Address and route planner Potsdam
How to find the Alfred Wegener Institute in Potsdam
Potsdam is situated in northeastern Germany, just southwest of Berlin. Motorways, airports and major railway lines allow easy access from within and outside of Germany.
By plane
Berlin has three airports: Tegel (TXL), Schönefeld (SXF), and Tempelhof (THF). From any of these airports, Potsdam can be reached by public transport (see below).
Tegel (TXL) airport
From Tegel (TXL) airport take bus line X9 or 109 to station ‘Zoologischer Garten’ in Berlin, follow the signs to the regional train station, then take the regional train RE1 to Potsdam main station (‘Potsdam Hauptbahnhof’).
Schönefeld (SFX) airport
From Schönefeld (SFX) airport take the regional train RB 22 to ‘Potsdam Hauptbahnhof’. Alternatively, take the suburban train (S-Bahn) line S9. Change trains at station ‘Westkreuz’, from where another S-Bahn goes directly to ‘Potsdam Hauptbahnhof’.
Tempelhof (THF) airport
From Tempelhof (THF) airport take the subway U6 from the subway station ‘Platz der Luftbrücke’. Change trains at station ‘Friedrichstraße’ where you can connect with the regional train to ‘Potsdam Hauptbahnhof’.
All options for getting to Potsdam from any of the Berlin airports take approximately 1 hour.
Taxi prices from the Berlin airports to the Alfred Wegener Institute vary between 40 and 50 Euro.
By train
Most regional fast trains bypass Potsdam on their way to Berlin. Generally, we recommend getting off at station ‘Berlin Hauptbahnhof’ and taking the regional train RE1 to ‘Potsdam Hauptbahnhof’ (Potsdam main station), which takes approximately 20 minutes.
Ticket
To get to Potsdam from Berlin main station, you need an ABC Ticket (2.60 Euro) which you have to get stamped on the platform.
How to get to the Research Unit in Potsdam
The Research Unit Potsdam of the Alfred Wegener Institute is located at Telegrafenberg, the historic science campus ‘Albert Einstein’, south of Potsdam city centre. From the railway station ‘Potsdam Hauptbahnhof’, a 20 minute walk takes you to the campus at Telegrafenberg. Alternatively, a taxi takes less than 5 minutes and costs approximately 5 Euro. Local public transport in Potsdam (bus and tram), does not service Telegrafenberg directly. There are two buildings of the Alfred Wegener Institute on campus. The old one (A43) is located on the right-hand side, about 50 m from the entrance to the campus, and the new laboratory building (A45) is located about 100 m left of the campus gateway.
By car
Potsdam is located just southwest of Berlin, within the ‘Berliner Ring’, a circular motorway surrounding Berlin. From nearly all directions, the simplest way to Potsdam is via the ‘Berliner Ring’ (A10), exit 17 ‘Potsdam-Süd/Michendorf’, subsequently following the road B2 to Potsdam. 600 metres past the ‘Potsdam’ city limit sign, turn right into ‘Brauhausberg’ street, also signposted for ‘Landtag’. After 1.2 km, turn right again into ‘Albert-Einstein’-street (signposted ‘GeoForschungsZentrum’), which will lead directly to the entrance of the campus.
