What to do in Potsdam

Activities, attractions and tours

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Potsdam Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Potsdam has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Potsdam is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Potsdam to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Potsdam Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Potsdam.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Potsdam attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

Things to do

High Swing Berlin

High Swing Berlin

CA $49
per adult
High Swing Berlin
Berlin: 1-hr Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide

Berlin: 1-hr Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide (DE/EN)

CA $34
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Berlin: 1-hr Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide (DE/EN)
Third Reich, Hitler & Cold War – Berlin City Center Walking Tour

Third Reich, Hitler & Cold War – Berlin City Center Walking Tour

CA $63
per adult
Third Reich, Hitler & Cold War – Berlin City Center Walking Tour
Berlin walking tour at Museum Island

Explore Berlin: See All The Iconic Sights & Some Hidden Gems

CA $26
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Explore Berlin: See All The Iconic Sights & Some Hidden Gems
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Bus Tour in English from Berlin

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Bus Tour in English from Berlin

CA $104
per adult
98% of travellers recommend
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Bus Tour in English from Berlin
Brandenburg: Tropical Islands Resort Day Ticket

Brandenburg: Tropical Islands Resort Day Ticket

CA $68
per adult
Brandenburg: Tropical Islands Resort Day Ticket
Berlin's Best: 2 Hour Walking Tour Third Reich and the Cold War

Berlin's Best: 2 Hour Walking Tour Third Reich and the Cold War

CA $39
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Berlin's Best: 2 Hour Walking Tour Third Reich and the Cold War
Reichstag, Berlin

Berlin Third Reich Sites: Half-Day Walking Tour

CA $29
per adult
92% of travellers recommend
Berlin Third Reich Sites: Half-Day Walking Tour
Potsdam: Palace Tour by Boat

Potsdam: Palace Tour by Boat

CA $37
per adult
Potsdam: Palace Tour by Boat
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Top places to visit

1. Sanssouci Palace

Walk in the footsteps of a revered king and military leader at Sanssouci Palace. Admire the palace’s lavish architecture, opulent interiors and art collection. Stroll around vineyards and orderly gardens, scattered with further architectural treasures. Fredrick the Great commissioned Sanssouci Palace in the 1740s as a summer retreat and a place to escape his official duties. Today it is the dominating feature of Sanssouci Park.
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A large reflective pool with statues and a garden in the background.

2. Sanssouci Park

Palaces, art galleries, flower gardens and water features make Sanssouci Park one of Potsdam’s most loved green spaces. The park incorporates almost 741 acres (300 hectares) of grassy lawns and woodland dissected by crisscrossing pathways, including the 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) long Hauptallee promenade. Sanssouci Park began as an orchard and became a favored escape of Frederick the Great in the mid-1700s. Prussian landscaper Peter Joseph Leneé remodeled the park in the 1800s and it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1990.
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A statue of a figure with a bow and arrow in front of a large building with two towers.

3. University of Potsdam

Visit the University of Potsdam (Universität Potsdam) to enjoy an educational experience and drink in the atmosphere of its various campuses. Spend a day here and watch students go about their daily activities, appreciate the architecture of the faculty buildings and discover an impressive botanical garden. Established as recently as 1991, the University of Potsdam is today the biggest academic institution in the state of Brandenburg.
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A grand neoclassical building with a dome and statues, featuring a prominent staircase and a green spire in the background.

4. New Palace

Wander the majestic halls and ornate staterooms of the New Palace (Neues Palais), a magnificent royal residence in Potsdam’s Sanssouci Park. The construction of the palace began in 1763 as a celebration of the end of the Seven Years’ War. Frederick the Great ordered the palace’s design to represent Prussia’s power and glory through the lavish use of marble, stone and gilt. Stroll around the palace grounds admiring the building’s grand façade and enter the complex to see its opulent interiors.
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A large historic building with a prominent dome and statues on the roof.

5. Park Babelsberg

Park Babelsberg is one of Potsdam’s magnificent collection of picturesque public parks. It covers undulating and wooded terrain that slopes down to Tiefer See, a lake on the Havel River. Emperor William I commissioned Park Babelsberg in 1833 as the garden of his summer residence. Visit today to enjoy leisurely walks and bike rides, admire striking landmarks, swim in the lake and join scenic boat trips.
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A tower with a clock on top, surrounded by dense green forest.

6. Schloss Cecilienhof

Discover the quaint English gardens and Tudor-inspired architecture of Schloss Cecilienhof, a palace in Potsdam’s captivating New Garden. The picturesque palace was completed in 1917 as the residence of Crown Prince Wilhelm and his wife Cecilie. Today, the palace is a fascinating historic memorial dedicated to the 1945 Potsdam Conference, which decided the fate of postwar Germany.
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A historic building with a star-shaped flower bed in front.

Recommended things to do in Potsdam

Number of things to do
92
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Berlin: Unlimited Germany Internet with eSIM Mobile Data Plan: CA $5
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Potsdam

Stay near popular Potsdam attractions

A large reflective pool with statues and a garden in the background.
Photo by Travel Pixelz
Open Photo by Travel Pixelz

Sanssouci Palace

9.2/10 (782 reviews)
Explore the resplendent rooms and picturesque terraces of this Rococo-style palace, built as a summer house for Frederick the Great, King of Prussia.
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Where to stay in Potsdam

Find the best Potsdam areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Potsdam
Learn more about Potsdam
A tall tower with a weather vane and three spires, surrounded by lush green trees.

Babelsberg

Discover Babelsberg, memorable for its restaurants. Popular attractions in Babelsberg include Babelsberg Film Park and Griebnitzsee, and you can see more of the area by hopping on the metro at Babelsberg S-Bahn.
A large brick building with two domes and arched windows.
Photo by Wunder Blume
Open Photo by Wunder Blume

Potsdam Süd

While you're in Potsdam Süd, take in top sights like Potsdam Forest and Havel Lake Area and jump on the metro at Zum Kahleberg Tram Stop to see more of the city.
A historic building with two towers and arched gateways.

Nördliche Innenstadt

Nördliche Innenstadt is noteworthy for its historic sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Potsdam Christmas Market and Museum Barberini.
A large historic building with a green dome and a smaller dome, surrounded by red and white buildings.

Innenstadt Potsdam

Discover Innenstadt Potsdam, memorable for its historic sites. Popular attractions in Innenstadt Potsdam include Museum Barberini and Potsdam Harbour, and you can see more of the area by hopping on the metro at Central Station/H.-Mann-Allee Tram Stop.
A classical building with columns, a reflecting pond, and a statue.

Westliche Vorstadt

While you're in Westliche Vorstadt, take in top sights like Templiner See and jump on the metro at Schloss Charlottenhof Tram Stop to see more of the city.

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Potsdam

The Brandenburg Gate at night with illuminated columns and statues.

Berlin

A large, yellow castle with a prominent arched entrance and multiple towers.

Kleinmachnow

A church with a red roof and a tower, surrounded by lush green trees.

Michendorf

A traditional windmill surrounded by lush green trees and a clear blue sky.

Dallgow-Doeberitz

A church with a red roof and a weather vane.

Nuthetal

Frequently asked questions

Is Potsdam worth visiting?
One of the most popular things to do in Potsdam is explore Babelsberg Film Park. Tick this leading attraction off your itinerary, then discover more of the area's history and shopping.
How do I spend a day in Potsdam?
Once you've visited top attractions like Babelsberg Film Park and Strandbad Wannsee, spend the rest of your day experiencing Potsdam's shopping and food scene.
What is the top tourist attraction in Potsdam?
Don't go home without exploring Babelsberg Film Park, rated the top tourist attraction in Potsdam.
Is three days enough to stay in Potsdam?
Three days will be enough time to check out many city highlights, such as Babelsberg Film Park, Strandbad Wannsee and Sanssouci Park. The average stay in Potsdam is three days. If you feel the urge to extend your vacation, Berlin isn't far away.
Is Potsdam a walkable city?
With exciting neighbourhoods and top sights within walking distance of the city centre, Potsdam is a great place to discover on foot. Enjoy wandering between Babelsberg Film Park and Sanssouci Park. Then take a stroll through Innenstadt Potsdam, located 0.97 kilometres from the centre, and Westliche Vorstadt, which is about 5 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Potsdam with kids?
Whether you're travelling with hard-to-please teens or tiny adventurers, an itinerary filled with fun activities is the key to a stress-free getaway. Take a look at our ideas for what to do in Potsdam with kids.

What to do in Potsdam for adults?
Klosterhof Töplitz Winery and Historic Mill of Sanssouci are just a few of the things to do in Potsdam. With plenty of activities available, there's something here for everyone.
Are there free things to do in Potsdam?
In Potsdam, Sanssouci Park is an unmissable spot for anyone wanting to see the city without opening their wallet. Also, wander around the green spaces and other neighbourhoods, and ask a local tour guide for recommendations. It's a simple way to find out about the best free things to do in Potsdam.

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