Potsdam Historical Palaces and Cold War Tour

Potsdam was a city of kings – a German Versaille where the Hohenzollern monarchy of Prussia constructed lavish palaces in which they could spend their summers. It was also the setting for the Potsdam Conference, where geopolitical giants Josef Stalin, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill met in the summer of 1945 to seal the post-war fate of Germany and Europe.
This 8-hour tour takes you to Potsdam to experience the pomp and grandeur of Prussia and explore the origins of the Cold War in both the historical city centre and the UNESCO-listed palace gardens. Your professional, local guide will provide an in-depth commentary throughout.

As part of the tour, you will be able to explore the interior of Potsdam Palaces. Please be aware that palace entry costs and train tickets are not covered as part of the tour. Please note that your guide will not guide you inside the palaces. You will be supplied with an audio guide for the duration of your visit to each palace.

What's included:

• Professional, local guide

Not included:

• Gratuities
• Food and drink
• Palace entry fees: 21€ per person
• Public Transportation Tickets: 10€ per person

What to expect:

Duration: 8 hours

Sanssouci Palace

Maulbeerallee, Potsdam, 14469, Brandenburg

Climb through the tiered vineyard up to Frederick the Great's iconic summer palace. Visit the grave of Prussia's most famous monarch, and learn how he became a legend. Go inside the palace and marvel at the stunning decor of the 13 rooms.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Schloss Cecilienhof

Im Neuen Garten 11, , Potsdam, 14469, Brandenburg

See where Truman, Churchill and Stalin sat for plenary sessions when they met to shape the fate of post-war Germany and Europe at the Potsdam Conference.
Please note that Cecilienhof Palace is closed for restoration work from November 1, 2024, until approximately mid-fall 2027. Interior visits will not be possible during this time.

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Glienicke Bridge

Konigstrasse, Potsdam, 14467, Brandenburg

Cross the 'Bridge of Spies', from West Berlin into East Germany, where the US and USSR swapped captured agents during the Cold War.

10 minutes

Marmorpalais

Im Neuen Garten 10, , Potsdam, 14469, Brandenburg

Gaze out over the Heiligen See (the 'Holy Lake') and take in beautiful views of Frederick William II's Marble Palace.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Potsdam Friedenskirche

Am Gruenen Gitter 3, Potsdam, 14469, Brandenburg

Explore the private church of the Prussian monarchy, and descend into the crypts to visit the graves of Frederick William IV and his wife Elizabeth, queen of Prussia and former princess of Bavaria.

15 minutes

Sanssouci Picture Gallery

Im Park Sanssouci 4, 14469 Potsdam, Germany

See where Frederick the Great housed his private art collection, a building the lead architect said would rival the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)

Luisenplatz, Potsdam, 14467, Brandenburg

Walk beneath the towering arch of Potsdam's Brandenburg Gate – built to celebrate the Prussian triumphs in the three Silesian Wars, and predating Berlin's Brandenburg Gate by roughly 20 years.

10 minutes

Dutch Quarter

Mittelstrasse, Potsdam, 14467, Brandenburg

Wander through the close-set streets of picturesque, red-brick houses in the Dutch Quarter and learn how Dutch craftsmen were drawn to Potsdam in the early 18th century to contribute to the expansion of the then garrison town.

10 minutes

Nauen Gate

Nauner Srasse, Potsdam, Brandenburg

Pass beneath another of Potsdam former city gates, built to designs created by Frederick the Great and the first example of British Gothic Revivalist architecture appearing in Germany.

5 minutes