kja

I'm glad it proved useful!
IMO, Sanssouci is a delight -- I hope you enjoy it, too.

PalenQ

And don't forget to cancel your own ticket before boarding S-Bahns unless having a pass. No conductors on trains but spot checks for valid - cancelled tickets.

goddesstogo

thanks, pal. good to know.

Cowboy1968

The easiest way to reach Sanssouci palace from Berlin:

Buy a day ticket for zones ABC at you nearest transit stop in Berlin (valid for all your travels in Berlin as well as in Potsdam).
You can buy it from any machine you see in stations, subway stations, even from city bus drivers.
Validate it.

If you wish to focus on Sanssouci palace, your first destination is Potsdam Hauptbahnhof (Potsdam main station).
As Potsdam has more than one station, it's important to get the names right.
From Berlin, Potsdam Hauptbahnhof can be reached both by regional mainline trains as well as by S-Bahn.
The easiest way is by S-Bahn line 7 as it terminates at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof. So you cannot miss the right stop to get off.

At Potsdam Hauptbahnhof, you go up one level (escalator and elevator available) from the S-Bahn platform and follow signs to the main exit to get one level down to the central tram and bus interchange, right in front of the railway station.
Potsdam Hauptbahnhof is a bit confusing as it doubles as a small mall, so take a second to orientate yourself once you've taken the escalator or elevator from the platform.

On weekends April until October, you can take direct bus X15 in the direction of "Schloss Sanssouci" to its terminus.
On any other days, take bus 695 of Bahnhof or Bhf "Pirschheide" to stop "Schloss Sanssouci".

If you feel like visiting anything else, keep in mind that the ABC ticket you bought in Berlin is good also on any tram or city bus in Potsdam.
verkehr_toruristischer_liniennetzplan_2018_2019.pdf
Double-digit lines designate tram routes, three-digit lines are bus routes.

There is also a tourist info at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof - just in case.

goddesstogo

Thanks, cowboy. I'm going to print off all the transportation suggestions and take them with me. I'm sure it will all come clear once I'm there.

PhillyFan

I found the transportation options extremely confusing, and I actually got bad advice from a Berlin train station ticket seller (even though he was very helpful with every other question I had).

I agree with taking the train to Potsdam Hbf and transfering to the bus. This bus drops you off right in front of San Souci palace. (The more stunning view is from the other side of this drop off, so be sure to walk around).

I was told to take a train from Berlin Hbf to the local San Souci train station. This stop is close to the Neue Palace, but 1.5 miles from the San Souci palace! I missed my timed ticket entry b/c of the combination of the long walk and a late train. I was there on a weekday, and was able to switch my palace tour time.

I also loved the Chinese Pavilion on the grounds.

Dukey1

I very strongly suggest using the excellent Berlin transport system. Yes, when you look at a map of all those U-lines and S-Lines etc., it really does seem intimidating but once you use it I think you'll be happy you did so. The thing seems to be able to take you everywhere and we have used it for years and love it. Fast and dependable and no you DO NOT NEED TO SPEAK GERMAN to use it and as I said upthread the ticket machines are multi-lingual. You can also look at the many U-tube vids (some better than others) for tutorials on how to use the machines.

Enjoy your trip and Berlin.

danon

I seldom take tours but I found a bus tour leaving straight from the train station in Pod. very good..
There is quite a bit to see around Potsdam...
I think I took S- Bahn to Pod. Hbf.

On the was back the bus stoped in town , some of us got off and wondered around for a while.
I took a street car back to the statio.

goddesstogo

Dukey, we have a horribly inadequate subway system here and I love being in cities where there are great ones. Best one so far was Tokyo where there are so many lines they're using colours like taupe on the map! And then the whole thing is surrounded by a ring railroad. It's fantastic!
Yes, we will definitely be using the U-Bahn to get around Berlin.
danon, I'm going to look into tours as well.
Thanks!

danon

I did not plan on taking a tour (saw an ad at the Pod. station as I left the train )but I am glad I did.

Btw, agree about TO’s subway system. I always marvel at metro in Madrid - the city with similar
size population .

Dukey1

That thing in Tokyo is wild, I agree, and SO CLEAN

goddesstogo

danon, do you happen to remember the name of that tour company?

PalenQ

They don't give tours no more - when I went several years ago tours were mandatory, along with those slippers. And they were informative enough for me - as usual read up on it in some guidebook or buy once at entrance.

goddesstogo

Thanks, pal.

PalenQ

They don't give tours no more>

Well they do give audio guides so it is a self-directed tour (from post above - not mine).