The town is situated between the major cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen, and is bordered by the Waal river in the south.

From 1990 to 2006, Bemmel was considerably expanded with three new housing estates: Klaverkamp, Klein Rome, and Essenpas.

In the south of Bemmel (outside the dykes) lies Dutch rewilding area the Gelderse Poort, which is managed by Staatsbosbeheer.

The area contains typical habitats of the Dutch riverscapes, including: kolks, riparian forests and grasslands.

It is an important area for rare Dutch meadow birds, including the grey partridge, yellowhammer, and Eurasian skylark.