Sachsenhausen Memorial
Gedenkstätte und Museum Sachsenhausen
Former Nazi concentration camp 35 km north of Berlin. The free memorial is a sobering stop for understanding the history of World War II.
Established in 1936, Sachsenhausen served as the model concentration camp of the Nazi system. More than 200,000 people were imprisoned here, and tens of thousands died. After the war, the Soviets used it as a special camp. The site preserves the gate inscribed 'Arbeit macht frei' (Work Makes You Free), along with barracks, cells and the infirmary, and several exhibition buildings document its history. Admission is free; the audio guide costs about €4. The content is harrowing, so it is not recommended for young children. From Berlin Hauptbahnhof, take RE5 or S1 to Oranienburg, then walk about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
Mar–Oct 08:30–18:00; winter 08:30–16:30 (some halls closed Mon in winter)
Nearby sights
- Spandau Citadel
- Charlottenburg Palace
- Mauerpark
- Berlin Wall Memorial
- Victory Column & Tiergarten
- Berlin Zoological Garden
- Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
- Reichstag Building