Sachsenhausen

"This is the heaviest but most important tour I've done. I highly recommend doing a guided tour as opposed to just going yourself (I used Insider Tour Berlin and my tourguide Hanna was amazing). Having a guide gives you necessary background information, someone to ask questions, and someone to remind you to take care of yourself; it's a lot. Sachsenhausen was a concentration camp in Oranienburg outside of Berlin. Its remains have been turned into a memorial and an important reminder of the horrors of WWII. I know it's difficult to dedicate time on a trip to something so gut-wrenching, but if you can, I highly recommend it. Price: Free entry, but guided tours range from 20-40 EUR roughly. Time to plan: The tour I booked was a total of 6 hours, but it takes about an hour to get there and an hour back, so the tour itself was not that long. Some tours are shorter or longer, but definitely plan about half a day. How to get there: The S1 train takes you right to Oranienburg (direction: Oranienburg). To get to Sachsenhausen, there is a bus right outside the station (802 or 803), but it is also an easy walk. From Alexanderplatz, you'll take the U8 toward Wittenau and exit at Wittenau, then get on the S1 from there. Keep in mind, if you've booked a guided tour, the meeting place may be in Berlin and the guide will take the group together. Be sure to check the meeting point. Know before you go: It is about an hour long commute to Oranienburg, depending on where you come from in Berlin. Food is not allowed inside the memorial, but it is a long time. I suggest bringing a bag with something you can snack on discreetly if you start to feel weak. Bring a water bottle, a lot of the tour is outside. If it's summer, bring sunscreen as well."