
The Royal Potsdam Tour
The Glory Of Prussia



…Schloss Charlottenburg, Schloss Sanssouci, the grave of Frederick the Great, the Schloss Cecilienhof site of the Potsdam Conference, the Neues Palais, the ‘Bridge of Spies’, and much more…
Discover the story of a mighty European state that no longer exists – the Kingdom of Prussia. Understand how this defunct power redrew the map of the European continent; became the driving force behind German unification, and the leading state in the German Empire.
Examine the jewel in the Prussia crown – the captivating ensemble of UNESCO World Heritage listed parks and palaces in Potsdam – the former summer residences of the Prussian Kings & German Emperors –join us inside the Golden Cage of the Iron Kingdom.

For more than 200 years Berlin served as the capital of a powerful European state that no longer exists – the Kingdom of Prussia.

This ‘Iron Kingdom’ helped redraw the map of the European continent under the reign of Frederick the Great – and following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte saw its political and economic influence grow exponentially. Becoming the driving force behind German unification and the leading state in the German Empire from unification in 1871.
Traces of this once glorious Imperial power remain visible across Berlin – but most significantly in an ensemble of opulent royal palaces and parks in the nearby city of Potsdam.

A city of kings and emperors, Potsdam housed Prussia’s royal House of Hohenzollern (lit: ‘High-Taxer’) family on the edge of Berlin until the fall of German imperialism in 1918. While actually older than Berlin as a city settlement by around 300 years, Potsdam only began to rise to importance in the 1600s – with the growing power of Prussia. This city settlement would soon boast its own grand palace, following the acquisition of Potsdam by the Great Elector – Frederick William I – from the aristocratic Hake family.
Now often referred to as Berlin’s equivalent of Versailles, Potsdam has a collection of impressive palaces and gardens – mostly originating in the 18th and 19th centuries. The most famous of which being the Schloss Sanssouci – commissioned by Frederick the Great to act as his philosopher’s retreat away from the pomp and ceremony of the Prussian capital of Berlin.

Although Potsdam did not make it out of the Second World War entirely unscathed, it retains much of its old-world splendour – visible in its luscious lakeside parks, castles, and its charming historical centre. It would also serve in 1945 as the location of the final conference of the war-time Allies – with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and US President Harry S. Truman gathering at the Cecilienhof Palace to conduct 17 days of negotations that would come to define the Cold War landscape – and shape the framework of European and German discourse for decades to come.

Come and join us for a day out in this beautiful city, boasting architectural wonders of Baroque, Rococo & Neo-Classical style. European in the truest sense of the word.
Best experienced during the warmer months – from April until November.
“Matt is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Berlin. Our tour was jam-packed with great sites, both in the can and walking. He was so friendly and approachable. Loved the tour! I would highly recommend Matt’s tour, especially for those who just have a day or two in Berlin!”
Stephen KarinaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · August 2025
“Excellent presentations with use of pictures for visual addition of various locations. Provided background information on each site. Great lunch selection. Very competent driver, Max, as well as Matt, our guide! Efficient use of allotted time!”
Tanny CraneThe Berlin History Tour · July 2025
“Excellent tour guide, among the best we’ve had. We would definitely book with him again when we return to Berlin.”
Jim DemandThe Berlin History Tour · July 2025
“Matt is great. He is interesting and extremely informed. He entertained our history buffs and recommended some additions to the agenda. I highly recommend using him.”
Noah KresslerBitesize Berlin Walking Tour · June 2025
“I can’t imagine a better tour of Berlin than Matt’s. He’s extremely knowledgeable, yet makes it feel like a casual conversation rather than a lecture. It was a very enjoyable day and set us up with a great background and ideas to plan the rest of our week. Couldn’t recommend more.”
Patricia BeckerPotsdam Parks & Palaces · June 2025
“Matt and his driver Marcus did a great job of showing us Berlin in a 6 hour period. We were able to see and learn about the city and it’s rich history in an efficient and interesting manner. It was like having two good friends show you around their city. They shared many interesting facts and stories that we thoroughly enjoyed and will think about in the future. We highly recommend them and this tour.”
Matteo SlaninaThe Berlin History Tour · May 2025
“Matt is a fantastic guide. He is so knowledgeable, prepared and interesting. We were able to see so much in one day. I highly recommend Matt if you want a thorough and fascinating day in Berlin.”
Gary StephensonThe Berlin History Tour · May 2025
“Our group of six spent two full days with Matt and unanimously agreed he was an outstanding guide. His deep and wide-ranging knowledge of Berlin and German history—spanning centuries—enriched every moment of our time together. He answered every question with clarity and offered concise, engaging explanations of even the most complex topics. Matt was also incredibly flexible, effortlessly adapting each day’s agenda to suit our group’s interests. His restaurant recommendations were excellent as well. All in all, Matt was one of the best guides we’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering.”
Amy ScarboroughBerlin Shore Excursion · May 2025
“Matt was a wonderful guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and took us to many locations we didn’t know about or expect to see, yet still was very receptive to our requests on places we wanted to visit. Since one of our group was elderly and walked with a cane, he allowed us to walk at a slower pace and also suggested using a car on our second day with him. He supplemented his tour with a very comprehensive album of photos which he showed us on his large screen mobile device. His driver, Markus, also added to the tour with his stories of escaping from East Berlin. We would highly recommend Matt as a great tour guide.”
Kate DonaldsonPotsdam Park & Palaces · May 2025
“Matt is amazing. His depth of knowledge and interpersonal skills are unmatched. We had a great time ( my two teenage sons and myself) and learned so much! Highly recommend and thank you for an amazing morning!”
Linda EppedioThe Berlin History Tour · April 2025
“Fabulous tour full of insights and interesting facts. We saw several things/places that we would have never seen had we done our own touring of Berlin. Thank you, Matt, for a great day in Berlin!”
Michelle BallThe Bitesize Berlin Tour · January 2025
“Matthew is an experienced guide and from our first contact built a specific itinerary to meet my needs on Berlin . Large tablet of archive footage providing more contact information . Matthew assisted in solving some extra personal needs including booking train travel to my next City and other aspecs to make my stay in Berlin better .”
Angie FaccendaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · September 2024
“Matt far exceeded every expectation for our first time in Berlin! It honestly felt as if I had someone with their PhD in all things Berlin following us around! I would recommend him for anyone wanting a great experience in Berlin!”
Michael KopittkeThe Capital Of Tyranny Tour · August 2024
“I highly recommend Matt as a tour guide if you are staying in Berlin or wanting a tour outside of the city as well! He has a wealth of knowledge about history and is excited to share it. You can tell he not only enjoys giving tours and the history he is presenting, but also being with his clients. He is easy going but at the same time incredibly professional. We booked the Potsdam tour with him and wish we had more time to do other tours with him such as a Cold War tour, and a WW2 tour. Thank you Matt for a great day in Potsdam for our family.”
Hunter KillenThe Berlin History Tour · August 2024
“Matt was so knowledgeable and professional during our Berlin, multi-gen family tour – thank you!”
Nancy BeardThe Potsdam Parks & Palaces Tour · July 2024
“Matt and Marcus (driver) were amazing. If I could leave more stars I would. Matt’s historical knowledge coupled with Marcus’s story of life behind the iron curtain made for a fascinating tour. I highly recommend.”
Julie KoblishThe Berlin History Tour · July 2024
“Matthew was excellent: informative, knowledgeable, responsive, great sense of humor. He was wonderful with our kids, conversational, and kept things moving at the perfect pace. The history and knowledge from Matthew was great context for the remainder of our trip, which included Auschwitz, Munich, and Bavaria. Highly recommend Matthew as a guide.”
Elizabeth HutchersonThe Republic Of Fear Tour · July 2024
“We had the most amazing tour with Matthew today. He is extremely knowledgeable and there was not a historical question he could not answer. I would highly recommend booking this tour.”
Gordy HultenThe Berlin History Tour · June 2024
Good to know
- We also offer private walking-tour variations of all our famous private transportation tours.
- Get in touch for bigger group tours — we also offer bus tours for companies and schools.
- English-language tours with native English speakers — in other languages on request.
- Book directly with a local company — over 20 years' experience offering guided tours of Berlin.
The itinerary
Sites included on this tour.
- The Charlottenburg Palace
- The Bridge of Spies
- The Glienicke Palace
- The Babelsberg Palace
- The former Emperor’s train station
- The New Palace
- The Orangerie Palace
- The Chinese Tea House
- The Sanssouci Palace
- The grave of Frederick the Great
- The panoramic vista of the terraced vineyard in front of the Sanssouci Palace
- The Bildergalerie
- The Church of Peace
- The quaint cobbled-streets of Old Town Potsdam
- Potsdam’s Brandenburg Gate
- The Peter Paul Church
- The Dutch Quarter
- The Alexandrowka Russian Colony
- The New Gardens
- The Cecilienhof Palace
Featured experiences
Deep-dives on the sites you'll explore.
Mythbusting Berlin
The myths we set straight on this tour.
Beyond visiting the sites across Berlin and Potsdam that are connected with the Prussia era we will also discuss the myths and realities of the story of what was once one of the greatest European powers.
- What was Prussia?
- When was Prussia abolished?
- Why did the Prussian royal family construct their palaces in Potsdam?
- Was National Socialism the continuation of Prussian imperial ambition?
- Was Potsdam damaged during the Second World War?
- Why was Schloss Cecilienhof chosen for the post-WWII Potsdam Conference?
- Why is there a Russian colony in Potsdam?
- Does Potsdam have the largest Dutch quarter in the world outside of Holland?
- How did Frederick the Great get his nickname?
- Did Frederick the Great introduce the potato to Germany?
- Was Frederick the Great gay?
- Was German unification inevitable?
- Are there any living relatives of the German Hohenzollern royal family?
- Was Prussia the first state to adopt the Protestantism of Martin Luther?
- Was Prussia the last area in Europe to convert to Christianity?
- Was Germany responsible for the First World War?
- Was the colour blue invented in Prussia?
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a private guided tour of Berlin?
Booking a tour via our website is simply a matter of navigating to the tour page and choosing the date you would like to tour and starting time via the calendar panel on the page. You will then be taken to a booking form, where you enter your personal details and can then choose your payment option. Once you complete your tour booking it will then enter our system as pending until confirmed on our side (this usually takes less than an hour depending when we see the booking request). Then within the next 24 hours we will contact your directly via the email you supply during the booking process to say hello and confirm the booking. If you have any special requests or requirements, please add them to your booking during the checkout process and we can finalise these details via email.
How do I pay for a tour?
Once we confirm your booking, we send a secure payment link (processed by Stripe) that accepts all major credit and debit cards – VISA, Mastercard, Amex, and more. If you would prefer to pay via bank transfer or PayPal, we can also arrange this. Contact us via email(info@berlinexperiences.com) with any payment questions you might have.
When do the tours start?
We find that as many of our clients are holidaying in Berlin that starting slowly in the morning for our Full Day Experiences is both recommended and most rewarding. A relaxing 10am start for our five/six hour tours also means that we can integrate a short coffee/snack break or lunch around 12:30pm. For the Half Day Experiences, we would also recommend the same – although along with the One Hour Experiences there is more flexibility due to the reduced length of the tours. When booking your tour, you will find the options for starting times in the booking window. If you don’t find the time you are looking for – get in touch(info@berlinexperiences.com) and we can work something out!
Where do the tours start?
For all of our Full Day Experiences, it is possible start and finish the tour at your hotel/accomodation. Depending on the location in the city and its distance from the areas we will be exploring, it may be more advisable to start at a centrally located landmark (within the Mitte district) such as the Brandenburg Gate or Museum Island. Our One Hour Experiences are designed with specific starting point and end points in mind – for each of these tours there is a train station nearby which is easy to reach for travellers wishing to arrive by public transportation. Check the description on the tour pages for these One Hour Experiences to see exactly where the meeting points are. For the Half Day Experiences, it may be possible in some cases (such as the Bitesize Berlin 3 Hour Private Van Tour) to start at your accomodation also. The other tours listed have specific starting points – be they the Berlin Brandenburg Airport for the Airport Transfer Tour or the Brandenburg Gate for the Berlin Explorer Tour.
Do you customise your tours?
While each of our tours have been designed to approach a certain historical theme or aspect of the city, we can always tailor your time in the city further. Berlin is not laid out chronologically, so when exploring it is only natural that we will pass landmarks and locations that are from different periods or are worth mentioning for certain events that have taken place there. If there is any aspect of Berlin’s history or theme that you would like to explore further we can always work on integrating relevant parts of the city into a tour you book – or suggest another tour that might be more relevant. Don’t hestitate to get in touch if there is something you would like to explore that you don’t see as part of our catalogue of tours. Send an email to info@berlinexperiences.com and we can discuss how to best make the most of your time in our extraordinary city.
What is your cancellation policy?
As referenced in the Terms & Conditions page, we do not offer refunds on bookings made closer than one month of the tour date. For example: if you book a tour on January 1st for July 1st, the same booking cancelled after June 1st is by that point non-refundable. Bookings cancelled up to one month before the tour date will be refunded at 75% of the cost (100% of the booking cost minus a 25% administration fee). If you would prefer to amend the tour date for another date this can be done at no additional cost. As we accepted bookings through credit card payment, any cancellations made last minute due to cancelled/delayed flights or emergencies may be covered by your credit card company. We do advise our clients to consider travel insurance to cover for unforseen circumstances. Our issued invoices can be then used to receive a refund from your insurance company or banking institution. Cancellations can be made via email to info@berlinexperiences.com.
Can I book multiple tours?
Absolutely. You can do this either by booking tours individually through the booking platform we used or by adding tours to the shopping card system and booking multiple tours together.
Do you accept last minute bookings?
Due to the high number of tours we have booked during the high season (April-December), we have a one week limit on our booking platform. This means that you cannot automatically book any tour that would take place within the next 7 days through the platform. If you would like to book a last minute tour – just because we do not list availability on our booking platform does not mean that one of our guides is not available – do get in touch via email(info@berlinexperiences.com) and we will see what we can do!
Does Matt personally lead all of the Berlin Experiences tours?
I (Matt) endeavour to lead all the tours I offer, but depending on availability may already be booked with other clients. In which case, I have a team of the best professional guides in Berlin, all with years of experience and dedication to their work, that I work with. All are members of the Berlin Guides Association, an organisation known throughout the world for its guiding excellence. When you book you will receive a confirmation email within 24hrs to follow up on your booking and present which guides might be available and best suited for your tour/s.
Are all the suggested sights listed in your tours covered on every tour?
The sights listed in the itinerary sections of our tours are a general guide to what may be covered when booking those particular tours and not necessarily what we may be able to cover during that day. Particular factors such as official state visits, political demonstrations, reconstruction – and even the odd bomb disposal of Second World War ordnance – can shape & reshape our path through the city. We appreciate that every guest is different and approaches the city with different expectations and interests – and we tailor our tours accordingly. If you find something in particular that interests you then please do refer to this when contacting us so we can arrange your day accordingly.
Can you arrange an airport transfer for my day of arrival/departure?
Our professional drivers are also available for airport transfers – provided with either Mercedes Benz V-class or Volkswagen Caravelle vans. This service is for up to 4 people – including a moderate amount of baggage (one large bag and one small bag per person). You can book directly via the private BER airport transfer item in our booking platform. If you are looking for a private airport transfer and require a larger vehicle for a bigger group – get in touch via email(info@berlinexperiences.com).
I am having issues with the booking process/my card was rejected.
If you are having issues booking through our booking platform – please get in touch via email ASAP(info@berlinexperiences.com) so we can see what we can do to fix the problem. If you receive a particular error message that might be due to our booking system please do take screenshots (photos of your screen with the error) if possible. We also accept alternative forms of payment through bank transfer/Paypal or cash on the day for clients who would prefer these methods.
Do you charge VAT on your tours?
As we are based in Germany, we charge the official 19% VAT (sales tax) – already calculated as part of the cost of our tours and the price that you see when you pay. Additionally, we include the booking fee, guide fee, admin fee, driver and transportation costs (where applicable), and the mandatory German tourism insurances as part of the costs we present. We aim to be 100% transparent with our services – offering a fair price for a fantastic day’s exploration!
More
Other Full Day Experiences.

The Mythbusting Berlin Tour
Our Mythbusting Berlin Tour is a six hour expert-led private guided van tour blending together aspects of all our legendary history tours.
The Capital Of Tyranny
Explore what remains of Hitler's Berlin - heart of the Nazi empire - on our expert-led private guided tour through the Capital Of Tyranny.
The Republic Of Fear
Explore life behind the Iron Curtain in the Workers’ and Peasants’ state of East Germany; on our private guided Republic of Fear tour.
The Battle Of Berlin Tour
Explore what remains of this important urban battlefield with our Battle of Berlin Tour & retrace the route of the 'Race to the Reichstag'.
The Sachsenhausen Camp Tour
Our Sachsenhausen Camp Tour is a five hour expert-led private guided tour of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial and museum.

The Ravensbrück Camp Tour
Visit the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp memorial on our seven hour guided van tour. The largest female concentration camp in Nazi Germany...
Step inside the story.
€1,000 · private · 6 Hours
Reserve The Royal Potsdam Tour