Potsdam: A Convenient Day Trip from Berlin, Germany

When I spent a summer in Berlin, I was captivated by the vibrancy of the city. There were times, however, when it was great to get away from Berlin and explore Germany at a bit slower pace. Potsdam was one of my favorite places to head in those times. Potsdam makes an excellent day trip from Berlin since it is located only 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Berlin, and contains a variety of gardens and styles of architecture, all conveniently located within Park Sanssouci.

Getting to Potsdam from Berlin

You can travel to Potsdam from Berlin by either car or train. By car, take the A115 southwest from Charlottenburg to the Babelsberg exit. Go west on Nuthestrasse until you get to Postdam.

If you prefer to travel by train, keep in mind that you'll get there via the S-Bahn, instead of the U-Bahn that you use to travel within the city of Berlin. You can find S-Bahn trains in Central Berlin stations such as Friedrichstrasse and Hauptbahnhof. Take S-7 to get to Potsdam from Berlin. Trains leave every ten minutes. You'll need tickets that cover zones A, B and C.

Whether you opt to travel by car or train, the trip should take roughly 45 minutes, each way.

Gardens in Potsdam, Germany

If you love gardens, Park Sanssouci is the place to go. This park covers 700 acres, and is what makes Potsdam an especially attractive day trip from Berlin.

Park Sanssouci is divided into several smaller gardens. The oldest part of the park includes the Dutch Garden, a variety of fountains, and the French-style Lustgarten. This part of Park Sanssouci is laid out symmetrically, and has a variety of rose beds. The eastern part of the park, the Rehgarten, an English-style garden, was a former hunting ground. On the south side of the park you'll find Charlottenhof Park, designed by Peter Joseph Lenne, and to the north are the Nordischer Garden and the Paradiesgarten.

The best thing about Park Sanssouci is that you can experience numerous types of gardens within the one large park. The various styles of gardens, sculptures and grottoes make it a pleasant place to stroll. You can easily spend an entire day in this one park.

Hot tip: Once a year there is an event known as "Potsdamer Schlossernacht" which is translated into English as the "Night of Potsdam's Castles." Although most garden visits take place during the day, this event happens at night, and all the buildings and the garden are decked out with lights. The beauty of the lit up buildings alone makes it worth a visit, but there are also dances, plays and lectures about the literature of the time.

Palaces and Architectural Treasures in Potsdam, Germany

Palaces and other types of architecture are located throughout Park Sanssouci, so if you're planning on visiting the park, you can also take stroll through a variety of beautiful buildings while you're there. Here are some of my favorite architectural treasures found in Park Sanssouci:

Chinesisches Teehaus (Chinese Teahouse)

Telephone: (0331) 969 42 22

Open May 15 - October 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday

During the Rococo period, Chinese art, silk, furniture, porcelain and wallpaper became popular. The Chinese Teahouse was designed by Johann Gottfried Buring and built between 1754 and 1756. As the name implies, this gilded pavilion originally served as a teahouse, but today has a variety of porcelain on display.

Schloss Charlottenhof (Charlottenhof Palace)

Telephone: (0331) 969 42 28

Open May 15 - October 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday

Designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and built in 1829, the Schloss Charlottenhof resembles a Roman style villa. The back of the palace has a portico that leads into a garden terrace. The Humboldt room has blue and white stripes, and is commonly referred to as the tent room because it is designed in such a way that it looks like a tent. The paintings on the walls are done in Pompeiian style.

RomischeBader (Roman Baths)

Telephone: (0331) 969 42 24

Open May 15 - October 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday

The Roman Baths located in Park Sanssouci, were designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and built between 1829 and 1840. They were originally built to accommodate the guests of the king. Located at the edge of a lake, the Roman Baths are arranged around a garden of multi-colored shrubs. A closer look at the colorful and ornamental shrubs reveals are actually vegetables.

Friedenskirche (Church of Peace)

Telephone: (0331) 97 40 09

Open May - October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; November - April from 10 a.m. to noon on Sundays only

King Friedrich Wilhelm IV laid the foundation stone of the Friedenskirche in 1845 and construction of the church was completed in 1848. The design of the church is based on San Clemente in Rome. The most beautiful feature of Fridenskirche is the vaulted ceiling in the apse. It is covered in a 12^th century Byzantine mosaic that was originally located in a church in Venice, Italy. Outside of the church you'll find an atrium and a mausoleum.

Although Potsdam is an easy day trip from Berlin, be sure to start your day early enough to take in all that Park Sanssouci has to offer.

References:

Lonely Planet: Berlin City Guide, page 280

DK Eyewitness Travel: Berlin, pages 191-205

National Geographic Traveler: Berlin, pages 210 - 213