Potsdam: Daytrip or Stay overnight?

The trip takes less than half an hour by train, so I would need a really, really compelling reason to spend time changing hotels.

It is an easy daytrip by train. However, when were there we thought it was a charming town, one that we would gladly spend a night in.

Potsdam has easily enough sights for 2-3 days. Most of Berlin tourists spend only a day but I think it is also worth to spend more time. Some ideas for Potsdam itineraries.

I have done both, but have to say I really liked staying 2 nights in Potsdam. The Dutch quarter is so charming and they have lovely, small hotels. There is certainly enough to see in Potsdam to fill 2 days.

I liked Potsdam fine, but it has easy S-Bahn connections. I would save valuable vacation "nights" for a place that is either farther away, or that "needs" (your mileage may vary .... ) to be "experienced before/after the tourist busses leave for the day." I'm not saying that Leipzig or Dresden is a must-see for you personally, but that's what I mean conceptually. Of course it is more expensive to get to than Potsdam. To me that is irrelevant to the question of whether an overnight is necessary. Having a multi-day transit pass for greater Berlin would also affect the decision. So would weekend long-distance rail discounts, or group travel discounts.

How many nights do you have altogether for Berlin + Potsdam? I haven't been to Postdam yet, and I imagine I'd find two days' worth of sights there. But six days wasn't long enough for me in Berlin (I didn't even get to the German History Museum), so if I had decided to squeeze Potsdam in, it would only have been for a day, and I wouldn't change hotels for just one night in that situation.

Potsdam is good for three full days (Day 1: Sanssouci, Day 2: city centre with Dutch Quarter, Russian Colony, New Garden and Belvedere, Day 3: Babelsberg, Spy Bridge, Glienicke and Peakock Island). If parks, palaces, lakes, islands and Prussian history sound intriguing to you it can make sense to stay in Potsdam and split the time more evenly between the two cities. It really depends on your interests.

Hi,

If you can spare 2-3 extra nights to staying in Potsdam, do it....well worth it. Lots of activities and places to visit in Potsdam. The train station itself is a place big enough to check out beyond a cursory glance.

The Tourist Office is located on the top floor in the train station opposite of the numerous eateries, Chinese food, traditional German, etc, etc. Aside from seeing the usual chateaux, Sans Souci and Neues Palais, there are several other ones in Potsdam. A couple of the postcards sold in the Tourist Office are called, "Potsdams Schlösser"

When I was there in 2017, the 400th anniversary of the Reformation, as an example of what is offered in Potsdam, a special exhibit of various churches in Potsdam and its immediate vicinity was held focusing on the Reformation in Potsdam. This overview exhibition was on display at the train station.

Two museums are within walking distance after exiting Potsdam Hbf and crossing the bridge, the Film Museum and the museum on Brandenburg-Prussia history.

Take the boat ride on the Havel. Brochures on that are in the Tourist Office and where the boat rides are arranged.

What is interesting too is to get out of the Zentrum, walk and explore the non-tourist areas. In terms of Prussian history, lots to see, eg, look at the street names as a clue as to their connection with Prussian-German history.

Thanks for all the feedback - I didn’t realize there was that much to see and do in Potsdam!