From any of the 12 stops around the city, hop aboard the City Sightseeing open-top, double-decker bus and sit back as you explore the city of Potsdam, the capital of the state of Brandenburg and one the most remarkable and historic cities in Germany. As you’ll learn, Potsdam has several claims to national and international fame; most notably, it served as the residence of the Prussian kings and the German Kaiser until 1918.
On board, a live guide will provide narration in German and English about the sights you see; there are also audio guides available in French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. Learn all about the city of Potsdam on the entire loop, which takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, or hop off at conveniently located stops around the city to explore at your own pace.
Visit Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor Potsdam), which was originally a fortification built to prevent attack on the city. Near the end of the Seven Years' War, Frederick the Great had the old gate demolished and built the current-day Brandenburg Gate as a symbol of his victory. Your onboard guide will point out and explain the interesting design features of the new structure, which resembles a Roman triumphal arch.
Explore the Brandenburger Strasse pedestrian zone with its numerous shops and stylish passages fashioned from old courtyards. Nearby is the Dutch Quarter, a neighborhood consisting of 134 renovated red brick buildings in the Dutch style. This interesting area is home to several charming sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and pubs where you can grab a drink or enjoy a classic German meal (own expense).
Hop off at Sanssouci Palace (Sanssouci Schloss), Friedrich the Great's amazing 18th-century palace and magnificent 600-acre (243-hectare) park. This is the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site in Germany. If you see inside the palace chambers or walk around the gardens, you’ll understand why Sanssouci Palace is often called the ‘Prussian Versailles.’
Follow up with another UNESCO World Heritage-listed palace, Cecilienhof Palace (Schloss Cecilienhof), which was the site of the Potsdam Conference, a major post-World War II conference between the victorious Allies.
You can also visit the Orangerie Palace, another notable royal palace built in the 1800s.
The tour stops along the route include:
1 - Luisenplatsz
2 - Hauptbahnhof (Main Train Station)
3 - Filmmuseum
4 - Dutch Quarter
5 - Glienicker Brucke
6 - Marble Palace
7 - Cecilienhof
8 - Alexandrowka
9 - New Palais
10 - Orangerie
11 - Sanssouci
12 - Grand Obelisk