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Bridge · Potsdam, Brandemburgo
Glienicker Brücke
Iron bridge over the river Havel between Potsdam and Berlin, famous for the spy exchanges between East and West during the Cold War.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Glienicker Brücke
The Glienicker Brücke is a metal-structured bridge over the river Havel that links Potsdam to the Wannsee district in Berlin. The current bridge was inaugurated in 1907, the fourth at the same site, and takes its name from the former estate of Klein Glienicke, where Schloss Glienicke now stands on the Berlin side.
With Germany divided, the border line ran exactly down the middle of the bridge: on one side was West Berlin, on the other East Germany. The crossing was closed to regular traffic, and the bridge gained worldwide fame as the place where the United States and the Soviet Union exchanged detained agents. The first swap, in 1962, involved American pilot Francis Gary Powers; the last, on 11 February 1986, was covered by cameras around the world.
For that reason the bridge became known as the "Bridge of Spies", the title of Steven Spielberg's 2015 film that depicts the 1962 exchange. On the night of 10 November 1989, shortly after the fall of the Wall, the bridge was reopened to residents on both sides.
Today a stripe on the ground and plaques in the middle of the bridge mark the former border, which is also the boundary between the state of Brandenburg and the city of Berlin. From the banks, the view reaches the river, the palaces and the parks that are part of the World Heritage Site.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes to cross the bridge and look at the banks; longer if combined with the park of Schloss Glienicke on the Berlin side.
Best time
In the late afternoon, with the sun over the Havel. On windy, cold days from December to February the bridge is very exposed: dress warmly.
How to get there
Tram 93 departs from Potsdam Hauptbahnhof and terminates at the Glienicker Brücke stop, at the foot of the bridge. From the Neuer Garten it's about a 15-minute walk along the bank.
Tip
On the Potsdam side, at Villa Schöningen, next to the bridge, there is usually an exhibition about the site's history during the Cold War; check whether it's open before you go. On the Berlim side, buses run to Wannsee station, from where the S-Bahn returns to the center of Berlim.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Glienicker Brücke
Why is the Glienicker Brücke called the Ponte dos Espiões?
Because during the Cold War it stood on the border between Berlim Ocidental and Alemanha Oriental and was used for exchanges of detained agents between the United States and the Soviet Union, the last of which was in 1986.
Can you cross the ponte on foot?
Yes. The ponte has sidewalks and can be crossed on foot from Potsdam to the Berlim side.
How to get from the ponte back to Berlim?
On the Berlim side, buses run to Wannsee station, from where the S-Bahn goes to the centre. On the Potsdam side, tram 93 returns to the main station.