Apelern is a municipality located in the Samtgemeinde of Rodenberg within the district of Schaumburg in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the Deister-Süntel valley, positioned south of Rodenberg and near the A2 Autobahn at Lauenau.
The village lies between the Deister, Süntel, and Bückeberg ridges. The Riesbach stream flows through Apelern before emptying into the Rodenberger Aue stream.