A steel bridge over the Havel connecting Potsdam and West Berlin, used three times during the Cold War to exchange captured intelligence agents.
The Glienicke Bridge spans the Havel river between Potsdam and the Wannsee district of West Berlin, and its position directly on the East-West German border made it a closed, heavily guarded crossing point during the Cold War, accessible only to Allied personnel and diplomats. It became internationally known as the site of three Soviet-American prisoner exchanges: American U-2 pilot Gary Powers was traded for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in February 1962, followed by further exchanges in 1985 and 1986. The bridge's remote, tightly controlled setting made it a preferred neutral location for these Cold War transactions, later dramatized in film. Since reunification the bridge has reopened as an ordinary public road crossing, with a small plaque marking its Cold War history.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Always accessible (public road bridge) |
| Address | Berliner Strasse, 14467 Potsdam, Germany |
Why it matters
Famous Cold War site of Soviet-American spy exchanges, nicknamed the 'Bridge of Spies'
Site facts
- Built
- Current bridge completed 1907
- Architect
- Kaiserliche Wasserbauverwaltung (Imperial Waterways Authority)
- Style
- Steel truss road bridge
- UNESCO listing
- No
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Berliner Strasse, 14467 Potsdam, Germany
52.4166, 13.0959 View on map
Highlights
- Site of the 1962 Gary Powers-Rudolf Abel spy exchange
- Further Cold War exchanges in 1985 and 1986
- Now a fully open public road bridge between Potsdam and Berlin
Tips for visiting
- Walk across from the Wannsee side for the classic view used in Cold War-era photographs
- Look for the small plaque near the Potsdam end marking the site's spy-exchange history
- Combine the visit with the nearby Glienicke Palace and park on the Berlin side
- Late afternoon light suits photographs of the bridge over the Havel
- No ticket or admission is needed since it remains a working public road
When to visit
Any time; the bridge is a through-route rather than a timed attraction.
Accessibility
Fully accessible as a standard public road bridge with pedestrian walkways.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors walk across the bridge today?
Yes, it is now an ordinary open public road and pedestrian crossing between Potsdam and Berlin with no restrictions.