Glienicke Bridge
Königstraße, Berlin, DEU
Glienicke Bridge is better known by its Cold War-era monikers, “the Bridge of Spies” or “the Bridge of Unity.” Dating back to the 17th century, the bridge became notorious during the Cold War, when it served as the official border between East and West Berlin. Today, it’s an important historic landmark, marking the boundary of the Brandenburg and Berlin regions.
If you’re traveling between Potsdam and Berlin, you’ll cross the Glienicke Bridge, which links Glienicke Lake and Jungfernsee Lake along the Havel River. Most travelers visit as part of a day trip to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Potsdam, stopping to admire the views and walk across the legendary bridge.
On the Berlin side of the bridge, you can stroll around Glienicke Park, where you’ll find the 1820s villa, Glienicke Palace, and the Great Curiosity rotunda. On the Potsdam side of the bridge, the 19th-century Villa Schöningen houses a small museum devoted to the Cold War.
There is a €9 admission fee to visit the Villa Schöningen museum. The exhibitions are in German only.
You can enjoy views of the bridge from the riverside café-restaurant on the Potsdam side.
The bridge has paved sidewalks for pedestrians, making it easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Glienicke Bridge is located on the southwestern edge of the Berlin region, along the Havel River. It’s about a 40-minute drive from central Berlin to the bridge and a further 10-minute drive to reach Potsdam. To get to the bridge by public transport, take the 316 bus from Wannsee station (about 1 hour, 50 minutes total from central Berlin) to the Glienicke Lake stop, or ride the S-Bahn train to Potsdam (about 40 minutes), then take the 93 tram from Potsdam station to the bridge.
Walking or driving over the bridge at any time is possible, but it’s best to avoid rush-hour traffic (8–10 am and 5:30–7:30pm) even if you’re visiting on foot. Choose a clear, sunny day for the best views and combine a stroll across the bridge with a walk around the Glienicke and Jungfernsee lakes. The Villa Schöningen museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 6pm and on weekends from 10am to 6pm.
Glienicke Bridge was known as the Bridge of Spies because, during the Cold War, the Soviets and the Americans exchanged spies who had been captured. The bridge formed the notorious border between Soviet-occupied East Germany and the American, British, and French-occupied West Berlin. The bridge was only re-opened to the public once the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and was the subject of the 2015 movie Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks.
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