Berlin: Sachsenhausen Memorial Small Group Tour by Train

Summary

Walk Sachsenhausen’s grounds, hear survivors’ stories, reflect on Berlin’s past

You’ll travel from Berlin by train with a small group and licensed guide who shares real stories behind Sachsenhausen’s walls. Walk through parade grounds, barracks, and memorials while learning about daily life in the camp. Expect moments of silence and reflection — this day trip will stay with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

“No one comes here for easy answers,” our guide Anna said as we shuffled off the S-Bahn at Oranienburg. She’d been leading these Sachsenhausen tours for years, but you could tell she still felt the weight of it. The morning was gray — not cold, just that Berlin kind of damp that seeps into your sleeves. We met up at Hackescher Markt (the Starbucks is impossible to miss), grabbed coffees, and Anna handed out train tickets like she’d done it a thousand times. I remember the quiet on the platform — not awkward, just everyone sort of bracing themselves for what was coming.

The train ride north took about an hour, which surprised me; I always pictured these places as remote, but Sachsenhausen is so close to Berlin it messes with your head a bit. Walking from the station to the camp, Anna pointed out old brick houses and told us how locals lived right next to all this — some pretended not to know, others risked their lives trying to help. The air smelled faintly of pine and wet leaves. When we reached the memorial gates, there was this sudden hush in our group — even the birds seemed quieter.

I didn’t expect how physical it would feel walking across Appellplatz, where prisoners once stood for roll call in every kind of weather. The gravel crunched under my boots and Anna explained how people survived here (or didn’t). She showed us the Jewish Barrack — paint peeling, window glass cold against my hand — and then led us past punishment cells and Station Z. Someone asked if she ever got used to telling these stories; Anna shook her head. “You shouldn’t.” At one point I tried reading a sign in German and totally butchered it — Anna smiled but didn’t correct me. It was oddly comforting.

The tour lasted about three hours inside Sachsenhausen but honestly time felt weird there; sometimes it dragged, sometimes it snapped forward when Anna shared something personal or read a survivor’s words aloud. We finished at the pathology lab and hospital wing — sterile tiles, sunlight slanting through dusty windows. On the way back to Berlin I kept thinking about those details: the cold metal doors, Anna’s steady voice, how close all this history still feels. Even now I can picture that long walk from the station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Tour

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

Top questions

How do you get to Sachsenhausen from Berlin?

You’ll meet your guide at Hackescher Markt in central Berlin and travel together by public train (about 1 hour) to Oranienburg.

Is entry to Sachsenhausen Memorial included?

Yes, all fees and taxes are included in your tour booking.

How big are the groups on this tour?

The maximum group size is 15 people for a more personal experience.

Is this Sachsenhausen tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, both public transportation and most areas of the memorial are accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.

How long does the visit at Sachsenhausen last?

You’ll spend around three hours inside the memorial site itself with your guide.

Does this day trip include lunch or food?

No meals are included; you can bring snacks or buy something before departure at Hackescher Markt.

Who leads this tour of Sachsenhausen?

Your guide is professionally trained by Original Berlin Walks and licensed by the Memorial Authority.

Does booking support the memorial site?

Yes, part of every ticket goes directly toward upkeep and research at Sachsenhausen Memorial.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting at Hackescher Markt in central Berlin with your licensed local guide, round-trip public train tickets to Oranienburg, all entry fees for Sachsenhausen Memorial & Museum, plus a portion of your booking supports ongoing preservation work at the site before returning together to Berlin by train.