Screening of four commercial catalysts (Pt/Al2O3, Pt/SiO2, Pd/Al2O3, and Pd/SiO2) and four acidic additives (hydrochloric, tungstic, phosphotungstic, and silicotungstic acids) shows that the combination of a platinum hydrogenation catalyst with tungsten containing acidic additives yields 1,3‐propanediol from aqueous glycerol. The performance of the best catalytic system Pt/Al2O3 with silicotungstic acid as an additive was optimized by experimental design, capturing the influence of reaction time, glycerol concentration, acid concentration, pressure, and temperature on the formation of 1,3‐propanediol from glycerol. High 1,3‐propanediol yield in an aqueous batch system can be achieved (49 % conversion, 28 % selectivity) with excellent 1,3‐propanediol to 1,2‐propanediol ratios. A mechanistic interpretation is given for this bifunctional system, supported by the relative stability of 1,3‐propanediol in comparison with 1,2‐propanediol under the chosen reaction conditions.