Why go
It directly borders the German capital Berlin and is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It directly borders the German capital Berlin and is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, 24 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Berlin's city center.
What to look for
- Potsdam is the capital and largest city of the German federal state of.
- It directly borders the German capital Berlin and is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region.
The full story
Its planning embodied ideas of The Age of Enlightenment: through a careful balance of architecture and landscape Potsdam was intended as "a picturesque, pastoral dream" which reminded its residents of their relationship with nature and reason. Around the city there are a series of interconnected lakes and cultural landmarks, in particular the parks and palaces of Sanssouci, the largest World Heritage Site in Germany. The Potsdam Conference, the major post-World War II conference between the victorious Allies, was held at another palace in the area, the Cecilienhof. Babelsberg, in the south-eastern part of Potsdam, was a major film production studio before the war and has enjoyed success as a major center of European film production since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Useful to know
- Verify current opening hours, closures and timed-entry rules on the official site before setting out.
- Allow extra time for security or ticketing when the visit includes an interior collection or viewing platform.