Want to see Sachsenhausen and know that there are many walking tours available. Which ones are good and have English speaking guides. Will be staying near Alexanderplatz and have noticed that everyone takes the U-Bahn as a group and that the tour is like 10am to 4pm. Will be buying a 7 day pass but only for AB and will have to buy an add on for C as that is the only thing in C. Can this add on ticket be purchased in advance or should I wait and buy it from the guide as part of the price for this tour. To get into the camp is free, but I would really like to go with a guide to get the history as you go. Also for lunch do you bring food as lunch is not included and there is no restaurants that the guide will stop at/ or none are in the immediate area.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8943 posts
My daughter and I did this tour with Insider Tours. The guide did an outstanding job of telling us the history, answering questions, telling personal stories about survivors she had met, all the way there on the train and all the way back.
Do take some drinks and a sandwich. There is a tiny cafe there, but why waste time waiting in line
They do not provide you with the train ticket, you will need to get that ahead of time from the ticket machine, not from the guide.
http://www.insidertour.com/tours.php/cat/27/id/43/title/Sachsenhausen_Concentration_Camp
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
For 17€ the Inside Tours guide meets you at one of two places near S-Bahn stations in Berlin and escorts you for about an hour by train and bus (2 changes) to the Memorial. If you can find your way on your own you can take one of the Memorial's own guided tour for 14€. One of the meeting points is at Hackescher Markt, which is the next stop on the way to Sachsenhausen from Alexanderplatz, so getting off the train and meeting the group should not add much time to your trip, just 3€.
As for the ticket extension for 'C', ask at a VBB counter. You should be able to either 1) upgrade the AB ticket to ABC, 2) buy an additional ticket for just the C zone, or 3) buy a ticket from the last station in B to Sachsenhausen.
Posted by
San Francisco
14509 posts
@ swoital...You can get to the camp by taking the RB train at Berlin Hbf with the terminus Stralsund. That route includes stopping at Oranienburg for the camp.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
There is a small cafeteria onsite with lots of tables where you can have your picnic lunch.
I visited the memorial without a guide, butI had done quite a bit of research before I went. Would have preferred a guide, though.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
But you can visit the Memorial with one of their own guides. I would recommend that. Seems the big advantage of the outside tour is someone to take you by the hand and lead you there.
Posted by
OP
32 posts
Most of the tours that I have seen online have the guide and you meet at Hackescher Markt for East side. That tour runs about 17 Euros, or 10% off if you book on their website. What would the guide cost if you went by train and bus yourself and paid for a guide at the gate? Also if you go with the guide does the guide go back to Hackescher Markt after the tour with you? When they say the tour is 6 hours, that would conclude at 4:30pm (10:30am meeting time East side). Is that the starting point where you met the guide in the morning or are you just coming out of the camp at that time? At 4:30 it will be dark out after the time change in the fall.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8943 posts
The tour ends in Berlin at 16:30 where it began. When will you be going? It isn't dark at 16:30 until Dec.
The advantage of going on a tour that starts in Berlin is that the guide is giving you valuable information on the train all the way there and all the way back. It is not about "someone taking you by the hand". So, you get 6 hours of information, not just the tour in the KZ itself. For 17 €, this is a bargain.
Posted by
OP
32 posts
I like the fact that the guide goes with you on the train and explains history. If people go on their own, they will miss those little pieces and then others in the group may have suggestions on tours they have taken and liked and would suggest others to do. By going with someone who knows exactly where to go, there is no chance for mistakes of where to get off, wait for the bus etc. I will be going at the end of November and I checked at http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/germany/berlin and you can check a specific date or month and it will tell you sunrise/set times. It is showing 4pm for that time of year.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6063 posts
My daughter and I did the Sachsenhausen tour with Original Berlin Walks last June. I have done other similar type walking tours in other places and have to say this one was the very best of them all- our guide was fantastic- so knowledgeable, engaging, etc. We actually had same guide for the Discover Berlin tour the day before and were thrilled when we saw "Pippa" would be our guide for the camp.
We met at Hackescher Markt- took S-bahn to Hbf where we met the group coming from West Berlin- I think there were only 9 of us total. Take a bag lunch with you.
On return --once we were back to Hbf our guide gave advice/directions for all in the group. (We just hopped on S-bahn again and returned to Hackesher where we began)
If you are using a Berlin Welcome Card they offer a discount- no need to book in advance just show up at the designated meeting spot- and those that needed the C transit pass were able to purchase from the guide at meeting place.
Highly recommend. A GREAT value at 12.50 Euros (with the discount).