How to travel from Hamburg to Potsdam, Germany

The distance between Hamburg and Potsdam is around 283km (176 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 10m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Hamburg to Potsdam by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out PotsdamHamburg if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to S+U Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    €77($77)

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Berlin central bus station.

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    €24($24)
3
plane
+
train
+

Plane and Train

Fly from Hamburg (HAM) to Berlin Brandenburg (BER) then take the train to S Potsdam Hauptbahnhof.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Flight time2h 15m
  • Typical cost
    €130($130)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Potsdam.

  • Duration2h 30m
  • Distance283km (176 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Hamburg and Potsdam

There are several options for getting from Hamburg to Potsdam by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around €24 ($24) and will take around 3h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately €77 ($77).

The distance between Hamburg and Potsdam is around 283km (176 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 241km (150 miles)

It takes around 2h 10m to get from Hamburg and Potsdam by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Hamburg to Potsdam is to take the train which takes around 2h 10m and will set you back approx €77 ($77).

The cheapest way to travel between Hamburg and Potsdam, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around €24 ($24) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Hamburg and Potsdam. It typically takes around 2h 10m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Hamburg to Potsdam. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in S+U Berlin Hauptbahnhof. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 10m.

Deutsche Bahn and FlixTrain run train services between Hamburg and Potsdam. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 10m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Hamburg and Potsdam. It typically takes around 3h 40m and departs every 30 mins.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Hamburg to Potsdam. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Berlin central bus station. These services run every 30 mins and will take a minimum of 3h 40m.

FlixBus run regular bus services between Hamburg and Potsdam. Buses run every 30 mins and take around 3h 40m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Hamburg to Potsdam. We recommend that you fly from Hamburg (HAM) to Berlin Brandenburg (BER) then take the train to S Potsdam Hauptbahnhof. instead which will take 3h 45m.

The closest major airport to Potsdam is Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) (BER) which is approximately 30km (19 miles) from Potsdam. Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) (LEJ) and Dresden Airport (DRS) (DRS) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Hamburg and Potsdam. The distance is around 283km (176 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Hamburg to Potsdam is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 10m and will usually cost around €77 ($77).

How do I get from Hamburg to Potsdam

Compare travel optionsbetween Hamburg and Potsdam

Transport options from Hamburg to Potsdam
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 10m
€77($77)
hourly312km (194 miles)
Train to Berlin Charlottenburg3h 10m
€25($25)
4 times a day303km (188 miles)
Bus
3h 40m
€24($24)
every 20 mins306km (190 miles)
Plane and Train
3h 45m
€130($130)
hourly885km (550 miles)
Drive
2h 30m
€38($38)
on demand283km (176 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Hamburg and Potsdam

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Potsdam

The following major airports near Potsdam offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Germany and internationally.

BER
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
International Airport
Distance
30km (19 miles) from Potsdam
LEJ
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ)
International Airport
Distance
123km (77 miles) from Potsdam
DRS
Dresden Airport (DRS)
International Airport
Distance
150km (93 miles) from Potsdam