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 center 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 city.

Without a doubt, the easiest and most convenient way is to book an excursion to 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 one hour away 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 strollers can be brought along.

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 travel to Berlin in winter you don't have to worry about anything: these tours take place under any weather conditions.

Keep in mind also 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 to wear comfortable clothes and shoes, the concentration camps occupy 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 traveling in your own car, you can reach Sachsenhausen in just over 45 minutes. From the capital, take the A111 freeway and then the A 10 freeway (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 traveling with children you can go to 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 center with pools, slides, playgrounds, bowling and a cafeteria.

• Duration: The whole ride without traffic takes about 45 minutes.
• 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 to get there by train you have two options:

• S-Bahn S1. You should take it at the 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 info, I recommend you to consult the official web site
• Regional Express Train RE5. In this case, convoys depart from Berlin Hauptbahnhof or Potsdamer Platz stations. The frequency is lower - usually one train per hour - while the total travel time is between 25 and 35 minutes.

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

• Duration: the journey takes just over half an hour.
• Price: the cheapest ticket costs about 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 traveling by bus, you will have to choose a guided tour. Don't worry, in Germany the train network is very efficient and you won't have to spend too much to get to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

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

For more info, I recommend you to check the official website of the Berlin cabs. If you don't know 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: