Germany Sachsenhausen Bus or Train + Audio Tour Help

Posted by kelly.gustavson on 10/21/24 05:13 PM

Hi - I've read a number of great suggestions on the forum about visiting Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and Memorial. I think I would rather do the AUDIO tour while there, so I can move at my own pace. But I also really like what people have said about getting a lot of information and history while on a guided tour that includes a train or bus ride. My questions are:

1) Is the on-site audio tour comprehensive or will I miss something by not joining a guided tour?
2) Are there any tours that are blended - so that we can listen to a guide on a bus or train but also do a guided tour on the grounds?

Thanks in advance,
Kelly

Posted by Ms. Jo

Frankfurt, Germany

10/21/24 09:53 PM

9196 posts

We used Insider Tours and took a train there. The guide gave us information all the way there and all the way back and then was the guide there. You could probably stay there after the tour if you felt like you needed to see more, but I felt the tour was very comprehensive. Have been there 2 other times with tour groups and felt our tour with Insider Tours was equal to the tours being offered on site as far as the information given and the passion that each guide had to make sure everyone understood the horrors of the place. All of the guides had met with survivors and had personal stories to relate.

Not sure if it is on your list of places to visit, but Ravensbrück Concentration Camp is also near Berlin and very much worth your time to visit. As it was mainly women there, it has a different feel to it.

Posted by kelly.gustavson OP

10/22/24 03:47 PM

2 posts

Thank you Ms Jo! If we have only 1 day to devote to it, would you recommend Ravensbruck over Sachsenhausen? I chose the latter mostly due to proximity to Berlin but also based on several reviews I found online. I will be taking my 16 year old son with me, who is mature enough for a somber visit like this but who will also prefer there not be an extreme amount of reading he has to "think" about. He'd rather take things in by sight and sound.

Thanks again

Posted by Ms. Jo

Frankfurt, Germany

10/22/24 05:22 PM

9196 posts

I think Sachsenhausen is easier to get to and I don't know if there are any tours going to Ravensbrück.
Sounds like a tour might be better for you son.