Jonathan and I have visited Berlin twice in the past, so for this trip we planned to see the famous and historical city of Potsdam. As the capital and largest city of the German state of Brandenburg, Potsdam is best known as the historic summer residence of Prussian kings. In addition, the city hosted the famous Potsdam Conference, where U.S. President Truman, British Prime Minister Churchill, and Soviet Leader Stalin met from July 17 to August 2, 1945, to negotiate terms for the end of World War II.
We flew to Berlin via Frankfurt on Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa, then stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel Berlin, which is a 20-minute walk to the Potsdamer Platz train station. We took the Airport Express Train (FEX) to the Potsdamer Platz Station. To travel to Potsdam, we took a taxi to the Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and then the S7 S-Bahn for a 40-minute train ride.
One of the key sights to visit in Potsdam is the Sanssouci Palace, frequently compared to Versailles in Paris, France. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that features beautiful gardens and architecture. Around the Sanssouci Palace is the large Sanssouci Park, which is beautifully landscaped and perfect for walks, photos, and picnics.
The famous Potsdam Conference was held at the Cecilienhof Palace, which is open to visitors who can walk through and view the exhibits about this historical event. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful courtyards and gardens.
Brandenburger Straße is also very worthwhile. There are pedestrian-only walkways consisting of boutiques, local goods shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants.
Another great way to see Potsdam is by boat. Weisse Flotte Potsdam GmbH offers a 90-minute palace tour. It also operates a two-hour cruise starting at Potsdam’s harbor near the central train station. This cruise travels down the Havel River, providing views of parks, castles, and mansions owned by famous film and television stars. Passengers can also view the temporary residences of President Truman and Winston Churchill.
We ate lunch outside in a beautiful setting along the Havel River. We watched different types of boats pass by, from commercial vessels to private yachts. The restaurant was called Trattoria Toscana Potsdam.
We have written about Berlin in the past, and it is definitely worth a visit. It is possible to combine Berlin and Potsdam for a short vacation of at least three or four days.
The most notable sights we saw in Berlin were the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and the East Side Gallery section of the Berlin Wall. The Brandenburg Gate stands as a symbol of reunification. At one time, this monument separated East Berlin from West Berlin. Now it represents unity and is not to be missed.
The Berlin Wall History Mile takes you through the history of Germany via 32 information boards. There are religious crosses all over the city that memorialize and honor those who lost their lives trying to cross it. Checkpoint Charlie was created as a crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.
There is a replica guardhouse and an outdoor exhibition that details escape attempts. The East Side Gallery features murals painted on the remains of the Berlin Wall. It is the longest remaining section of the Wall and shows the work of over 100 artists from around the world, all created in 1990 after most of the Wall was demolished.
As mentioned in our other Berlin article, “A One-Day Trip to Berlin“, we believe Berlin should be promoted as a “Peace City’ like Hiroshima due to its high concentration of cemeteries and memorials honoring the millions of people who died during World War I and World War II.
When traveling to Berlin, I recommend staying at the Berlin Marriott Hotel and not the JW Marriott. The Berlin Marriott Hotel is located at the Potsdamer Platz train station, which provides convenient travel to the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and other locations.
