How to Get to Sachsenhausen from Berlin

About an hour's drive from Berlin is a concentration camp that was the last destination for some 30,000 people. It is open to the public and is one of the most famous excursions around the capital.

The site is located in Oranienburg, a town on the Havel River, 35 km north of the centre of Berlin. It is the capital of the district of Oberhavel and has good connections to the rest of the country, including the capital. Read on to find out how to get to this peaceful German town.

The easiest and most convenient way is to book a tour of the Sachsenhausen memorial. As usual, a bus will pick you up at a central location in Berlin and take you to Oranienburg. It won't be a long trip, as Oranienburg is only an hour's drive from the German capital.

The fare usually includes an expert guide and entrance fees to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial site and the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum. Note that the area is wheelchair accessible and prams are allowed.

Having a guide on hand is invaluable, as he or she will explain the history of each environment. Sachsenhausen concentration camp was very important in the Nazi's distorted thinking as it housed political prisoners.

Things to keep in mind

If you are travelling to Berlin in winter you don't have to worry about anything: these tours take place in all weather conditions.

Also bear in mind that some tours are operated by public transport. In this case you will have to buy a ticket on your own.

Finally, I recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as the concentration camps take up large areas and you will have to walk a bit.

• Duration: between 5 and 7 hours
• Price: between 20 € and 30 €.

If you have booked a rental car or are travelling in your own car, you can reach Sachsenhausen in just over 45 minutes. From the capital, take the A111 motorway and then the A10 motorway (Berliner Ring) to the Birkenwerder exit. Then take the Bundesstraße 96 (B 96).

On this last stretch you will see the signs for the concentration camp ("Gedenkstätte"). You can park in the streets near the lager.

If you are driving, you can take the opportunity to reach a nearby destination. If you are travelling with children you can head for Germendorf, a park with animals, dinosaur figures and games for the little ones (An den Waldseen 1A, Oranienburg). Another recommended option is TURM ErlebnisCity, a centre with swimming pools, slides, playgrounds, bowling and a café.

• Duration: The whole ride takes about 45 minutes without traffic.
• Price: In Germany the roads are free of charge.

The Sachsenhausen concentration camp is located on the outskirts of Oranienburg. This village in the north of the capital is a well-known destination and there are two options for getting there by train:

• S-Bahn S1. Take it from Brandenburg Gate station (Bahnhof Berlin Brandenburger Tor) or Berlin-Friedrichstraße and get off at S Oranienburg Bhf. Trains depart about every 20 minutes and the whole journey takes about 45 minutes. Remember to validate your ticket before boarding. For more information, I recommend you check the official website.
• Regional Express train RE5: In this case, trains depart from Berlin Hauptbahnhof or Potsdamer Platz stations. Frequency is lower - usually one train per hour - while the total journey time is between 25 and 35 minutes.

Once in Oranienburg, you can reach the concentration camp on foot ( 30 minutes at most) or take a bus (line 804 or 821) to the Sachsenhausen Memorial stop. In the first case, just follow the brown signs that say "Gedenkstätte".

• Time: The journey takes just over half an hour.
• Price: The cheapest ticket costs around €4.

Unfortunately there are no buses connecting Berlin with Oranienburg. The only way to get there is by train or car. If you feel like travelling by bus, you will have to choose a guided tour. Don't worry, the train network in Germany is very efficient and you won't have to spend too much to get to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

The only alternative means of transport is by taxi. If you want to travel comfortably, this is the ideal option. Keep in mind that the journey takes about half an hour and the price should be between 60 € and 80 €.

For more information, I recommend you check the official Berlin taxi website. If you don't speak German, you can book a car by calling +49 30 202021 220.

Good! Now that you have all the details you can easily compare the data with a table. You can find it below: