Potsdam

The city is the capital of Brandenburg and a university town on the Havel River, roughly 15 miles southwest of Berlin. Its territory runs along the river and includes numerous lakes, palace estates and sprawling parklands distributed among residential neighborhoods and old quarters.

In the 18th century Frederick the Great made this town his royal residence and commissioned Sanssouci Palace with its surrounding parks. The Prussian ruling family shaped the layout of the place into the 20th century, when it later faced further changes through world war and the division of Germany.

Today the Dutch Quarter is home to artists, craftspeople and cafe owners who work in the red brick buildings once built for Dutch immigrants. In the old town and around Bassinplatz, restaurants, small shops and cultural events merge into a lively daily rhythm that draws locals and travelers alike.

Frequent trains link the city to Berlin every ten minutes, making it easy to explore both the old center and the Babelsberg studios. Parks and lakesides are reachable on foot or by bicycle, while some estates offer paths designed for wheelchair access.

The Glienicke Bridge between the city and Berlin served as an exchange point for captured spies during the Cold War. At this crossing over the Havel, several agents were handed over in operations that drew international attention.

Location: Brandenburg

Elevation above the sea: 35 m

Part of: agglomeration of Berlin, Berlin-Brandenburg Metropolitan Region

Shares border with: Berlin, Potsdam-Mittelmark District, Havelland District, Stahnsdorf

Website: https://potsdam.de

GPS coordinates: 52.40093,13.05914

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:27