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Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
A visit to Dachau is a profoundly somber and emotional experience, offering a vital and educational opportunity to safeguard the memory of the harrowing atrocities which took place there.
Dachau was the first of the horrific Nazi Concentration Camps and is located just outside of Munich. Established in 1933 just weeks after Hitler’s to power to contain political prisoners and opponents. Dachau went on to become a precursor and ‘prototype’ for the many concentration camps later established by the Nazi regime.
A brief history of Dachau
During the 12 years Dachau was operational, over 200,000 people were incarcerated behind the electrified barbed wire fences. It’s hard to know exactly how many lost their lives there, but scholars estimate at least 40,000 either through cold blooded murder or lack of food or disease. Although the concentration camp had a gas chamber, there is no evidence that it was ever used.
The camp was located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory and consisted of 32 barracks. It was designed to hold around 6,000 prisoners, but by the end of the war around 32,000 prisoners were held within these cramped and harrowing conditions.
The camp was liberated by American troops in April 1945. On arrival American troops found 67,665 registered prisoners in Dachau and its sub camps.
Today, Dachau is one of the most visited Dark Tourism sites in the country. In recent years sites of human tradgedy, like Dachau and Chernobyl, have become ever more popular, often coming with questions regarding safety and the ethics of visiting such locations. With this in mind, we’ve written a guide, answering questions and explaining our experience, so you can visit the Memorial Site respectfully and be aware of the what you might see.
Visiting Dachau: FAQ's
Where is Dachau?
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site is located in the district of Bavaria in Southern Germany. It’s around 16km north of Munich, on the outskirts of the medieval town of Dachau. It is only around a 30-45 minute journey from Munich, therefore many people opt to visit Dachau as a day trip when visiting the city.
How to get to Dachau from Munich?
You can drive or catch the train to the Memorial Site, we’ve detailed both below. We took the train which was easy and budget friendly.
Train
From Munich Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) take the S-Bahn S2 line towards Petershausen. Approximatley 25 minutes in, get off at Dachau station. Then take the 726 bus to the Memorial site entrance stop, KZ-Gedenkstätte.
We would recommend getting a Single Day ticket (Munich M-1) which covers the bus and S-Bahn. You can purchase these at any of the ticket machines in the station. Approx €10.
For help planning your journey you can find more information here.
Car
Dachau is around a 30-35 minute drive from central Munich. The car park at the Memorial Site is located at: Alte Römerstraße 73. and costs €3.00 per car.
Is it Worth Visiting Dachau?
Visiting Dachau is important, and although a somber experience, it educates visitors and provides a crucial understanding on the history of such a harrowing site. It’s worthwhile for everyone to visit, and is a stark reminder of the horrors away from the battlefield of World War II. By visiting you are playing your part in preserving the memories and passing on knowledge to future generations.
Can You Visit Dachau Without A Tour?
You can visit Dachau with a guide or without a guide. We opted to visit without a guide but to pay for the Audio Guide (€4.50pp) as we felt we would learn more about the Memorial Site this way. We found it really helped us to understand the site more and guided us round so we didn’t miss anything.
How long do you need to spend at Dachau?
Around 3-4 hours is enough time to walk around the camp and listen to the audio guide. Including travel time, allow at least half a day if travelling from Munich.
What you will see at Dachau
Upon your arrival at Dachau, you will pass through the very gate that once marked the prisoners’ entrance. Above it, a chilling inscription reads “Arbeit Macht Frei,” which translates to “work sets you free.” Tragically, many inmates initially believed they were destined for a labor camp, laboring under the false hope that diligent work would secure their eventual release.
Beyond the gate, visitors can explore a surviving dormitory, the crematorium, walk the grounds, and visit the excellently detailed museum. The museum offers a comprehensive and immersive experience, complete with a 20-minute documentary recounting the history of Dachau. It’s important to note that the content can be deeply disturbing and graphic, making it unsuitable for children
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Dachau?
Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is free. At the visitors centre there is an Audio Guide available, which we would highly recommend, €4.50 pp.
There are also guided tours offered daily in English and German. English guided tours cost €4.00 and are at 11am and 1pm.
Weather in Dachau
Weather in Dachau can range from below -5°C in winter to over 25°C in summer. Accuweather gives you the historical average from any specific date as well as previous temperatures. Below is a current weather forecast.
Current Weather Forecast
Hopefully our guide answered all your questions about visiting Dachau. If you found this post useful please share and like it below! If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or leave a comment below. And for more inspiration why not check out some of our other destinations.
Thanks for reading,
Eve and Nick