How to Get to Potsdam From Berlin by Train

Potsdam isn’t far from Berlin, and with so much culture and history, it’s no wonder many people include it on their Berlin itinerary. If you’re trying to figure out how to get to Potsdam from Berlin, I’ve got all the details here for train and Sbahn options.

Potsdam is a fantastic city to add to your trip to Germany, especially if you like castles, palaces, and gorgeous gardens. Whether you’re visiting Potsdam on a day trip from Berlin or spending a few leisurely days here, it’s likely you need to know how to get from Berlin to Potsdam.

Hotels in Potsdam, Germany

Potsdam is one of the most popular day trips from Berlin. But there is a lot to see here! If you want to explore more of the city, the parks, and the palaces, it might be worth booking a hotel in Potsdam and staying for a few days.

Where to stay in Potsdam

Here are our suggestions for hotels in Potsdam:

BUDGET

Design Apartments Am Weinberg

MIDRANGE

Hotel Am Grossen Waisenhaus
NH Hotel Potsdam

UPSCALE

Hotel Brandenburger Tor Potsdam
Dorint Hotel Sanssouci Potsdam

>>Read: 101 Things to do in Berlin

How to Get to Potsdam From Berlin

Traveling from Berlin to Potsdam is easy when you know how to do it.

What is the distance from Potsdam to Berlin?

The distance from Berlin to Potsdam is roughly 35km, or almost 22 miles. This is calculated from Berlin Hbf (main train station) to Potsdam Hbf.

Driving can take 45 minutes or longer depending on traffic conditions. Parking in either city can be expensive, so in most cases, it’s best to stick with Berlin’s public transportation to reach Potsdam from Berlin.

Keep reading, and I’ll tell you exactly how to get to Potsdam from Berlin by train and Sbahn.

Berlin to Potsdam by train

The best option to get to Potsdam from Berlin by train is taking the regional train in most cases since it will take you from Berlin Hbf to Potsdam Hbf in just 25 minutes or so. The regional train also makes fewer stops than the Sbahn.

There are a few different options for regional trains to Potsdam from Berlin. They are the RE1 and the RB23.

Where else can you get the regional trains from Berlin to Potsdam? The RE1 and the RB23 stop at several stations within Berlin, so to avoid losing time on your way to Potsdam from Berlin, check which train station in Berlin is closest to where you’re staying.

The Berlin stations where the RE1 and RB23 stop are, from east to west: Ostkreuz, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstr, Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg Bahnhof, and Wannsee Bahnhof.

The RB23 actually starts at the airport before going to the stations listed above, so if you’re going directly from the Berlin Airport to Potsdam, that is a good option.

Now let’s look at each of the regional trains you can take to Potsdam from Berlin.

RE1 going towards Brandenburg Hbf

The RE1 going towards Brandenburg Hbf stops at Potsdam Hbf, Potsdam Charlottenhof, and Park Sanssouci Potsdam stations. This train runs once an hour, so plan accordingly.

Note: Not all RE1 train routes are exactly the same. The one that goes to Magdeburg as the end station stops in Potsdam Hbf but it does not stop in any of the secondary Potsdam train stations.

RE1 going towards Magdeburg

If you take the RE1 that lists Magdeburg as its end destination, you’ll have to get out at Potsdam Hbf and walk, take a tram, or take a bus to Sanssouci Palace. Or you’ll have to switch to another train (RB21, RB22, RB23) if you want to go to either Potsdam Charlottenhof or Park Sanssouci Potsdam station.

RB23 going towards Potsdam Golm Bhf

Another option for taking a regional train from Berlin to Potsdam is the RB23. The end station is Potsdam Golm Bahnhof, but it also stops at Potsdam Hbf, Potsdam Charlottenhof Bhf, and Potsdam Park Sanssouci Bhf.

Potsdam Golm Bahnhof is quite a bit beyond the parks and palaces, so make sure you get out before that station.

I have more info on which station is best for which parts of Potsdam below.

You can check train schedules on the Deutsche Bahn website, but they can’t sell you tickets for this route. More info below about where to buy tickets from Berlin to Potsdam, but you should download either the BVG Fahrinfo app or the VBB Bus & Bahn app.

Using the S bahn Berlin-Potsdam routes

You can also get to Potsdam from Berlin using the Sbahn, but it will take about 10 minutes longer. From Berlin Hbf to Potsdam Hbf it takes about 35 minutes instead of 25 minutes. The Sbahn also makes more stops along the way.

But it could be a good option depending on where you’re staying in Berlin. And since the Sbahn runs more frequently than the regional train, it might be more convenient despite the extra time.

If you decide to take the Sbahn to Potsdam, you will need the S7 going towards Potsdam Hbf. The last station on this route is Potsdam Hbf, so you don’t have to worry about missing your stop.

Also note that the Sbahn does not go to Park Sanssouci Potsdam Bahnhof. So if you want to go to that station, you will need to switch to the RE1, RB21, RB22, or RB23 for an additional 5 minutes.

You can catch the S7 Sbahn from quite a few stations in central Berlin. This is not the full list, but the route include Ostkreuz, Warschauer Str, Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt, Friedrichstr, Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, Charlottenburg Bahnhof, Westkreuz, and Wannsee Bahnhof.

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Have questions about planning your trip to Berlin?

Join the Facebook group here to chat with Ali (she runs this site) and other people who have been to Berlin for tips.

>>Read: Do You Need a Plug Adapter for Germany?

Which is the best station to use in Potsdam?

If you’re going to Potsdam from Berlin, you’ll need to know which station in Potsdam is the best one for you to use. This depends on what you want to see and do in Potsdam, and mostly where you want to start your day.

If you’re not sure yet, check out my post about what to do in one day in Potsdam.

Potsdam Hbf

Potsdam’s main train station, Potsdam Hbf, is the closest train station to the old town. This is a good station to get out at if you want to start your day in the old town and Dutch Quarter.

In the old town, you’ll find several museums, monuments, churches, old city gates, cute cobbled streets, and many restaurants and hotels.

To reach Sanssouci Palace from Potsdam Hbf, you could walk, but it’s roughly 3km (almost 2 miles) so that might take awhile.

A quicker option is to take bus 695 and get out at Schloss Sanssouci. It’ll take less than 20 minutes.

Or you can take tram 91 going towards Potsdam Pirschheide, and get out at Luisenplatz-Süd/Park Sanssouci. From here, you’ll be a short walk from the southeastern edge of the park, and you can meander through the park and gardens until you reach the palace.

Potsdam Hbf is also a good option if you want to go to Marmorpalais or Schloss Cecilienhof. Both can be reached using tram 96 to Potsdam Rathaus and then switching to bus 603 towards Potsdam Höhenstr. Get out at Schloss Cecilienhof, or at Glumestr for Marmorpalais.

Potsdam Charlottenhof Bahnhof

The Potsdam Charlottenhof station is named for its location close to the Charlottenhof Palace. It’s the next train station after Potsdam Hbf.

From the Potsdam Charlottenhof station, it’s about 10-15 minutes walking to get to Charlottenhof Palace. Honestly, this is probably the least useful of the three train stations in Potsdam.

Potsdam Park Sanssouci Bahnhof

Two stops after the Potsdam main station, you’ll get to the Park Sanssouci Potsdam station. This station is located right across the street from Sanssouci Park.

It’s a tiny bit closer to walk from the Park Sanssouci Potsdam station to Charlottenhof Palace vs using the Charlottenhof Palace train station. The Park Sanssouci station is also close to the Neues Palais (New Palace).

The Park Sanssouci Potsdam station is a better choice if you want to spend as much of your walk as possible in the park itself. But it’s worth noting that none of the stations are really all that close to Sanssouci Palace itself.

To reach Sanssouci Palace from the Park Sanssouci train station, it’s about 2.5km (about 1.5 miles) to walk, but it’s all through the beautiful park and gardens.

This is probably the best station to use to quickly reach the park and start seeing some of the most famous palaces in Potsdam.

Is there a bus to Potsdam from Berlin?

Berlin and Potsdam are well connected by regional train and Sbahn, but there aren’t good bus connections.

If you’re staying in the southwest corner of Berlin, in the Wannsee area, you could theoretically take a bus over the border between Berlin and Brandenburg to reach Potsdam. But this takes much longer and doesn’t even get you to the central part of Potsdam or near Sanssouci.

The only other bus option is if you take a bus tour like this one from Berlin. It takes you from Berlin to Potsdam by bus, and a guide tells you all about the places you visit in Potsdam.

>>Read: 2 Days in Berlin: Ideal Itinerary for 48 Hours in Berlin

What Berlin Potsdam ticket do you need?

One of the great things about going to Potsdam from Berlin by train or Sbahn is that the tickets are inexpensive. To get from Berlin to Potsdam, you will need a ticket that covers zone C, so if you’re staying in central Berlin, you’ll need an ABC ticket.

A single ticket for Berlin zones ABC costs 3.80 euros, so it would be 7.60 euros round trip. This is fine if you’re going from Berlin to Potsdam and back, AND if you don’t plan on using public transport during your day in Potsdam or at other times during the day while you’re in Berlin.

More likely, you’ll want the option to use the buses and trams in Potsdam. Plus you might want to do other things in Berlin later in the day or evening that would require transport. In this case, a 24 hour ticket for zones ABC is better and costs only 10 euros.

If you’re traveling with a group, a 24 hour small group ticket for zones ABC might be the better option. For up to 5 people, this ticket costs 26.50 euros.

So for a solo traveler or two people traveling together, two single 24 hour tickets for zones ABC are best. But if you have 3-5 people, the 24 hour small group ticket for zones ABC is the cheapest ticket option.

Where to buy an ABC ticket for Berlin to Potsdam

You can buy an ABC ticket to get from Berlin to Potsdam from any ticket machine found at train stations, Ubahn stations, or Sbahn stations. They’re also available in the BVG Fahrinfo app or the VBB Bus & Bahn app.

Look for the 24 Stunden Karte for one person 24 hour tickets, or the 24 Stunden Karte Kleingruppen for the small group version. Choose Berlin ABC, and then since it’s a 24 hour ticket, choose your start time and date for when you need the ticket to be valid.

Berlin Travel Resources

I want you to have the best trip to Berlin, and hopefully this guide for how to get to Potsdam from Berlin is helpful. But there are lots more tips on the site!