| Offer | Duration | "From" price (Oct. 2026) | Included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private tour with skip-the-line tickets | about 6 h | several hundred dollars (up to $512 per person seen): check | licensed guide, return train tickets, skip-the-line entry to Sanssouci | those who want everything organised |
| Potsdam by van: Kings, Crimes & Spies | about 7 h | $150 | van transport, Sanssouci, Bridge of Spies | 20th-century history, comfort |
| Potsdam half-day guided tour | 4 h | price not seen: check | historic centre, Sanssouci gardens, ends in front of the palace | a guided walk, 4.5 from 178 reviews |
| Potsdam small group | about 6 h | $31.99 | City Palace, Sanssouci, Church of Peace, park; ABC ticket to add | first guided visit |
| Prussian palaces ticket | free | €22 | entry to the foundation's open palaces (SPSG), 4.5 from 2,818 reviews | independent travellers, budget |
| Potsdam: palace tour by boat | 1 h 30 | €23 | audio guide (English, German) | adding to a day, 4.5 from 2,953 reviews |
Prussian palaces ticket: the cheapest
The day ticket costs €22 and gives access to the palaces of the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation that are open, subject to availability (the New Palace and the Sanssouci picture gallery are among them; some sites are seasonal). It includes neither the train nor a guide: see our guide Potsdam from Berlin for the ABC ticket and the route. Tickets for Sanssouci Palace are for a fixed time and limited in number: book early.
Small-group tour of about 6 hours
The small-group tour leaves from Berlin with a train ride of about 30 minutes, then visits the City Palace, Sanssouci Palace, the Church of Peace and the park. It is listed from $31.99. An ABC transport ticket is needed for the round trip: check whether palace entry is included before booking.
Half-day guided tour
The 4-hour tour is run by Original Berlin Walks: it covers the historic centre and the Sanssouci gardens and ends in front of the palace. It is rated 4.5 from 178 reviews. We did not see its price: check it, along with transport and palace entry.
Potsdam by van: Kings, Crimes & Spies
The van tour, of about 7 hours, is run by On the Front Tours and mixes Sanssouci, the Bridge of Spies (Glienicke Bridge) and Checkpoint Bravo. It is listed from $150. It mostly suits those who are also interested in the Cold War.
Private tour with skip-the-line tickets
The private tour lasts about 6 hours: a licensed guide meets you at a Berlin station, and return train tickets and skip-the-line entry to Sanssouci Palace are included. Prices seen run to hundreds of dollars (up to $512 per person): check the rate for your group and the guide's language.
Palace tour by boat
The boat tour lasts 1 h 30, with an audio guide in English and German. It is listed under Potsdam rather than Berlin, and we saw no version departing from Berlin: it works as an addition to a day, once you are there.
What is not included, and pitfalls
- Cecilienhof Palace is closed for works and cannot be visited at present, whatever the offer; check spsg.de before leaving.
- The palace ticket does not cover transport: you need an ABC ticket (zone C); see our transport in Berlin guide.
- The palaces have different closing days: Sanssouci Palace closes on Mondays, the New Palace on Tuesdays.
- A half-day guided tour does not leave time to see everything: the park is large.
Which offer to choose?
- Budget and independence: the palace ticket and the train.
- First visit, with a guide: the small-group tour or the half-day.
- Recent history fans: the van tour "Kings, Crimes & Spies".
- Comfort, family or group: the private tour.
- Longer day: add the boat.
Preparing the day
See our guide to Potsdam from Berlin, the pages on Sanssouci Palace, the New Palace and the Dutch Quarter, then Museum Island or Potsdam if you hesitate.
