Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp: Berlin Memorial Tour & History

What Happens Inside Sachsenhausen: A Guided Walk Through Berlin's Most Difficult History

You travel by public transport from central Berlin to Sachsenhausen, then spend three hours walking through the camp's actual grounds with a licensed guide trained by the Memorial Authority. You see the parade ground, barracks, punishment cells, execution areas, and crematorium while learning the detailed history of the site and those imprisoned there. The small group size and expert narration mean you absorb the weight of the place without feeling rushed, and your ticket supports the memorial's ongoing work.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hackescher Markt15m
2. Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum3h · entry included

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour

• Meet guide at Hackescher Markt Starbucks
• Travel by train to Sachsenhausen camp
• Tour Appellplatz parade ground
• Visit Jewish Barrack and punishment cells
• See execution grounds and crematorium
• Explore Station Z and Pathology Laboratory
• Visit camp hospital
• Return to Berlin

The experience

What do you actually see when you walk through a concentration camp? That question sits with you before you even arrive. You meet your guide at Hackescher Markt in central Berlin (a busy market square that feels almost cheerful on a normal day), and then you're on the train heading north for about an hour. The contrast between that ordinary commute and where you're going is something the guide will probably mention, because it matters. The camp was designed to be hidden, to be normal from the outside.

The 3-hour walking tour at Sachsenhausen moves through the actual spaces where thousands of people were imprisoned and killed. You walk the Appellplatz parade ground where prisoners stood for hours during roll call, see the Jewish Barrack, the punishment cells, the execution grounds. Your guide (trained and licensed by the Memorial Authority itself) doesn't rush through these places or turn them into a narrative. Instead, they unravel the complex history of the Third Reich and the Holocaust by standing in the actual locations, which changes how the information lands. You'll also see Station Z, the crematorium, the pathology laboratory, and the camp hospital. It's not comfortable, and it's not meant to be.

The group stays small, maximum 15 people, which means you're not shuffling through in a crowd of fifty. That matters when you're trying to listen and absorb something this heavy. Public transport gets you there and back like a local Berliner would travel, not in a separate tour bus, so the journey itself feels less separated from the city. When you book, a percentage of your ticket, 3 euros per person, goes directly to the memorial site to fund ongoing research and maintenance, so your visit actually supports the place you're learning from.

What’s included

• Your day includes meeting your guide at Hackescher Markt, public transport to and from Sachsenhausen (about 1 hour each way by train), a 3-hour guided walking tour of the camp grounds with a licensed, Memorial-trained guide, and entry to the memorial site.
• All fees and taxes are covered.
• A donation of 3 euros per ticket goes to the Sachsenhausen Memorial to support its research and preservation work.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 4.70

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Original Berlin Walks

Is this one for you?This tour is for anyone who wants to understand this chapter of history with a guide trained by the memorial itself, rather than piecing it together alone or in a large group. The small size and expert narration mean you absorb the weight of the place without feeling like you're being rushed through, and the public transport route keeps the experience grounded in how Berliners actually move through the city.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

How long is the tour and how do I get there?

The walking tour at the camp itself lasts 3 hours. You travel by public train from Berlin (about 1 hour each way), meeting your guide at Hackescher Markt in the city center before heading north.

What exactly will I see at Sachsenhausen?

You walk through the Appellplatz parade ground, Jewish Barrack, punishment cells, execution grounds, Station Z (the killing facility), the crematorium, pathology laboratory, and camp hospital. Your guide provides context for each location.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 15 people, so the experience stays intimate and you can hear the guide clearly throughout.

Are the guides qualified?

Yes. All guides are officially licensed and trained by the Sachsenhausen Memorial Authority and have specialized knowledge of the Third Reich and Holocaust history.

Is the site wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the memorial is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation to and from the site is also wheelchair accessible.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes the guided walk, all fees and taxes, and public transport from central Berlin. A portion of every ticket (3 euros) is donated to the memorial for research and upkeep.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it involves walking for 3 hours on the memorial grounds.