Surrounded by spacious parks and the river Havel, Potsdam is a perfect place to enjoy springtime the intensive way. Flowering apple trees at the Russian Colony Alexandrovka and the cherry blossoms behind the New Chambers at Sanssouci Park are just two examples for the different fragrances you will smell during this season. Combined with bright sunlight, bees buzzing and birds twittering, now is the best time to get outside and visit all the parks. The fastest way to get from one park to the other is by bike.
Bicycle lanes are well labelled within the parks and in the city area. The Belvedere Pfingstberg is just a short ride from the city centre. This "maison de plaisance" offers an fabulous view over Potsdam. On a bright day you can even see the skyline of Berlin in the horizon. The nearby Meierei offers craft beer. From its beer garden you can watch hobby captains in rafts and sailing boats as well as the sporty ones passing on boards and canoes. For more inspiration on how to explore Potsdam by bike or boat, please see our suggested bike tours here or ask the friendly staff in the Tourist Information Centers.
If you want to take it slow, try a river cruise from the Potsdam Harbour next to the state parliament building and the Old Market. The boats will carry you over the waves along Babelsberg Park, the pompous mansions of the Mansion Colony Neubabelsberg or under the world famous Glienicke Bridge where secret services of East and West exchanged captured spies during the Cold War.
Even on a rainy spring day, there are a lot of things to see and do in Potsdam:
- The Biosphere Potsdam: This giant 5.000m² greenhouse packed with 20.000 plants, 130 animal species and even a waterfall is just a 10-minutes tram ride away from the city centre. And the best: with around 20°C/68°F it promises 365 days of summer.
The exhibition “The Dream Factory – 100 Years of Film in Babelsberg” in the Filmmuseum Potsdam informs not only about the history of the film studios in Babelsberg, but moreover makes you discover the process of filmmaking through the decades interactively. Have you ever dreamed of being an actor/actress or a director? Here, you get your chance.
- Visit of one of the Palaces – With 16 Palaces the choice is yours. Whether it’s the impressive interiors of the New Palace, the stories about the Potsdam Conference at Cecilienhof Palace or the masterpieces of Caravaggio in the Picture Gallery. There are plenty reasons for you to get inside the palaces and wander through the royal chambers.
Springtime is also asparagus-time. The area surrounding Potsdam is a well-known asparagus growing area. Almost every restaurant will serve it with potatoes and Schnitzel and the mouth-watering sauce hollandaise. So if you want to eat something authentic and local – there it is.