Potsdam Tourist Traps

Although we really enjoyed the palaces and gardens of Potsdam from the outside, we wanted to see at least one palace from the inside as well. We unfortunately chose the palace of Sanssouci.

We paid 8 euros for a tour of just 30 minutes. You are not allowed to go alone into the palace, instead you have go with a group. Tours with a real guide were in German only, the rest of the world has to use an audio-guide. Our group just fitted in the rooms, it was almost impossible to walk around and have a look at something. And the few rooms we visited (about 9) were not even that interesting.

Unique Suggestions: Just stay outside and enjoy the gardens.

The Nueue Palais isn't a tourist trap, but it's a great example of East German restoration techniques. From a distance, it looks like a fine brick palace. Up close, however, you can tell that the 'bricks' are prefab sheets of concrete painted to look like bricks. Pretty questionable, in my book.

Given that Potsdam was very difficult for visitors to get to until German reunification, it's interesting how the tourist industry has developed so quickly. Where tourists go, the tourists traps follow! The streets leading into Park Sansocui were full of all the possible souvenirs a visitor to Potsdam might want (and plenty more he wouldn't want!)

This weekend I was at 'Krongut Bornstedt' it is just behind the Sansoussi Palace - It is a real Touri-Trap many things sold there are produced all over Germany - prices are high and quality is not realy good......
I'm missing a real concept at this former royal farm - like prince Charles does it on his farms.......
Krongut Bornstedt Parkgesellschaft mbH, Ribbeckstrasse 6/7, D-14469 Potsdam