Sanssouci Palace Park and Orangery in Potsdam

You'll begin your tour of this UNESCO World Heritage city at Luisenplatz, under the Brandenburg Gate, a lovely baroque archway that should whet your appetite for the kind of excellent architecture you'll see through this walk. Bask in the splendor before you head toward Allee nach Sanssouci, an aptly-named street because it will bring you to the entrance of Sanssouci Park. Several cafes line this street. Pop in for a pick me up before you spend a couple of hours wandering around beautiful gardens and Prussian architecture. If you're in the mood to buy an arty postcard, silk scarf or a funky skirt, take a step into the Zitrus Gallery.

Leave your cares behind is the modus operandi of this delightful park, which is replete with castles and sculpture gardens. Most people make their way to Potsdam in order to visit this royal summer retreat, and you should expect to spend at least two hours wandering around its impressive grounds. It's free to enter the park but many of the buildings require an entrance fee.

Most people make a beeline to Sanssouci castle and some regretfully leave immediately thereafter. The Sanssouci Castle and its gardens are lovely but this is just the beginning of the wonderful architecture you'll see in the park. If you want to visit the castle's 12 rooms, there's a 40-minute tour in German that costs either 12 or 8 euros, depending on whether you visit in summer or winter. There's an English pamphlet that describes some of the castle's highlights, including a library and concert hall. It's all rather opulent. If you want to visit, it is best to book ahead as tickets can sell out.

Between the Orangerie and Sanssouci Castle, you will walk by an old mill. If the mechanics of large machines is your idea of a good time, then make sure you stop in and climb up into the wind-driven device. The gigantic gears are guaranteed to wow most kids (and adults too).

Make sure you visit the Orangerie Castle, whose lovely view, gardens and sculptures shouldn't be missed. You can climb to the top of a tower and get a great view of the whole park. You can also pay an entrance fee to see some Raphael art, but don't do it unless you're a real fan.

The New Palace is pretty impressive but it's at the other end at the park and currently covered in scaffolding because it is under renovation. We'd suggest you pass unless your passion for palaces is insatiable.

Some people probably like the Chinese Teahouse for its gilded statues and overall opulent look.

There's a lovely garden and stone bridge path to the Roman baths, which are otherwise not terribly impressive. But like life, it's the path rather than the destination that's the most memorable part.

The older, residential part of Potsdam is worth a visit. So, you might want to exit Sanssouci Park along Lennestrasse. Here you will see the kind of grand old buildings that used to populate much of the city until Allied bombers toppled them at the end of WWII. A perfect example of this classic architecture can be found at Nansenstrasse 10--the building is hard to miss as its fresh coat of peach paint literally glows. Many of the houses on this street have been renovated back to past glory since the fall of the Berlin Wall pumped millions of euros into formerly GDR towns like Potsdam. To get an idea how things looked during communist times when money to rebuild or renovate was not available, check out the former butcher shop at Feuerbachstrasse 33. It's just a matter of time before this crumbling building also gets a facelift. If you are in need of refreshment or meal, there's a lovely restaurant called Quendel at Sellostrasse 15. Here's where you can dine well with the locals. As you pass the crumbling Hans Otto Theater, make sure you take a look at the bronze plaque on the second floor level that shows two hands shaking. This represents the (forced) union of the communist and social democratic party when Potsdam was placed under the purview of the Russians at the end of WWII. The "marriage" was more of a communist takeover. This union of the two local Potsdam parties was orchestrated in this theater.

Check the crumbling walls of this old theater for a plaque showing the forced union of the communist and social democrat party under Russian rule after WWII.