Top 5 Potsdam Car Tours: Reviews, Tips & Must-Sees

Potsdam, just a short drive from Berlin, stands out as this absolutely amazing place, full of fancy palaces, lush parks, and a seriously intriguing history. While public transportation will get you there, having a car lets you see Potsdam at your own pace, exploring off-the-beaten-path spots that some tours tend to miss, you know? So, if you like doing your own thing, seeing things at your own speed, and maybe getting a bit lost (in a good way, of course), car tours are seriously great way to go. Here, we’ll get into some of the top car tours that will really give you this remarkable glimpse of Potsdam’s best. It’s very cool.

Before we get started, it’s certainly worth making this observation about car tours: they give you the freedom to stop and stare wherever you want, take those awesome photos, and really soak in the atmosphere. And, well, Potsdam? It’s an atmosphere kind of place, it is almost dreamlike. Public transport is rather reliable, but those schedules will possibly curtail your wandering spirit, right? You want to decide how long to admire the Cecilienhof Palace, not the bus timetable, I mean right? A car also means comfort, particularly if you’re rolling with family or friends. Plus, you get to bring that picnic basket, right? So, buckle up, we are about to see some fantastic drives!

1. The Classic Potsdam Palaces Route

Let’s start, shall we, with the route that almost anyone pictures when thinking “Potsdam”: the Palaces Route, so to speak. You want to point your vehicle towards the obvious focal point – Sanssouci Palace. Start there, and plan to spend a few hours; it’s more than the Palace itself; its also the gardens and the views from the hilltop, almost unmatched, actually.

Sanssouci Palace: It’s the big cheese here, built by Frederick the Great, just to be his getaway. A visit should include, as you might expect, walking around the gardens and, to be honest, snapping photos from every angle. Then, perhaps drive just east to:
Neues Palais (New Palace): A ridiculously gigantic contrast to Sanssouci’s comparatively smaller footprint, right? This Palace kind of yells “Prussian!” very loudly and impressively.
Charlottenhof Palace: Very small, almost cozy, this is a bit like seeing how the royals *really* liked to live, more or less.

Now, consider that you will likely require refreshments, ok? So, Potsdam actually offers more than just palaces! Drive toward the Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel) for lunch; plenty of nice spots for lunch can be found there, by the way. Then you might want to wind down the day, that is almost what anyone would do, with a visit to the Belvedere on the Pfingstberg, you see, for incredible views of the city at sunset. Ah, but perhaps plan for that dinner, as I am saying!

Driving Tips:

Parking close to Sanssouci might just require patience, basically. Aim to get there kinda early, you know?
Don’t assume that “a quick Palace visit” is a thing. It could easily become a half-day thing at each place, honestly!

Read our full review: Sanssouci Palace Car Tour Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Sanssouci Palace Route)

2. Potsdam’s Lakeside Drive: History Meets Nature

Time for a completely different view! Instead of grand palaces, how about some calm water, right? This drive winds along the Havel River and its picturesque lakes, mixing, you know, a little bit of history with some genuinely refreshing scenery. Start somewhere around Glienicke Bridge (the “Bridge of Spies”). Then you get to go see:

Glienicke Bridge: Famously, this bridge actually was used in the Cold War for some famous prisoner exchanges; you will likely pause a moment here. From here, start driving southward beside the Havel. It’s actually that easy! Make a stop at:
Babelsberg Palace and Park: The park provides seriously fantastic photo spots along the water; the palace is rather cool too. Very Prussian looking again!
Continue along the lake: Look for spots where you might stop to take photos or maybe have that picnic, right? Then think about ending up in Werder (Havel). It’s this totally picturesque little island town that is known for its fruit orchards and local wines, in a way.

I think it’s very important to remember that this tour would be very refreshing, and, well, quite a bit slower paced, very much so. Consider grabbing some local treats at Werder before heading back to Potsdam, as well.

Driving Tips:

Traffic might, possibly, be heavier closer to Potsdam; be very mindful of cyclists, just as a point.
Consider that visiting Werder during their annual Baumblütenfest (usually in late April/early May) will likely be awesome, but parking might require divine intervention, basically.

Read our full review: Potsdam Lakeside Drive Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Lakeside Route)

3. The Hidden Gems Tour: Beyond the Tourist Spots

Okay, let’s say you really like going beyond those postcards, alright? That said, this tour really wants to unearth places that not all that many tourists even know, and might give your Instagram an unusual flavor.

Start with a visit to Alexandrowka, is that a good first place, I wonder? It’s that curious little Russian colony, actually built in the early 19th century. And then:

Sacrow Palace and Church of the Redeemer: This somewhat quiet spot out on the water really will impress you with its calming vibes; the Church actually seems like it belongs somewhere closer to Italy! Then perhaps drive northwards to:
Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island): Ok, it’s a bit away from Potsdam, and actually closer to Berlin, so think of it as this interesting add-on if time lets you. Getting to the island is done with a little ferry; the whole spot actually feels like it stepped right out of a storybook.
Krongut Bornstedt: Time for something a bit different – how about some artisan workshops, you know, in a historic estate? It is very cool to visit.

While not so famous as some spots, you’ll likely find a rather quiet kind of charm and probably will connect better with the local feel here, okay? Check local event listings for Krongut Bornstedt; they sometimes have neat demonstrations or little markets.

Driving Tips:

The road to Sacrow can get a bit narrow, as a heads-up; just drive carefully, alright?
Check ferry times for Pfaueninsel in advance, okay; it does, certainly, tend to run on a schedule, I feel.

Read our full review: Potsdam Hidden Gems Tour Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Offbeat Potsdam)

4. The History Buff’s Potsdam Car Tour

Alright, ready to step way back in time? So, this route targets those absolutely very hungry for history, that is almost like a given, taking them through Potsdam’s key moments and events. Start at:
Cecilienhof Palace: This spot actually is *the* place where the Potsdam Conference happened in 1945; plan on looking around the inside and the surrounding park; really soak in the vibe of that place, you might say. Next stop?

The House of the Wannsee Conference (a short drive from Potsdam): This rather somber location can provide intense lessons on perhaps one of the worst moments of the 20th century; that being said, visiting requires kind of an emotional preparedness, perhaps.
New Garden (Neuer Garten): In addition to just beautiful gardens, there are these quite poignant memorials to events from the Second World War; a rather quiet space, you’ll likely spend some time pondering, right?

Reflect very carefully about scheduling in plenty of time, mostly because these places can sometimes be quite intense emotionally. Then take it easy; go slowly from site to site.

Driving Tips:

Pay rather careful attention to directions, particularly for House of the Wannsee Conference, since it’s, basically, away from Potsdam, okay?
New Garden might be just the place to simply stroll without purpose for a while after some time inside Cecilienhof, perhaps.

Read our full review: History Buff’s Potsdam Car Tour Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Potsdam History Route)

5. Potsdam and its Prussian Heritage

Potsdam exists, honestly, thanks to the Prussians, or at least the Prussian leaders of old, perhaps. With that comes this completely remarkable architecture and lots of places demonstrating Prussian influence. Start, certainly, at:

Brandenburg Gate: Yes, Berlin does have one, that is a known fact, but Potsdam’s is also quite amazing, believe it or not. Unlike its Berlin counterpart, Potsdam’s Brandenburg Gate looks different on both sides and might need to be thoroughly inspected. Head then to:
Alter Markt (Old Market Square): Mostly wrecked in World War II, this rather gorgeous spot has since come back to life in grand fashion, I have heard. This gives an idea, very clearly, of how Potsdam looked way back when.
Filmstudio Babelsberg: Take a tour, really, for a really neat glance into the place where a huge part of German film was (and is still) actually being made, ok?

Plan for lots of time simply wandering near the Alter Markt and taking snaps, or at least really examining the buildings, right? You will spot bits and pieces that show what Potsdam looked like once upon a time. After this, make it your task to dive right into the atmosphere of the film studios.

Driving Tips:

It would be wise to park a bit away from Alter Markt; it’s not the hardest walk from there, truly.
Filmstudio Babelsberg requires you to set aside enough time to actually make their guided tour worthwhile, really.

Read our full review: Potsdam Prussian Heritage Tour Full Review and Details. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Prussian Potsdam)