Potsdam weekend: discover art, culture and cuisine

Enjoyment of art in the Museum Barberini in Potsdam

A Potsdam weekend with Art and we hope that you will enjoy the visit to the Barberini Museum on the Old Market. Potsdam has been in since January 2017 Brandenburg an attraction for art lovers. The Barberini Museum is located in the Barberini Palace, a magnificent building on the Old Market. In addition to the Nicolai Church and the City Palace, the center of Potsdam offers a museum for modern art. We visited it.

Potsdam weekend with art enjoyment

After a visit to the ITB in Berlin, which we use as travel bloggers to discover new travel destinations, we spend a weekend in Potsdam. We want to look at the new art museum. If you follow a few tips, a Potsdam weekend will be an experience full of enjoyment.

Museum Barberini

An oasis of calm is the Museum Barberini. Due to its location on the Old Canal in Potsdam, the museum is predestined for spending restful hours in its exhibitions. The Palais Barberini evokes memories of Italian palazzi. That was exactly the intention of Frederick the Great, who had the 1771 Palace built as a community center. As an example for his design, the architect Carl von Gontard chose the baroque Palazzo Barberini in Rome. Friedrich Wilhelm IV left the building in the 19. Century to extend the side wings.

After the building was severely damaged during an air raid in World War II, it was torn off 1948. In the years after that it served as green space and parking. 2005 finally decided to revive the square at the City Palace. The facades of some neighboring buildings were reconstructed. The Palais Barberini, however, was newly created on the exterior dimensions of the original townhouse. Under the leadership of the Hasso Plattner Foundation, the new building of the Museum Barberini was built.

Today, the museum building completes the ensemble of magnificent buildings on the Old Market. However, the most beautiful part of the museum is the Friendship Island. Here the palace is reflected over the Havelterrassen in the water of the old ride. If one looks at the building under the shadow of the weeping willows, one feels transported to Italy.

Museum of world rank

The founding of the Barberini Museum, an initiative of SAP co-founder Prof. Dr. med. hc mult. Hasso Plattner is regarded as the most successful start of an art museum in Germany. In mid-December 2017, the 500.000 visitor was welcomed at the Museum Barberini. Exhibitions by world-class artists are now regularly on the program.

Current and future exhibitions

• Impressionism: The Hasso Plattner Collection permanent exhibition
• Kosmos Kandinsky. Geometric Abstractions in the 20th Century, February 15 – May 18, 2025
• Camille Pissarro. Visual worlds of Impressionism, 14 June – 28 September 2025
• Unicorn. The mythical creature in art, October 25, 2025 – February 1, 2026

Potsdam Weekend at the Museum Barberini

The museum is located on the Old Market. Thus, it borders on the front of the car-free square between Potsdam Castle (Brandenburg State Parliament) and the St. Nikolai Church. The back of the museum opens to the Alte Fahrt, a canal separating the Havel terraces and the Friendship Island. There is no room for a museum-owned parking lot. That's why it's important to think about where to park your car if you want to visit the art museum. The parking garages and parking lots in Potsdam are rare and often full.

There are two options within walking distance: the APCOA multi-storey car park in the Bahnhofspassagen on Babelsberger Strasse and the car park at Lustgarten. It takes about 7-8 minutes to walk to the museum from both of them. According to our hotel, the exit of the APCOA parking garage is often blocked. We wanted to avoid traffic jams. Therefore we choose a parking lot at the Lustgarten.

Take time to visit the museum on your Potsdam weekend. You can easily spend several hours in the exhibition rooms. If you are feeling peckish, there is a nice café on the ground floor, where drinks and snacks are served. If you are really hungry after visiting the museum, there is the pizzeria L'Osteria Potsdam just a few steps away.

Hotel at the Great Orphanage for a Potsdam weekend

A Potsdam weekend includes an overnight stay in a hotel where you feel comfortable. For us it was

Hotel at the big orphanage
Lindenstraße 28 / 29
14467 Potsdam, Germany
Book here* (ad)

The hotel is about a 13-minute walk from the museum on a side street. It has private parking for guests' cars. This is located in the next side street. The rooms are decorated in a minimalist way. They are reminiscent of the time when the house was used as a hospital and military hospital. The furnishings keep the house's past alive. The rooms are large, well-kept and clean. Our bathroom had a walk-in shower and offered plenty of space. The furnishing of the rooms made a staid impression with its brown-green color, but it offered everything for today's guest.

We loved the buffet breakfast that is served in the restaurant. Our Potsdam weekend starts with enjoyment. The restaurant is spread over several rooms. One of them is the winter garden. The selection of dishes at the buffet is excellent. In addition to a range of cold cuts and ham, there are salads, Easter eggs (in the period before the holidays), waffles with chocolate sauce, all kinds of muesli, warm dishes such as scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages. Guests can squeeze fresh orange juice. Jams, fruit, various Types of bread and cakes make this breakfast the highlight of the hotel. The icing on the cake is the fresh strawberry smoothie that is brought to the table for every guest. Breakfast for a start to an enjoyable day.

Old city guard

Since we will arrive the evening before our museum visit, we will have a good meal that day. The perfect introduction to a Potsdam weekend. The hotel only offers breakfast. Lunch or dinner are not served there. Therefore, in the blue hour, we take a walk to the nearby Alter Stadtwächter restaurant. It only takes about five minutes to reach this restaurant after strolling through the quiet neighborhood. Past city mansions and palaces, the path leads us through a residential area where artists, galleries and language schools have settled. We think it is a pleasant environment.

Austrian kitchen

We are a little surprised when we find that the kitchen in the "Old Town Watchman" has numerous Austrian specialties. We are all the more curious about how it tastes. We shouldn't be disappointed. Petar's onion soup was as good as a starter as was my seasoned meat. My game ragout was perhaps a little over flavored. But Petar enjoyed his steak, city guard - baked pork loin with seasoned meat and cheese. There were also croquettes and peas.

History

The restaurant is rustic and cozy. We eat at chunky wooden tables and look at decor on the walls, which reminds of the history of the building. The house is listed. It originated when 1722 the city wall was built around Potsdam. This did not serve as protection against attacks. Rather, she should prevent the king's soldiers from escaping from the city. The restaurant building once served as the royal guard lancers for accommodation. Horse harnesses and wooden wheels on the walls are reminiscent of the fact that stagecoaches used to change their horses in these walls. The former horse stable is today the main hall of the restaurant.

Art (enjoyment) for your Potsdam weekend

Our visit to the Barberini Museum, the overnight stay in the Hotel am Grossen Waisenhaus and dinner in the Altes Stadtwächter restaurant make our stay in Potsdam an enjoyable experience. After a week in Berlin, this day of short distances, good food and a pleasant night in the hotel is perfect for a relaxing end to a trip to Brandenburg.

Practical:

Museum

Museum Barberini
old market
Humboldtstraße 5-6
14467 Potsdam

Opening hours

Mondays, Wednesdays Sundays, 10-19 clock (last entry: 18 clock)

Closed on Tuesdays

Every first Thursday of the month: 10-21 clock (last entry: 21 clock)

Information about the museum You can also find this link.

Museum Shop

Located in the basement, the Museum Shop sells art books and museum merchandise from Paris to New Zealand. Here you will also find products from international manufacturers, design from art schools and special gifts.

details Information about the exhibitions in the Barberini Museum here.

Questions and answers about a cultural weekend in Potsdam:

Which museums should you definitely visit in Potsdam?

Potsdam, for example, offers an impressive variety of museums that are of great interest to culture-loving travelers. Particularly recommended are the Museum Barberini with its important collection of impressionist art and the Potsdam Film Museum, which highlights the rich history of German film. Also worth seeing are the Potsdam Museum - Forum for Art and History, which offers a deep insight into the city's history, and the Potsdam Natural History Museum, which is ideal for family visits.

Which festivals or cultural events take place regularly in Potsdam?

Potsdam also hosts numerous festivals and cultural events throughout the year. Particularly noteworthy are the Potsdam Palace Night in summer, when the city's gardens and palaces are lit up in festive lights, and the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival, which offers a wide range of classical music. For film fans, the Sehsüchte Festival, one of the largest international student film festivals in Europe, is also a must. There are also regular arts and crafts markets as well as theater and opera performances.

Where can you experience and buy traditional handicrafts in Potsdam?

There are several places in Potsdam where you can experience and purchase traditional handicrafts. The Dutch Quarter is a particularly charming area with many small shops and workshops that offer handmade artwork and souvenirs. The Kunsthaus Potsdam and Weberplatz in Babelsberg are also good places for handicraft lovers. Here you can watch local artists at work and buy unique pieces that will be a special souvenir of your visit to Potsdam.

Are there any recommended day trips from Potsdam for those interested in art and culture?

For those interested in art and culture, there are also several exciting day trips from Potsdam. An absolute highlight is a visit to the New Palace and Sanssouci Park, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Berlin, just a short train ride away, also offers a wealth of cultural experiences with its numerous museums and galleries. Another worthwhile trip is to Wittenberg, the city of Martin Luther, which delights visitors with its historical sites and museums on the Reformation.

Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Getting to your Potsdam weekend:

Compare and book flights here*. The nearest airport is Berlin Brandenburg in Schoenefeld. It is also possible to travel to Potsdam by train: Timetable and booking*. Also drive Long-distance buses * to Potsdam. Or you can also rent a rental car.

If you book via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.

Car Rentals:

Cheap car hire - book quickly and easily!

Accommodation for your Potsdam weekend

Hotels and accommodation in Potsdam* you can, for example, book through our partner booking.com.

If you book via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.

Have you already visited Potsdam?

Have you discovered something special that others might also like? For example, have you been to a restaurant that is worth visiting? Or did you like an exhibition in a museum? Let us know in the comments. Our readers will definitely appreciate your tips.

By the way: suggestions for Vacation in Germany by car you can also find here. Further Slow Travel Destinations here.

More things to know

• Tangermünde
• Art and culture travel
• Swedish hospitality in Berlin
• Flair Hotel Müllerhof in Caputh at the Schwielowsee
• Tips for a weekend in Würzburg
• Tips for a wellness weekend in Schladming, Austria
• Wellness weekend at the Chiemsee
• Nice places in Germany for a weekend
• Gifts for travelers

In addition to these tips for a weekend in Potsdam there's Slow Travel Travel tips are also available under this link.

Source for tips for a Potsdam weekend with art and enjoyment: research on site. In any case, we would like to thank Erlebe Brandenburg for the invitation to Potsdam research and the Barberini Museum for the filming and photography permit. However, our opinion remains our own.

Updated on 18.07.2024

Text Potsdam weekend: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and Museum Barberini, Helge Mundt (1st photo)