Discover UNESCO: Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin
Walking the extensive gardens of Sanssouci in Potsdam on a nice, sunny day simply is one of the best things to do when visiting Berlin. What used to be a small garrison town outside of Berlin, changed drastically when Frederick the Great decided to establish his new residence on top of several wine terraces. Sans souci, or without worries, used to be the theme of his small Rococo villa in Potsdam and this theme can still be felt when walking through the sculpted park while visiting some of the palaces that made Sanssouci appear as the Prussian version of Versailles.
Quick Facts
- This UNESCO site is quite extensive and includes palaces and parks in locations of Potsdam, Babelsberg and Berlin.
- All palaces and parks were constructed between 1730 and 1916, the UNESCO inscription happened in 1990.
- The main area around the Sanssouci summer palace includes the Picture Gallery, the old and the new Orangery, the Neues Palais, the Belvedere, Chateau Charlottenhof, the Chinese Tea House and the Friedenskirche.
- Most buildings are open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, but the Neues Palais is open Moday to Wednesday only from10am to 6pm (5pm during the winter months).
- Each building has a different entrance fee, starting with 12 euros (8 in the winter) for Sanssouci alone, but apparently a general entrance ticket can be bought for 19 euros. Walking around the extensive gardens is always free.
Palaces of Sanssouci Park
Sanssouci Summer Palace with Wine Terraces in Potsdam
Picture Gallery, the Palace of Paintings by Sanssouci
The bigger Palace Neues Palais with the Shell Room in Potsdam
New Orangery, the Green House for the Tropical Plants
Belvedere on the Pfingstberg overlooking Potsdam
Intimate Chateau Charlottenhof in the Gardens of Sanssouci
Chinese Tea House in the Middle of Sanssouci Park in Potsdam
Why this is a UNESCO Site
Including up to 150 buildings, the sculpted park and palace landscape stretching between Potsdam and Berlin is simply unique in its existence and scale. The whole area not only represents the glory of its time, but also an outstanding example of creativity in architecture and landscaping with various influences from many different parts of the world.
Thoughts and Observations
For me personally Potsdam and especially Sanssouci has always been a great place to visit when in neighboring Berlin. While many weeks could probably be spent trying to explore all the many parks, palaces and other historical architecture, luckily the gardens around Sanssouci offer a condensed version of some highlights. Stretching from the Picture Gallery and the Friedenskirche all the way to the big Neues Palais, this UNESCO inscribed park is simply a great place to wander and get lost, even without an entrance ticket to every single building along the way.
Out of the grand structures in the park, my favorite still remains the New Orangery. Set in a really prominent location on top of several flights of elaborate stairs and overlooking the entire park, this fancy version of a greenhouse is simply a great building to visit. Housing basically just tropical plants during the winter months, it seems quite surprising that the Orangery is a lot bigger and taller than the actual palace of Sanssouci. But this seems almost like a minor detail when realizing how many seemingly strange or out-of-place buildings there are in Potsdam, making this truly an interesting place to visit and spend time.
Out-of-place Buildings in Potsdam
Red Brick Houses of the Dutch Quarter in Old Potsdam
Wooden House of the Russian Colony Alexandrowka in Potsdam
British Style Chateau Cecilienhof where the Potsdam Agreement was signed
Tips and Recommendations
- If you are on a budget, simply skip all entrance fees and walk through the extensive park of Sanssouci while seeing all buildings from outside.
- For continued walking, visit Neuer Garten where Cecilienhof and the Marble Palace are located and the Pfingstberg for a better view.
- But for a different Potsdam experience visit some of the seemingly out-of-place buildings. Besides the Chinese Tea House, there is the Steam Engine House in shape of a mosque, the tower of Albert Einstein looking like a submarine, the fully functional Dutch Windmill, the Dutch Quarter in Old Potsdam, the Russian Colony Alexandrowka of wood houses, including a pink church and the British style Chateau Cecilienhof where the famous Potsdam Agreement was signed after WW2.
Personal Rating
- Go right now!
- Definitely go soon
- Go if you are around
- Stop by if you are bored
- Consider missing it
The many UNESCO palaces, extensive parks and even the out-of-place buildings are definitely all must-see sights when visiting neighboring Berlin. On a sunny day Potsdam makes the perfect place for day trip or two.
Getting There
The S-Bahn S1 currently makes the trip from Berlin to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof from where a connection can be caught on RE1 to Charlottenhof and Park Sanssouci. Alternatively different regional trains from the bigger stations like Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse and Zoologischer Garten will stop in Potsdam on their way out-of-town.
Have you been to Potsdam and Sanssouci? Did you visit any of the out-of-place buildings?
Wow it really does look like there is so much to see here! I love your rating system – “Go right now!” – I’ll be adding it to my bucket list for sure
Lauren recently posted…Tips For Saving Money For Travel (Part 2)
Thanks Lauren, I am glad to hear that you like the rating! Definitely add the UNESCO site of Sanssouci to your bucket list, it’s so worth a visit…
Dennis, I need to go back to these sites. We really only did the outside last time we were there! Great photos.
Corinne recently posted…Weekend Travel Inspiration – By Foot
Thank you very much Corinne! Sanssouci is definitely worth going back to and in fact seeing all the sights around in Potsdam, you actually need a couple of days altogether…
What a beautiful place… Berlin is one of my favourite cities, and we are long overdue a visit. Next time I will be adding this to the list…
You are right Emma, Berlin is certainly a great place to visit, especially in the summer. And a little side trip to Potsdam to visit the many UNESCO inscribed buildings of Sanssouci is well worth having on the to-do list…
Lol, what a great name for a palace. Wondering if Frederick the Great really felt that way there. Chinese Tea House seems particularly interesting among out-of-place buildings. And it just reminds me how many times I’ve been in Germany, and yet how little I know about the country. This definitely looks like a must-visit site. Thanks for sharing, Dennis!
frankaboutcroatia recently posted…Galesnjak – The Lover`s Island in Croatia
That is a very good question Frank, but one would hope that Sanssouci really lived up to its name and kept its promise
The Chinese Tea house was indeed in interesting place that seemed quite out-of-place, but at the same time it was probably part of the whole idea of presenting Potsdam as an unusually international city of its time. Definitely try to make it to Sanssouci and some of the other places on your next visit to Germany, you will be surprised how much there is to see in Potsdam… 
What an excellent tour of Sanssouci, I’ve always wanted to visit. Now it makes more sense to spend more time in Berlin. To bad you can’t photograph the intereriors
noel recently posted…Cool Graffiti at Clarion Alley, San Francisco
Thank you very much Noel! It definitely makes a lot of sense to spend more time in Berlin, just make sure to go during the summer months. But taking a day trip to Potsdam and seeing Sanssouci and some of the other buildings in town will certainly enrich your whole visit…
A definite must-see. For those who can, probably best to visit during the spring or summer months. The grounds are always beautiful and always well worth seeing, but in winter the statues decorating the gardens are covered to protect them from damage. I would have liked to have seen them in all their glory
That is true Mayra, the Sanssouci park is open all year round, but at some point in the fall the statues get covered and the tropical plants move into the Orangery greenhouse. While there seems to be less to see in the winter, at least you are more likely to have the entire park to yourself. So on a nice, sunny winter day it’s definitely still worth to visit and to stroll around…
I love the magnificent statues and architecture, love your rating system too
Rachel@safari254 recently posted…Watamu A Touch of Gold
Thanks a lot Rachel! You are right, the many statues, beautiful buildings and extensive park of Sanssounci are definitely a great place to visit…
Potsdam was one of my favorite day trips from Berlin, despite the horrible weather on the day I went. The skies in my photos definitely look nothing like the ones in yours. The color of the font on your site more closely resembles the color of the sky that day.
Daniel McBane recently posted…Real and Fake Leg Rowing Fishermen on Inle Lake
I am sorry to hear that you caught such a bad weather day when you visited Sanssouci, Daniel. But since Potsdam still made to one of your favorite day trips, you can only imagine how great it must be to visit on a nice and sunny day. You really might have to go back some day for a second impression of the skies…
I went to Sanssouci, but didn’t explore the whole grounds. I only saw the summer palace and the gardens immediately behind it. It was too cold and the grounds so vast. I really enjoyed my time in the rest of Potsdam though. It would have been really cool to check out some of those unusual houses.
Adelina | PackMeTo recently posted…The Minoan City of Knossos â Myth or Reality?
It’s great to hear that you have at least been to Sanssouci, Adelina! A warm and sunny day would definitely be the best for a walk around the park, but since you haven’t seen all of Potsdam anyway, maybe you should consider going back at some day. There is actually so much to see in Potsdam that you could go back numerous times before you have seen everything there is to see and everything that is included in this vast UNESCO site…:)
This is amazing. I’ll be adding this to my Berlin list… I’d really like to take a day trip out here. The other buildings in Potsdam you listed sound really intriguing. Thanks for sharing!
Anna | slightly astray recently posted…On Approval, Criticism, and How I Know I Made the Right Choice
Thank you Anna! Besides Sanssouci, the other out-of-place buildings are certainly worth a visit as well. Definitely try to add everything to your Berlin list, make sure to catch a nice sunny day for your Potsdam excursion and I am sure you will love the visit as well…
Great Post and photos! We loved Potsdam and Sanssouci – such a spectacular and relaxing place to escape the craziness of Berlin. We had an amazing sunny daytrip last year and both exceeded our expectations in every way. Thanks for sharing and safe travels!
Travis recently posted…Vancouver Visitor Guide: Where Should I Stay?
Thanks a lot Travis! It’s great to hear that caught a sunny day when you visited Potsdam and Sanssouci, that really helps to make this the perfect little day trip from Berlin. Always safe travels to you as well!
I agree with your rating, Dennis. This is definitely a Go Right Now kind of place.
I love the palaces and the variety of styles. Oh and BTW, I laughed out loud when I read that you left architorture (clever word!). I’ll have to share that with my friend who’s an architect. I know he’ll get a kick out of it. Thanks for the tour!
Marcia recently posted…A Subtlety, Provocative Sugar Sculptures by Artist Kara Walker
Thank you very much Marcia, I am very happy to learn that you agree with my rating of Potsdam and Sanssouci! But it’s even better better to hear that I could make you laugh with my former job description and I am sure your friend can relate to it as well…
LOVELY pictures. Adding to my #bucketlist
Kas
Thank you very much Kas, it’s great to hear that you liked the photos! Sanssouci is definitely well worth having on the bucket list 😉
I was lucky enough to spend a beautiful sunny day in Potsdam. Either for the landscape, amazing buildings which are testimonies of many important historic events or just the charm of the city, it is a place I highly recommend. The train trip from Berlin was also easy and pleasant.
It is very great to hear that your visit to Potsdam by train was pleasant and easy, Helena! The whole town, but especially Sanssouci, are really such nice places to visit, especially during a sunny day. I am really glad that you didn’t miss this beautiful highlight outside of Berlin…
I definitely should visit these sites. I haven’t seen too much of Germany so far, but I plan to go back soon. Very comprehensive post.
Anda recently posted…Transylvanian Trails: The Historic Center of Sibiu
Thank you very much Anda! There is actually quite a lot to see in Germany and I should really see more of it myself as well. But Potsdam and of course Sanssouci should definitely be on your to-visit list when you come back to Germany, especially if you make it to Berlin…
I Loved the photos. My research showed that I still have relatives living in
Germany in around Wisswasser but I am now 87 years old and may not be able to travel. I like to see photos of Germany, it is a beautiful country.
Thank you very much Norman, it is really great to hear that you enjoyed reading about Sanssouci and Potsdam! It really is a lovely place and should you get the chance to visit, despite your age, you should really do it. Maybe your relatives from Germany could go with you. Just make sure to go in the summertime, it’s much more enjoyable…