Discover Germany's Prussian Past

“In the beginning there was only Brandenburg…” as historian Christopher Clark begins his master work of the history of Prussia, so too shall we go from Prussia’s humble beginnings to its complete annihilation at the end of World War II.

Our walk takes you past the dreamlike castle of Babelsberg and up to the lakeside Marble Palace with its Greek temple ruins. See an idyllic Russian village before exploring the quaint little 18th Century Dutch quarter. No surprise that Potsdam has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status.

But the cruel realities of 20th Century history intervened in 1945. Visit the grounds of Cecilienhof Palace, scene of the Potsdam Conference, where an American president, a Soviet dictator, and a British prime minister sat down to shape the future of Germany and Europe after World War II, ushering in the Cold War. Cross the “Bridge of Spies”, where Gary Powers was traded in 1962 and see the former Stasi prison, run by the East German secret police.

No visit to Potsdam is complete with a visit to the Sanssouci Park and Palace, created by Frederick the Great. Take in the gorgeous aesthetic of the palace and park and learn about Prussia’s most famous king.

Please note that we do not visit the inside of the Sanssouci Palace on this tour. If you want to visit the palace after the tour we recommend booking from a timeslot of 16:00 or later. Bookings must be made with the palace directly online, which you can do here.

If the Sanssouci palace is booked out we recommend other sights including Schloss Cecilienhof and the Neues Palais (New Palace). Please ask you guide for recommendations if you wish to stay in town after the tour!

Social distance is important. This tour is limited to 20 participants to keep both you and our team safe.