Hey everyone,
I'll be staying in Berlin for almost a week and would like to spare a day for Potsdam; I've checked various websites and decided to see the Sanssouci Palace & Park there.
My question is... would that take my whole day or can I also squeeze in Filmmuseum Potsdam? Would you recommend the Filmmuseum? Or should I spend the rest of the day on another palace? The museum looks intriguing, though.
I'm open to other suggestions as well.
Thanks, guys!
Cihan
For the castle Sanssouci you need not more than one hour. At the end of the parc you have the Neues Palais (new palast) with that, the gardens (up to your interest of course) and the Filmmuseum you can spend a full day.
There is unrestricted access to Sanssouci Park during daylight hours. You can easily stroll around there for two to three (or even more) hours. Access to Sanssouci Palace is limited, you can only see it with a guided tour. The tour takes approx 45 minutes, queing for the tickets may probably take longer and even be unsuccessful, there is a max number of 2000 visitors per day.
Film Museum is worth it if youre interested in those things. But Potsdam has more to offer:
Glienicker Brücke* (mind your trenchcoat), where during the cols-war-times spies were exchanged between east and west;
Alexandrowka: Russian-style block houses from early c19 plus orthodox chapel on the hill. One hill further the architectural folly of the Belvedere am Pfingstberg*, great views.
Schloss Cäcilienhof*, where the 4-powers-agreement on Germany after WWII was negotiated. The villas, where Stalin, Truman and Churchill stayed, can also be visited.
Dutch Quarter* in the city center from c18, for the Amsterdam-feeling.
You can easily spend more than one day in Potsdam, since this list is still incomplete.
Cool, thanks for the suggestions. The problem is that I can't spare more than a day in Potsdam, if I want to see Berlin fully.
The film museum is closed. There are construction works and it will reopen in spring.
In case you are interested in movie history you could consider a trip to the film studio (studio tour) or a visit to the Filmpark Babelsberg (which is kind of leisure park). Every 30 minutes there are short guided tours to outdoor film sets. http://www.filmpark-babelsberg.de/medienstadt-tour.html It is part of the filmpark visit.
For the studio tour you'll have to be more than 1 person and you'll have to make a reservation at least 10 days in before. It does not belong to the film park but is separate. Please ask if it is offered in English.
http://www.studiobabelsberg.com/public-relations/studio-tour/
The film studios are not in the center so it's no good idea if you're short in time.
Berlin offers a film museum as well. It's located at Potsdamer Platz.
My suggestion for Potsdam: If it's nice weather you could rent a bike at platform 6 in Potsdam main station and you'll be able to see most in a short time frame. (Be aware that riding bike in the castle parks is not tolerated on all routes.)
http://www.potsdam-per-pedales.de/radverleih/radstation-hbf-potsdam.html
A nice tour is via Park Babelsberg(at the lakeshore), Jagschloss Glienicke, Glienicker Brücke, Neuer Garten (with Meierei, Cecilienhof and Marmorpalais), Alexandrowka(if you are quick with side step to Pfingstberg), Nauener Tor with Dutch Quarter, Luisenplatz, Park Sanssouci (where you could lock it near the church Friedenskirche). I'm sure the guys at the rental point will help you. I think they might have a map with a similar suggested tour.
For food/drink: A bistro just before(east of) Jagdschloss Glienicke and the Meierei in the park "Neuer Garten" offer beer gardens at the lakeshore.
If you want to use public transport: You don't need a hop on tourist bus. This is a link to a reduced traffic network map which only contains lines that are relevant to tourists:
http://www.swp-potsdam.de/swp/media/05-verkehr_1/fahrplaene_pdf/fahrplan_2013/liniennetz_ab_02_03_2013/130302_a_liniennetz_224x130_130207.pdf
The general traffic map can be found here: http://www.swp-potsdam.de/swp/media/05-verkehr_1/fahrplaene_pdf/fahrplan_2013/liniennetzplaene_gueltig_ab_09_06_13/130609_pdm_tag_130530.pdf
The Berlin ABC - day ticket is valid in Potsdam and worth the price.
Edited by: european83