Potsdam & Berlin: Sites of German History

Experience German history at the very places where it happened. The tour takes you from Potsdam’s New Garden via Cecilienhof Palace and Glienicke Bridge to the House of the Wannsee Conference.
Our journey to some of the most significant sites of 20th-century German history begins at Potsdam Central Station. Together, we make our way to the New Garden. Among mature trees, sweeping lawns and lakes, we first explore the historic park landscape before reaching a place where history was made in 1945 and the later division of Germany was already beginning to take shape.

Our next destination is Cecilienhof Palace, the site of the Potsdam Conference. Here, Truman, Stalin and initially Churchill, later Attlee, met to discuss Germany’s future and the reorganisation of Europe after the Second World War. We explore the decisions made here and how they shaped the post-war era.

We then reach the historic dairy in the New Garden, situated directly on Jungfernsee. Once used to produce milk for the Prussian royal court, it is now home to a brewery restaurant with wonderful views across the lake. There is time here for an individual break and refreshments.

Afterwards, we walk along the shore of Jungfernsee towards Glienicke Bridge. The idyllic landscape also tells the story of Germany’s division: this area lay directly on the border with West Berlin. Where we can now walk freely beside the water, border installations, a restricted zone and the Berlin Wall once dominated the landscape.

Finally, we reach the famous Glienicke Bridge between Potsdam and Berlin. During the Cold War, the border between East Germany and West Berlin ran across the bridge. It became world-famous for spectacular exchanges of spies between East and West. We cross the former border on foot, leaving Potsdam and entering Berlin.

On the Berlin side, we continue by public bus to Wannsee.

At the House of the Wannsee Conference, we examine one of the darkest chapters of German history. On 20 January 1942, senior representatives of the Nazi regime and government ministries met in the villa on the shores of the Großer Wannsee to coordinate the organisation of the persecution and murder of Europe’s Jews, which was already under way. We visit today’s memorial and educational centre and engage with the historic site and its documents.

Our tour ends at Wannsee after exploring three defining chapters of 20th-century German history: National Socialism, the end of the war and the post-war settlement, and the division of Germany and the Cold War — experienced at the very places where history actually happened.

Para garantir a disponibilidade, reserve o mais cedo possível. A reserva antecipada vale a pena considerar especialmente se você estiver planejando a viagem durante a alta temporada, como feriados ou fins de semana.

Esta excursão você pode cancelar sem custo até 24 horas antes do início da viagem. Se você cancelar após 24 horas ou não comparecer à excursão, ainda será cobrado o preço total da atividade. Chegar atrasado na coleta ou partida será considerado como não comparecimento.