Potsdam

A city of parks and palaces

This German university city is well-known for its parks and castles. But people often don’t know how close it is to Berlin. If you are in the capital city, you should visit this amazing place, too. It is beautiful in all seasons, although more pleasant in the spring and summer.

Potsdam has a totally different atmosphere than Berlin. Although you can see a lot of tourists and students in both cities, Potsdam’s population seems to be more homogenic, and the city itself, too. You can find here beautiful buildings, nice parks, cozy restaurants and cafés, a downtown area with special atmosphere, where people take their time and don’t rush anywhere – unlike in the capital city.

Park Sanssouci is the most famous and touristy place in Potsdam and it’s definitely worth a visit. I have some other favorite places, though. Every time I visit Potsdam, I enjoy walking around in downtown, along the main street with its cafés, restaurants and small shops. It’s nice to have a drink or a snack there, for instance an ice-cream. You would be astonished how many ice-cream places are there, just in the downtown or even just in that one street.

The Dutch Quartier, which is located in downtown, is also very famous and has special atmosphere. I also enjoy walking around and visiting other places, such as the so called Marmorpalais. It’s a nice walk and in the summer, you can even swim in the lake next to the castle, inside the park. I haven’t swum there yet, but it must be a special feeling. The Russian colony is not so far from this place, it is possible to walk there. But I must say, I always walk a lot when I go for a daytrip to Potsdam. It’s possible to take a bus to get from one place to another, though. Although there are trams running in the center of the city, you can get to the famous sights (e.g. palaces) just by bus, but you probably get a better experience if you walk. I always do that.

It’s also great to sit down, relax and have a coffee or an ice-cream, after having walked all day. Then, on the way back to the main railway station, you should have a look at the Nikolaikirche and the square in front of that, and some other nice building. I either do this at the beginning or at the end of my trip.

If you are in Berlin and want to visit Potsdam, one day is actually enough for that. You might not be able to visit all the beautiful and famous places, but you can see most of them. 😊