Finding the exact spot where history took a dark turn can be weirdly difficult in the middle of the German countryside. You’ve likely heard the name. You know about Anne Frank. But when you actually try to pinpoint where is Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on a map today, you realize it’s not just a single building with a sign. It’s a sprawling, quiet landscape in Northern Germany that feels a world away from the busy streets of Berlin or Munich.
Honestly, it’s easy to get turned around. The site is located in the state of Lower Saxony. Basically, if you draw a triangle between the cities of Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen, Bergen-Belsen sits right in the middle. It’s about 60 kilometers north of Hanover and roughly 100 kilometers south of Hamburg.
The closest town is actually Celle, a beautiful place with half-timbered houses that makes for a jarring contrast to the memorial site just 25 kilometers away.
Navigating to Anne-Frank-Platz
If you’re plugging it into a GPS, don’t just type "Bergen-Belsen." You might end up in the middle of a military training ground—which is still active, by the way. The official address for the Documentation Centre is Anne-Frank-Platz, 29303 Lohheide, Germany.
💡 You might also like: Why the Newport Back Bay Science Center is the Best Kept Secret in Orange County
Getting there is a bit of a trek if you don't have a car. You’ve gotta take a train to the Celle railway station first. From there, you’re looking for Bus 110. It’s the one that heads toward the "Belsen, Gedenkstätte" stop. Fair warning: the buses don’t run nearly as often as you’d hope, especially on weekends. Always check the current schedule at cebus-celle.de before you head out, or you might find yourself stranded in the Lüneburg Heath.
The drive from Hanover takes about 50 minutes. It’s mostly highway (A7) until you hit the smaller country roads. You’ll see signs for "Gedenkstätte," which is the German word for memorial.
Why the Location Feels Different Today
Unlike Auschwitz or Dachau, you won’t see rows of wooden barracks or barbed wire fences when you arrive. The British Army, who liberated the camp in April 1945, actually burned most of it to the ground. They had to. Typhus was everywhere, and the wooden huts were basically biohazards.
📖 Related: Flights from San Diego to New Jersey: What Most People Get Wrong
So, what’s actually there now?
- Massive burial mounds: These are the most striking parts of the landscape. Grassy hills that mark where thousands of people were buried in the weeks after liberation.
- The Obelisk: A tall stone monument that dominates the western edge of the site.
- The Documentation Centre: A modern, minimalist concrete building that houses the museum and archives.
- The Symbolic Graves: You’ll find a tombstone for Anne and Margot Frank, but it’s a memorial marker, not their actual grave. No one knows exactly where they are buried among the mass graves.
The site is part of the Lüneburg Heath, which is actually a very pretty area of purple heather and birch trees. It makes the experience sort of surreal. You’re walking through a beautiful natural park, but you’re literally walking over the site of a humanitarian catastrophe.
Planning Your Trip for 2026
If you’re planning a visit this year, keep a few logistical things in mind. The memorial is generally open daily from 10 am to 5 pm (extending to 6 pm in the summer months). Admission is free, which is pretty standard for state-funded memorials in Germany.
👉 See also: Woman on a Plane: What the Viral Trends and Real Travel Stats Actually Tell Us
Don't expect a quick hour-long stop. The site is huge. You’ll want at least three hours to walk the grounds and go through the Documentation Centre. Also, wear sturdy shoes. The paths are unpaved in many areas, and the heath can get muddy.
One thing that surprises people is the Soviet POW cemetery. It’s about 600 meters away from the main concentration camp grounds. It’s the resting place for roughly 20,000 Soviet prisoners who died of starvation and disease before the site even became a concentration camp for Jewish "exchange" prisoners. It’s a quieter, often overlooked part of the history that’s worth the short walk.
Essential Visitor Tips
- Transport: If you can, rent a car. The bus system from Celle is reliable but slow, and taxis from the train station can cost upwards of €60.
- Weather: The Lüneburg Heath is exposed. If it’s raining or windy, you’ll feel it. Bring a jacket even if the forecast looks okay.
- Food: There is a small museum café on-site, but it’s not always open. It's smarter to grab a sandwich in Celle before you head out.
- Audio Guides: They are available in the Documentation Centre and are highly recommended since there aren't many standing buildings to "see."
Visiting the location of Bergen-Belsen isn't exactly a "fun" travel experience, but it’s a profound one. It's tucked away in a corner of Germany that feels forgotten, which in a way, makes the act of going there to remember even more important.
Your Next Steps for Visiting:
- Check the official Bergen-Belsen Memorial website for any temporary closures due to maintenance or events.
- Book a train ticket to Celle Hauptbahnhof via the Deutsche Bahn app.
- Download an offline map of the Lohheide area, as cell service can be spotty in the rural parts of the Heath.