There are a surprising number of things to do in Potsdam. You can see the Orangerie where the sister of Friedrich the Great and husband Nikolaus I lived, with an entire room devoted to works of Raffael. Another interesting structure is Schloss Charlottenhof, a small castle built in the style of a Roman Villa. One of the most beautiful parks in all of Europe is the Sanssouci Park. The Chinese Teahouse on the palace grounds today houses a priceless collection of Chinese porcelain. The site of the famous Potsdam Conference can be seen today at the Cecilienhof. Another ancient castle which is not too crowded is the Babelsberg Castle.

Potsdam shopping has plenty of the usual consumer products that every household needs, and because the tourism industry is growing rapidly, Potsdam also has some of the glitzy tourist souvenirs. Mixed in with this, though is a gem or two that even the veteran shopper will find interesting. A book on the details of castles in Germany is one example. A main shopping street is Brandenburger Strasse, near to Sanssouci Park. Many of the shops and boutiques here were built in old courtyards. The old Dutch quarter of the city is fashionable now with shopping choices and eateries.

Car parking/hire in Potsdam is an interesting proposition. Picking up a car at the airport after making your selection online gives you economy as well as convenience. Although driving in another country with an unfamiliar vehicle can give some drivers pause, there is nothing like the freedom of being able to come and go as you please to visit the local sites of interest. Even the somewhat more expensive alternative of a hired car with driver is preferable to many tourists than trying to figure out local public transportation options. Struggling to find car parking in some international locations can be a problem especially in the more urbanized areas.

Not many people realize how much there is to recommend the city of Potsdam. A Potsdam hotel, for example will be one that is set up for business travelers to be able to hold a seminar, conduct their sales calls, or entertain potential customers comfortably. A Potsdam restaurant will provide food and drinks that rival the best of the European capitals. French, German, Swiss and Belgian elements can be found in the regional dishes prepared and served with a uniquely German style. Best of all, the cuisine hasn't been trivialized by too much exposure to tourism.