Things to Do in New Palace

New Palace houses 200 rooms but Frederick the Great never lived there. Built between 1763 and 1769 at the western edge of Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, this baroque showpiece served as an elaborate guesthouse for visiting dignitaries—pure theater designed to flaunt Prussian wealth after the Seven Years' War. The scale is massive. The red brick and sandstone facade stretches across the landscape with hundreds of windows crowned by a massive dome, while inside you'll find Germany's most elaborate rococo interiors including the famous Grotto Hall with walls encrusted in shells, minerals, and fossils. It sits in Sanssouci Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site ~30 kilometers southwest of Berlin.

The Dutch Quarter has the best dining options in historic brick buildings. Traditional German and international restaurants cluster around the historic city center and near palace sites, while the Sanssouci area leans toward tourist cafes and beer gardens. Several restaurants in restored historic buildings serve elevated German cuisine with regional ingredients, though the palace cafe is more convenient than exceptional.

May through September is peak season. Late spring through early fall offers the best weather for exploring the extensive grounds when all facilities are open and gardens are in full bloom, but winter visits have fewer crowds and the baroque interiors feel especially cozy. Weekdays beat weekends year-round.