Potsdam, Germany

Rail Guide to Potsdam

Introduction

You may know Potsdam for being the setting of Roman Polanski’s war drama ‘The Pianist’, or maybe even for the 1930 movie ‘The Blue Angel’ starring Marlene Dietrich. It’s not just that it’s a painterly city with opulent palaces, gardens and the river Havel, it’s also home to many of Germany’s film and TV companies. One of the studios, Babelsberg Filmpark, is open to the public.


Potsdam’s historic quarters are popular with both tourists and locals, from fabulously wealthy Neubabelsberg, once home to Harry Truman, to the trendy Dutch quarter, with its rows of red brick gabled houses and fashionable boutiques. There are more shops on the pedestrianised Brandenburger Strasse, and the weekly market on Bassinplatz has local, seasonal food.