A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Potsdam vs. Alesund for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Potsdam or Alesund?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Potsdam and Alesund can help you decide which place is right for you.

Potsdam

Potsdam is a historic, accessible, and compact city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Alesund

Alesund is a friendly, scenic, and laid back city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Potsdam and Alesund: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Potsdam or Alesund?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Alesund. Although Potsdam and Alesund are popular destinations, Alesund has more sights and attractions for tourists. Alesund is very popular for its big city activities, while Potsdam attracts visitors for its museums and small town charm. Potsdam is famous for its beautiful palaces, scenic town center, and accessibility to Berlin. Alesund is famous for its nouveau architecture, beautiful views, and access to the fjords. It is also well known for the Art Nouveau Center.

How is Potsdam different from Alesund?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Alesund and Potsdam. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Potsdam or Alesund?

Potsdam is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Potsdam offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. People visit this city for its high concentration of historic sights. The Renaissance Orangery Palace is a highlight of the visit for many travelers.

Alesund offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Check out the Atlantic Sea-Park and the Sunnmøre Museum. Also visit the small but interesting Fisheries Museum & Ålesund Museum.

Is the Food Better in Potsdam or Alesund? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Potsdam and Alesund offer great local cuisine and restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Potsdam. You'll find a diverse restaurant scene, although the city is quite small. There are international restaurants as well as local venues where you can try regional specialties.

Alesund has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. As Norway's largest fishing port, you'll find plenty of seafood offerings around town. A favorite is bacalao de noruega (dried and salted clipfish), but also make sure you try the lobster soup.

Is Potsdam or Alesund Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Potsdam and Alesund.

Potsdam has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city is not far from Berlin, so head in to Germany's nightlife capital for the most famous clubs and venues. In the town of Potsdam there are cocktail bars and breweries that make for a mellow and relaxed evening.

If you're looking for night time activities Alesund has a few options to choose from. There are plenty of bars around town as well as nightclubs and live music venues.

Is the Shopping Better in Potsdam or Alesund?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Alesund and Potsdam.

Potsdam offers some nice shopping areas. There are plazas and shopping streets that have the standard chain stores as well as antique shops and other boutiques.

Alesund has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of shopping streets around town including the shopping areas in Aspøya, which are known for their homemade souvenirs.

Is Potsdam or Alesund Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Potsdam or Alesund.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Potsdam. There are a number of playgrounds around town as well as several beaches by lakes that are fun for kids. Another highlight for families is a visit to Babelsberg Film Studios.

Alesund offers lots of family activities. There's an aquarium and several great parks including Tueneset Naturlekeplass, which is near the aquarium. There's also hiking in the area and other outdoor adventures.

Is Potsdam or Alesund Better for Couples?

Both Potsdam and Alesund are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Potsdam makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Exploring the city and soaking up the sights is the best way for couples to enjoy their time. There are some nice hotels and restaurants in the area that make for a great date night.

Alesund is a good city for couples to visit. It's a beautiful setting with spectacular views and fun restaurants. There are many great hikes in the area, and many visitors like to use this town as a base for exploring nearby places.

Is Potsdam or Alesund Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Potsdam is a popular place for backpackers. However, Alesund is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Potsdam. There are a handful of hostels to choose from in town.

Alesund is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a limited number of hostels in town so apartments may be the best option for backpackers. It's also hard to get around the region without a car.

Is Potsdam or Alesund Better for Students?

Alesund is very good for students. However, Potsdam is not popular with students.

Alesund is popular with students. There's a small student population, which means that the group stays close and everyone is very welcoming. The town also makes a great base for exploring this part of Norway.

Potsdam is not popular with students.

Is Potsdam or Alesund Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Potsdam is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Potsdam can move around easily with public transportation. The city is well connected to Berlin by S-Bahn and bus.

Alesund has some public transit options. There is a public bus system around town.

Is Potsdam or Alesund a more walkable city?

Potsdam is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Alesund is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Potsdam is very walkable. It's a smaller, compact city that can mostly be explored on foot.

Alesund is a somewhat walkable place. The city center can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Potsdam Worth Visiting? and Is Alesund Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Alesund or Potsdam?

How long in Potsdam or Alesund?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Potsdam and Alesund. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Alesund than in Potsdam. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Potsdam, and 2-3 days is enough time in Alesund.

Families should spend more time in Potsdam than Alesund. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Potsdam, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Potsdam than Alesund. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Potsdam that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Potsdam than Alesund if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Potsdam.

One day in Potsdam or Alesund?

In Potsdam, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Alesund, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Potsdam or Alesund?

In Potsdam, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Potsdam has to offer.

In Alesund, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Alesund has to offer.

Five days in Potsdam or Alesund?

Potsdam is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Alesund is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Potsdam or Alesund?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Potsdam. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Potsdam. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Alesund. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Alesund. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Potsdam and Alesund, we can see that Potsdam is more expensive. And not only is Alesund much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alesund would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alesund and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Potsdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Potsdam than you might in Alesund.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Potsdam Expensive? and Is Alesund Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Potsdam or Alesund?

Potsdam has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Alesund. When comparing the sizes of Potsdam and Alesund, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Potsdam or Alesund?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Potsdam or Alesund in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Potsdam and Alesund. Most visitors come to Potsdam for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Alesund because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Potsdam is generally much warmer than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Potsdam average around 19°C (66°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In July, Potsdam usually receives less rain than Alesund. Potsdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Potsdam or Alesund in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Potsdam as well as Alesund. The autumn months attract visitors to Potsdam because of the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Alesund this time of year.

Potsdam is a little warmer than Alesund in the autumn. The daily temperature in Potsdam averages around 10°C (51°F) in October, and Alesund fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

It's quite rainy in Alesund. Potsdam usually gets less rain in October than Alesund. Potsdam gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Potsdam or Alesund in the Winter?

Both Alesund and Potsdam are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Potsdam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Alesund for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Alesund. It's quite cold in Potsdam in the winter. In the winter, Potsdam is much colder than Alesund. Typically, the winter temperatures in Potsdam in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Alesund averages at about 3°C (37°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Alesund. In January, Potsdam usually receives less rain than Alesund. Potsdam gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Potsdam or Alesund in the Spring?

Both Alesund and Potsdam during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Potsdam for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Alesund in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Alesund can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Potsdam is generally much warmer than Alesund. Daily temperatures in Potsdam average around 9°C (48°F), and Alesund fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

Potsdam usually gets less rain in April than Alesund. Potsdam gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Alesund receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Alesund and Potsdam