Potsdam
Dec 22nd, 2013, 07:14 AM
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Potsdam
We may want to visit Potsdam during our 3 days in Berlin in May 2014. We are not really into museums so what would you suggest for say a half day visit? Also exactly how to get there? We will be staying at a hotel near the Kurfurstendamm U Bahn Station.
Dec 22nd, 2013, 07:32 AM
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You can get there by S-Bahn. Do you consider seeing old palaces visiting museums? If so, there are better things to do in Berlin other than going to Potsdam best known for Sans Souci, Frederick the Great's palace.
Dec 22nd, 2013, 07:37 AM
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Potsdam to me was far more than Sans Souci, which even if you ar not into lavish palaces still may delight you - its tiered-terraced gardens are unique and there is a sprawling - huge park that has follies dotting iyt (whimsical structures as well as things Chinoiserie (sp?) reflecting the 18th-century fascination with all things Chinese - a pagoda if I recall - anyway Potsdam is way more than just the palace - one of the most delightful parks I have seen.
But with only 3 days in Berlin there are probably more things right inside Berlin to more than occupy those days but Potsdam is about a 40-minute or so only S-Bahn ride (mainline trains go there to but to a different station farther away from Sans Souci and the town center.
But with only 3 days in Berlin there are probably more things right inside Berlin to more than occupy those days but Potsdam is about a 40-minute or so only S-Bahn ride (mainline trains go there to but to a different station farther away from Sans Souci and the town center.
Dec 22nd, 2013, 07:38 AM
#4
Hi BillT,
as Michael suggests, the main attractions in Potsdam are old places akin to museums, so if you are not that keen on museums, it may not be the best way of spending one of your precious 3 days, which is not very long to be spending in Berlin.
We liked Potsdam a lot and spent an evening and most of the following day there, only leaving then because we had to drive to elsewhere in Germany to stay with friends. but if old buildings do not interest you, it might not appeal.
as Michael suggests, the main attractions in Potsdam are old places akin to museums, so if you are not that keen on museums, it may not be the best way of spending one of your precious 3 days, which is not very long to be spending in Berlin.
We liked Potsdam a lot and spent an evening and most of the following day there, only leaving then because we had to drive to elsewhere in Germany to stay with friends. but if old buildings do not interest you, it might not appeal.
Dec 22nd, 2013, 08:00 AM
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Potsdam until H12:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/9417982245/
The titles of the slides may be somewhat misleading, as I use the name "Sans Souci" to represent the entire royal complex, not just Frederick's palace.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/9417982245/
The titles of the slides may be somewhat misleading, as I use the name "Sans Souci" to represent the entire royal complex, not just Frederick's palace.
Dec 22nd, 2013, 04:40 PM
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Michael, thanks for the great pics.
BillT, To me, the most interesting part of Potsdam is CECILIENHOF, the latter day palace of the Hohenzollern (German royal family) where the Potsdam Conference ending WWII took place. The audio guide to the whole event was very informative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilienhof
BillT, To me, the most interesting part of Potsdam is CECILIENHOF, the latter day palace of the Hohenzollern (German royal family) where the Potsdam Conference ending WWII took place. The audio guide to the whole event was very informative.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilienhof
Dec 22nd, 2013, 08:55 PM
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You take S7 from the Zoologischer Garten all the way to the Potsdam. Then take a bus. There are several choices. #695, which I took last year, makes several stops in Potsdam and took 15min to Sanssouci then continue onto New Palace. #606 only goes to the New Palace and #605 only goes to Sanssouci. I had a Berlin Welcome card for all the transport to Sanssouci.
I did not enjoy Potsdam. It was a cold, rainy day, and the enormous garden was not enjoyable. Sanssouci, for all the hassle to get in, is a small palace. I could not visit the New Palace, because I did not realize about a special exhibition, and all the tickets for the day were sold out.
I did not enjoy Potsdam. It was a cold, rainy day, and the enormous garden was not enjoyable. Sanssouci, for all the hassle to get in, is a small palace. I could not visit the New Palace, because I did not realize about a special exhibition, and all the tickets for the day were sold out.
Dec 22nd, 2013, 10:59 PM
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I thoroughly enjoyed Sanssouci and its whimsical gardens and various out-buildings. I found it very easy to get there -- but even if I remembered the way, it was so long ago that any info I have would be out-of-date. ANY good guidebook should give you all the info you need. And of course ANY decent guidebook will be a nominal investment in comparison to the cost of your trip.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Dec 23rd, 2013, 06:11 AM
#10
BillT - i don't know what's on your "yes" list for Berlin so far, but as you will have realised there are a lot of museums in Berlin. one that might interest you, despite your lack of enthusiasm for them, is the Deutsches Historisches Museum [German Historical museum] which will give you as over-view of as much [or as little] of german history as you want to understand the Berlin in which you find yourselves.
it's also in a really great building which is worth exploring in itself. And if it's hot, it's really well air-conditioned.
it's also in a really great building which is worth exploring in itself. And if it's hot, it's really well air-conditioned.
Dec 23rd, 2013, 06:12 AM
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Dec 23rd, 2013, 06:34 AM
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http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-journal.cfm
Plenty in Berlin itself for three weeks let alone three days - mine and others thoughts...
Plenty in Berlin itself for three weeks let alone three days - mine and others thoughts...
Dec 23rd, 2013, 02:20 PM
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Actually if I were doing this trip solo there would be a few museums that I would like to check out but I'm with my wife who does not do museums so we look to do other things. I'm ok with that (have been doing that for many years on many trips.)
So I'm looking for ideas here.
So I'm looking for ideas here.
Dec 23rd, 2013, 02:29 PM
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gtopograhpy of Terrors and the Plotenzee things are museums but rather grisly ones - at Plotenzee you can still see the meat hooks Hitler and the Third Reich's enemies were hung to death on - so not a typical museum.
Dec 24th, 2013, 04:57 AM
#15
Does a palace count as a museum?
you can go out to Charlottenburg to see the palace and gardens and get a boat back to central Berlin.
you can also do a boat trip around the canals of central Berlin which is quite interesting, but the two overlap quite a bit.
there is the dome of the Reichstag and/or the revolving restaurant of the Fernsehturm in Alexanderplatz http://tv-turm.de/e
the zoo
shopping especially the KaDeWe
the Berlin philharmonic
but definitely non-museum things to do in Berlin are a bit thin on the ground.
you can go out to Charlottenburg to see the palace and gardens and get a boat back to central Berlin.
you can also do a boat trip around the canals of central Berlin which is quite interesting, but the two overlap quite a bit.
there is the dome of the Reichstag and/or the revolving restaurant of the Fernsehturm in Alexanderplatz http://tv-turm.de/e
the zoo
shopping especially the KaDeWe
the Berlin philharmonic
but definitely non-museum things to do in Berlin are a bit thin on the ground.
Dec 24th, 2013, 08:22 AM
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but definitely non-museum things to do in Berlin are a bit thin on the ground.>
Not so at all - check out the East Side Gallery - yes a museum of sorts - the longest stretch of the old Berlin Wall now decorated by artists - just seeing the wall is quite a site.
Checkpoint Charlie - just seeing the old entrance to East Berlin
The old Eiffel-like tower - Trepfpunkt or something you can ascend for great views
Alexanderplatz the essence of East German socialist urban planning - hug expanse on concrete
Templehof Airport now that it's closed a testament to the Berlin Air Lift and an architectural feat in its own right.
and on and on... the church that was left part in ruins by the Zoo station
Not so at all - check out the East Side Gallery - yes a museum of sorts - the longest stretch of the old Berlin Wall now decorated by artists - just seeing the wall is quite a site.
Checkpoint Charlie - just seeing the old entrance to East Berlin
The old Eiffel-like tower - Trepfpunkt or something you can ascend for great views
Alexanderplatz the essence of East German socialist urban planning - hug expanse on concrete
Templehof Airport now that it's closed a testament to the Berlin Air Lift and an architectural feat in its own right.
and on and on... the church that was left part in ruins by the Zoo station
Dec 24th, 2013, 09:37 AM
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To see more than museums, consider getting this book, available through Abe books:
<b>Berlinwalks</b><i>/Four Intimate Walking Tours of Berlin's Most Historic Neighborhoods</i>, With Maps, Photos, and a Select List of Restaurants, Hotels, and Mor (Henry Holt Walks Series)
by Fritzsche, Peter, and Hewitt, Karen
<b>Berlinwalks</b><i>/Four Intimate Walking Tours of Berlin's Most Historic Neighborhoods</i>, With Maps, Photos, and a Select List of Restaurants, Hotels, and Mor (Henry Holt Walks Series)
by Fritzsche, Peter, and Hewitt, Karen
