s story within the wider drama of the Cold War. Fifty biographies have been unearthed, showing just how many different people became inmates, from Nazi-era perpetrators to spies – both real and falsely accused - and Soviet army deserters. Some of them give eyewitness accounts of their fates.
Reviewed By 637JonnyW - Berlin, Germany
I booked both tours, which our fantastic guide Armin combined into one big tour for us. Armin gave us a tour of the former sealed-off Soviet town within Potsdam, gave us a wider context before the Soviets arrived, explained how the prisons worked, gave detailed biographies of some prisoners, and how a lot of the information available to us today came from one important defector. Our group was made up of around 15 professional tour guides working in Berlin and Potsdam, and Armin impressed even us! Couldn't recommend booking a private tour here enough. Thanks, Armin!
8. Bildergalerie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By ChuckBrooks
The main hall of this building is, in a word, stunning. The ceiling, the floor, the paintings, the sculpture, are as beautiful as any palace in France or elsewhere in Germany. I have seen most of the palaces in Germany, as well as Versailles outside of Paris. Do not miss this.
9. Bar Fritz'n
10. Stiftung Gedenkstatte Lindenstrasse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By SusaMasa - Helsinki, Finland
We were surprised by the size of this museum. The whole prison has been converted to a museum. The exhibition explains in detail the history of the building and stories of the prisoners. It's a very powerful museum and memorial site. Ask for a booklet in English from the ticket office. The booklet will give you lots of information and guide you through the exhibition. To get a glimpse of the the museum, watch our video of it: Youtube Susa and Masa around the world
