The Ravensbrück Camp Tour: private memorial tour from Berlin, 7 hours
The Ravensbrück Memorial
In short
- Suits
- Adults and students; the memorial says it is not suitable for children under 12
- Price
- €1,150 per group, up to 6 people
- Duration
- 7 Hours
- Time on site
- About 4 hours, with around 90 minutes' drive each way
- Starts
- Your hotel or apartment in Berlin
- Included
- Private guide; Private van with driver to Fürstenberg/Havel and back; Admission to the memorial is free
- Not included
- Lunch (extra, paid by you on the day; there is no café on the memorial grounds)
About The Ravensbrück Camp Tour
…the SS Kommandant’s house, the Appelplatz roll call area, the ‘Tailor’s Workshop’, the preserved crematorium, the site of the gas chamber, the special prison, and much more…
Explore what remains of the Ravensbrück concentration camp, site of the first & largest female concentration camp established in Nazi Germany and brutal training ground for female SS guards.
Consider the ever-present cruelty & scarcity but also the resistance, unity, and resilience as you trace the footsteps of some 130,000 individuals from more than 30 nations who were subjected to unimaginable horrors within these confines – and the 4,000 ordinary women who would become extraordinary monsters within the vast, oppressive reach of the Nazi concentration camp system.
Over the six years of its existence, the Ravensbrück camp would eventually grow to include 34 satellite camps – many attached to military industrial plants – a vast spider’s web of cruelty stretched across north-eastern Germany. Centred around this location adjacent the Schwedt See and the sleepy spa town of Fürstenberg.
Although only a 90 minutes drive from Berlin, it rarely features on the radar of most visitors to the capital – those aware of a concentration camp nearby would be more likely to visit the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp memorial. Where it is possible to encounter many of the similar themes confronted here.
Yet the relative emptiness of the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp in its current form, coupled with a number of unique aspects specific to the site certainly make it a compelling albeit overlooked destination worthy of closer inspection.
Ravensbrück boasts one of the best preserved examples of SS staff accommodation anywhere in the world, exposing the home comforts that existed besides the hell behind the camp gates.
Venturing into the prisoners compound and site of the barracks offers the ideal opportunity to consider the living conditions and general aspects of camp life; the tailor’s workshop, industrial estate, and site of the Siemens-Halske facility to understand the slave labour utilised in the camp; the site of the gas chamber, crematorium, and the burial grounds the terrifying conclusion for many in a facility that promised “freedom through work”.
Amid the darkness, there are stories of courage and defiance that shine through. The present-day memorial honours the resilience of those who dared to resist, who found solace in solidarity and hope in the face of despair. Their stories are etched into the fabric of Ravensbrück, a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
A visit to Ravensbrück is an invitation to confront the past and reflect on its implications for the present and future. This reckoning is a solemn duty, but one that is essential if we are to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. We honour the memory of those who suffered and perished within these confines, ensuring that their voices are never silenced and their stories not forgotten.
Your guide: Matt Robinson, guiding in Berlin since 2006
Nick
Jim
Jörg
Ioana
Jonathan
Forrest
Reviews of Matt’s tours
“Matt is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Berlin. Our tour was jam-packed with great sites, both in the can and walking. He was so friendly and approachable. Loved the tour! I would highly recommend Matt’s tour, especially for those who just have a day or two in Berlin!”
Tanny CraneThe Berlin History Tour · July 2025 · ToursByLocals
“Excellent presentations with use of pictures for visual addition of various locations. Provided background information on each site. Great lunch selection. Very competent driver, Max, as well as Matt, our guide! Efficient use of allotted time!”
Jim DemandThe Berlin History Tour · July 2025
“Excellent tour guide, among the best we’ve had. We would definitely book with him again when we return to Berlin.”
Noah KresslerThe Bitesize Berlin Tour · June 2025 · ToursByLocals
“Matt is great. He is interesting and extremely informed. He entertained our history buffs and recommended some additions to the agenda. I highly recommend using him.”
Patricia BeckerThe Royal Potsdam Tour · June 2025 · ToursByLocals
“I can’t imagine a better tour of Berlin than Matt’s. He’s extremely knowledgeable, yet makes it feel like a casual conversation rather than a lecture. It was a very enjoyable day and set us up with a great background and ideas to plan the rest of our week. Couldn’t recommend more.”
Matteo SlaninaThe Berlin History Tour · May 2025
“Matt and his driver Marcus did a great job of showing us Berlin in a 6 hour period. We were able to see and learn about the city and it’s rich history in an efficient and interesting manner. It was like having two good friends show you around their city. They shared many interesting facts and stories that we thoroughly enjoyed and will think about in the future. We highly recommend them and this tour.”
Gary StephensonThe Berlin History Tour · May 2025
“Matt is a fantastic guide. He is so knowledgeable, prepared and interesting. We were able to see so much in one day. I highly recommend Matt if you want a thorough and fascinating day in Berlin.”
Amy ScarboroughThe Warnemünde-Berlin Shore Excursion · June 2025 · ToursByLocals
“Our group of six spent two full days with Matt and unanimously agreed he was an outstanding guide. His deep and wide-ranging knowledge of Berlin and German history—spanning centuries—enriched every moment of our time together. He answered every question with clarity and offered concise, engaging explanations of even the most complex topics. Matt was also incredibly flexible, effortlessly adapting each day’s agenda to suit our group’s interests. His restaurant recommendations were excellent as well. All in all, Matt was one of the best guides we’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering.”
Kate DonaldsonThe Royal Potsdam Tour · May 2025 · ToursByLocals
“Matt was a wonderful guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and took us to many locations we didn’t know about or expect to see, yet still was very receptive to our requests on places we wanted to visit. Since one of our group was elderly and walked with a cane, he allowed us to walk at a slower pace and also suggested using a car on our second day with him. He supplemented his tour with a very comprehensive album of photos which he showed us on his large screen mobile device. His driver, Markus, also added to the tour with his stories of escaping from East Berlin. We would highly recommend Matt as a great tour guide.”
Linda EppedioThe Bitesize Berlin Tour · May 2025 · ToursByLocals
“Matt is amazing. His depth of knowledge and interpersonal skills are unmatched. We had a great time ( my two teenage sons and myself) and learned so much! Highly recommend and thank you for an amazing morning!”
Michelle BallThe Bitesize Berlin Tour · January 2025 · ToursByLocals
“Fabulous tour full of insights and interesting facts. We saw several things/places that we would have never seen had we done our own touring of Berlin. Thank you, Matt, for a great day in Berlin!”
Angie FaccendaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · September 2024
“Matthew is an experienced guide and from our first contact built a specific itinerary to meet my needs on Berlin . Large tablet of archive footage providing more contact information . Matthew assisted in solving some extra personal needs including booking train travel to my next City and other aspecs to make my stay in Berlin better .”
Michael KopittkeThe Capital Of Tyranny · August 2024
“Matt far exceeded every expectation for our first time in Berlin! It honestly felt as if I had someone with their PhD in all things Berlin following us around! I would recommend him for anyone wanting a great experience in Berlin!”
Hunter KillenThe Berlin History Tour · August 2024
“I highly recommend Matt as a tour guide if you are staying in Berlin or wanting a tour outside of the city as well! He has a wealth of knowledge about history and is excited to share it. You can tell he not only enjoys giving tours and the history he is presenting, but also being with his clients. He is easy going but at the same time incredibly professional. We booked the Potsdam tour with him and wish we had more time to do other tours with him such as a Cold War tour, and a WW2 tour. Thank you Matt for a great day in Potsdam for our family.”
Nancy BeardThe Royal Potsdam Tour · July 2024 · ToursByLocals
“Matt was so knowledgeable and professional during our Berlin, multi-gen family tour – thank you!”
Julie KoblishThe Berlin History Tour · July 2024
“Matt and Marcus (driver) were amazing. If I could leave more stars I would. Matt’s historical knowledge coupled with Marcus’s story of life behind the iron curtain made for a fascinating tour. I highly recommend.”
Elizabeth HutchersonThe Republic Of Fear · July 2024 · ToursByLocals
“Matthew was excellent: informative, knowledgeable, responsive, great sense of humor. He was wonderful with our kids, conversational, and kept things moving at the perfect pace. The history and knowledge from Matthew was great context for the remainder of our trip, which included Auschwitz, Munich, and Bavaria. Highly recommend Matthew as a guide.”
Gordy HultenThe Berlin History Tour · June 2024
“We had the most amazing tour with Matthew today. He is extremely knowledgeable and there was not a historical question he could not answer. I would highly recommend booking this tour.”
Donna DoyleThe Bitesize Berlin Tour · June 2024 · ToursByLocals
The itinerary
Sites that can be included in this tour.
All of our private tours are carefully tailored to our clients wishes and expectations.
- The town of Fürstenberg
- The Schwedt See lake
- The preserved SS housing estate
- The SS Kommandant’s house
- The SS headquarters & central museum
- The camp gate & guard house
- The Appelplatz roll call area
- The industrial estate
- The ‘Tailor’s Workshop’
- The men’s camp
- The prison
- The crematorium
The site of the gas chamber - The execution site
- The burial site
- The Siemens & Halske industrial facilities
- The Will Lammert Tragende sculpture
Featured experiences
Deep-dives on the sites you'll explore.
Mythbusting Berlin
The myths we set straight on this tour.
We will not only examine what remains of the Ravensbrück camp in its current form as a memorial and museum site but also deal with the important issues associated with this hugely significant location and its tragic history:
- Was Ravensbrück the only female concentration camp in Nazi Germany?
- Were the Nazi concentration camps inspired by the British?
- Who were the last Nazis on trial?
- Was Ravensbrück a ‘Holocaust camp’?
- Was it possible to be released from a Nazi concentration camp?
- How did the Nazi methodology of industrial killing develop?
- Was the Nazi party democractically elected?
- Did the Nazis develop nuclear weapons?
- Were the Nazi medical experiments useful?
- What inspired the racial theories of Nazi Germany?
- Was Henry Ford a Nazi?
- Did Hugo Boss design the Nazi uniforms?
- What are the origins of the Nazi salute?
- Who was the only Rothschild to die in the Holocaust?
- How was the history of the Ravensbrück concentration camp presented in East Germany?
- How did the Nazi concentration camps differ from the Soviet GULAG?
Go deeper
More on our history websites.
Before you book
The Ravensbrück Camp Tour: questions and answers
Where does the Ravensbrück tour start?
At your hotel or apartment in Berlin, or anywhere else in the city. The memorial is at Fürstenberg/Havel, about 90 minutes' drive north of Berlin.
Is the tour suitable for children?
The memorial says its exhibitions and grounds are not suitable for children under 12.
How long do we spend at the memorial?
The tour lasts seven hours, including around 90 minutes' drive each way, which leaves about four hours at the memorial.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The grounds and all the exhibitions at the Ravensbrück Memorial are free.
Is there anywhere to eat at the memorial?
No. There is no café on the grounds, so bring food and water. The visitor centre is closed on Mondays, though the grounds and exhibitions are open every day.
Why visit Ravensbrück rather than Sachsenhausen?
Ravensbrück was the largest Nazi concentration camp for women and the training ground for female SS guards, and it has one of the best-preserved SS housing estates anywhere. It also sees far fewer visitors. Sachsenhausen, closer to Berlin, is covered by its own five-hour tour.
Booking, payment and cancellation questions are answered on our guide to private tours in Berlin.
More
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The Battle Of Berlin Tour
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The Royal Potsdam Tour
Private 6-hour day trip from Berlin to the palaces and parks of Potsdam for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel in Berlin.
The Sachsenhausen Camp Tour
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The Warnemünde-Berlin Shore Excursion
Private 12-hour shore excursion from Warnemünde to Berlin and back for up to 6 people. Pickup at your ship, timed to its docking.
Step inside the story.
€1,150 · private · 7 Hours
Reserve The Ravensbrück Camp Tour