History and sightseeing

Potsdam is a city of UNESCO World Heritage, a city of parks and palaces on the idyllic lakes of the Havel, a grand and historical city of culture, a center of film, education and science, characterized by a 1000-year-old history as a royal capital and State capital near Berlin. You can discover countless monuments in and around the historical city center.

Please, visit https://en.potsdam.de/content/discover-potsdam for more information on its history and for sightseeing information.

We encourage visitors to the IASS from Germany and mainland Europe to travel to the institute by train or other low-carbon mode of transport wherever possible. Details of train connections to Potsdam from locations in Germany and the rest of Europe can be found on the Deutsche Bahn website.

Travelling

By train and public transport

From Berlin Hauptbahnhof
regional trains (RE/RB) in the direction of Magdeburg, Wustermark, Brandenburg or Golm (travel time to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof: 25 minutes)

or

suburban train S7 to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof from platform 16 (travel time: 38 minutes).

By plane

Visitors who do need to take the plane will probably arrive at one of Berlin’s two airports: Tegel or Schönefeld. From there, you need a single fare ticket for the zones ABC to travel by regional train to Potsdam.

A. Via Tegel

Take the 109 Bus from the airport to S+U Zoologischer Garten. At Zoologischer Garten the regional train (Regionalexpress RE1 to Magdeburg Hauptbahnhof) leaves from platform 3. You will reach Potsdam Hauptbahnhof after about 20 minutes.

B. Via Schönefeld

Walk from the airport to the train station Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld. The Regionalbahn RB22 to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof will bring you to your final destination in less than an hour.

From Potsdam Central Station to the IASS

Take Tram 93 in the direction of Glienicker Brücke and get out at the Schiffbauergasse/Berliner Straße stop, which is situated directly opposite the IASS.