Should you visit Potsdam or Bonn?
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 Bonn can help you decide which place is right for you.
Potsdam
Before you lays a treasure chest of historic beauties. From the glimmering Renaissance Orangery Palace that overlooks its sumptuous fountains to the neoclassical Charlottenhof Castle that is surrounded by lush England gardens, you find yourself in none other than Potsdam, Germany. The capital and largest city of the German federal state of Brandenburg, Potsdam borders the German capital Berlin and is located right on the bay of the River Havel. A home for Prussian kings until 1918 and a brainchild of the Enlightenment, Potsdam was constructed thoughtfully and carefully by its architects to create what many to believe as "a picturesque, pastoral dream" and a "balance between both nature and reason." From interconnected lakes to historic landmarks, Potsdam is a city that is bursting with life all year around. With its rich history, it was no wonder various parts of the city were named a World Heritage Site. With its landscape and cityscape rivaling in beauty, Potsdam is simply a breathtaking city that must be explored!
Bonn
Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.
Which city is cheaper, Bonn or Potsdam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Potsdam is €89, while the average daily cost in Bonn is €123. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Potsdam and Bonn in more detail.
Accommodation
Potsdam's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €96. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €48.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €136 in Bonn For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Potsdam can vary, the average travelers spends about €25 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Potsdam should cost around €10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Potsdam is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
While meal prices in Bonn can vary, the average travelers spends about €39 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Bonn should cost around €16 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Bonn is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Potsdam €25
Bonn €39
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Potsdam is €22 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Bonn, the average visitor spends €18 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Potsdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Potsdam:
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Departure Airport Transfer from Potsdam Hotels to Berlin BER Airport:
$198
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Berlin Airport Departure Transfer from Potsdam Hotels:
$198
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Private Transfer from Potsdam to Berlin Tegel Airport:
$182
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Round Trip Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Transfer to Potsdam City Center:
$146
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Round Trip Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) Transfer to Potsdam City Center:
$114
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport to Potsdam City - One Way:
$108
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Private Business Transfer from Hotel in Potsdam to Schönefeld Airport (SXF):
$70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonn
Also for Bonn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Düsseldorf International Airport to Bonn City - One Way:
$254
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Private Airport Transfer: from Bonn to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN):
$42
Is it cheaper to fly into Potsdam or Bonn?
Prices for flights to both Bonn and Potsdam change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Potsdam's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €20 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Bonn, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Potsdam
Here are a few actual costs in Potsdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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City Sightseeing Potsdam Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$25
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City and Palaces Tour Potsdam - Stadt- und Schloesserrundfahrt Potsdam:
$26
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Guided tour “Love stories of Potsdam”:
$496
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Potsdam Private Walking Tour:
$184
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Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour:
$383
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Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour:
$383
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Potsdam by Boat: Island Cruise:
$29
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Potsdam, City of Kings: Private Walking Tour:
$264
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Havel Lakes Cruise:
$24
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Private City Tour Potsdam Conference 1945:
$433
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Private Half-Day Walking Tour of Potsdam and Sanssouci:
$210
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Private Potsdam City Tour in a Russian vintage minibus:
$446
Tours and Activities in Bonn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bonn.
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Discover Beethoven's birthplace: Bonn Private Walking Tour:
$193
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Bonn Walking Tour (In the footsteps of Ludwig Van Beethoven):
$240
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Potsdam may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €5.36 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Bonn, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €18.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Potsdam and Bonn, we can see that Bonn is more expensive. And not only is Potsdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Potsdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Potsdam 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 Bonn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonn than you might in Potsdam.
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