How to Visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial from Munich

“Arbeit macht frei” or “Work makes (you) free.” That’s what the gates of Dachau say. But for those of you familiar with Dachau, you know that’s a lie.

Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is one of the most sobering and important experiences you can have near Munich. While it’s not an easy visit, it’s an important one, a chance to experience history, honor the victims, and ensure these atrocities are never forgotten.

For me, visiting Dachau on the 70th anniversary of liberation was deeply personal. My grandfather was there in April 1945 as part of the US forces that liberated the camp, freeing 32,000 prisoners. Standing where he stood 70 years earlier, I finally understood why he struggled to speak about what he witnessed.

This guide will help you plan your visit to Dachau from Munich, understand what to expect, and prepare yourself for this powerful historical site.

Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

Table of Contents

About Dachau Concentration Camp

Dachau was the first concentration camp built in Germany, opening in March 1933, just weeks after Hitler came to power. Initially used to imprison political opponents, it became the model for the entire concentration camp system.

Unlike extermination camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, Dachau was primarily a labor camp. But make no mistake, it was still a death sentence for many. Prisoners endured 12-hour work days, starvation rations, inadequate clothing in freezing temperatures, medical experiments, and systematic brutality.

Key Facts:

Over 206,000 prisoners passed through Dachau between 1933 and 1945
At least 41,500 people were murdered here
Only 32,000 prisoners survived to liberation on April 29, 1945
Prisoners came from more than 30 countries
The camp housed political prisoners, Jews, Roma, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, and others deemed “undesirable”

Today, the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site serves as a place of remembrance, education, and warning. It’s one of the most important Holocaust memorial sites in Europe.

Learn more about the memorial and its programs on the official Dachud Memorial Site website.

Why Visit Dachau?

It’s an uncomfortable question: Why would anyone want to visit a place of such horror?

For me, it’s simple: we have a responsibility to remember.

Visiting Dachau isn’t about morbid curiosity. It’s about:

Honoring the victims: The tens of thousands who suffered and died here deserve to be remembered, not forgotten.
Understanding history: Seeing the camp in person makes the Holocaust tangible in a way that no textbook can.
Preventing the future: As Holocaust survivors say, “Never forget” means ensuring this never happens again.
Keeping the memory alive: As the generation of survivors and liberators passes away, we become the generation to remember.

For me personally, visiting Dachau connected me to my grandfather’s experience as one of the liberators on Dachau back in 1945. More on that later…

How to Get to Dachau from Munich

Dachau is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of Munich and is easily accessible by public transportation. Most visitors make it a half-day or full-day trip from Munich.

By Public Transportation (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most cost-effective option.

Step 1: Take the S-Bahn to Dachau

From Munich Hauptbahnhof (main train station), take S2 line toward Petershausen or Altomünster
Get off at Dachau station (not Dachau-Niederrohrdorf)
Journey time: Approximately 25 minutes
Frequency: Trains run every 10-20 minutes
Cost: Regular Munich transit zones apply (the memorial is in zone M-4)

Step 2: Take the Bus to the Memorial

From Dachau station, take bus 726 toward Saubachsiedlung
Get off at KZ-Gedenkstätte (Memorial Site stop)
Journey time: Approximately 7 minutes
The bus runs every 20-30 minutes
Alternative: Bus 724 or 725 also stop near the memorial

Step 3: Walk from the Bus Stop

From the bus stop, it’s a short 5-minute walk to the memorial entrance
Follow the signs for “KZ-Gedenkstätte”

Total journey time: About 45 minutes door-to-door from central Munich

Cost (will change over time)

Single journey ticket (zone M-4): Approximately €6.40
Day ticket (zone M-4): Approximately €9.80
Munich City Tour Card includes unlimited travel

Walking from Dachau Station: If you miss the bus or prefer to walk, it’s about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from Dachau station to the memorial, approximately 25-30 minutes on foot. The route is clearly signposted with brown “KZ-Gedenkstätte” signs.

By Organized Tour

Several companies offer half-day tours from Munich that include:

Round-trip transportation
Guided tour of the memorial with historical context
Skip-the-line entry (though admission is free)

I personally recommend you check out Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich by Train or From Munich: Dachau Memorial Site Day Tour.

Pros:

Educational commentary from guides
Transportation handled for you
Better historical understanding

Cons:

More expensive (typically €25-50 per person)
Less flexibility with your time
Larger groups

Tours can be booked through platforms like GetYourGuide, Viator, or directly through the Munich Tourism Office.

By Car

Dachau has parking available near the memorial site, though I don’t recommend driving unless you’re combining it with other destinations simply because public transit and tours are so simple.

Visiting Information: Hours, Tickets & Tours

Opening Hours

The Dachau Memorial Site is open:

Daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed December 24

The memorial can be visited year-round, though it’s worth noting that outdoor areas can be quite cold in winter.

Admission

Admission is FREE. However, donations are welcomed and support the memorial’s educational programs.

Guided Tours

The memorial offers several tour options. I highly recommend taking one, but you’ll need to verify the times of each tour before you go.

Guided Tours (Highly Recommended):

In-depth 2.5-hour tours led by memorial staff
Available in multiple languages including English (11 am & 1 pm) and German (12 pm)
Cost: €4.00 per person
Advance booking is not available, book onsite up to 45 minutes in advance
Tours are limited to 30 people each

Audio Guides:

Available in multiple languages
Cost: €5.00
Can be rented at the visitor center
Approximately 2-2.5 hours of content

Mobile App:

Free memorial app available for iOS and Android
Includes audio guide and historical information
Download before your visit (WiFi available on-site but can be slow)

Documentary Film

Don’t miss the 38-minute long documentary shown in the museum building. It’s available in multiple languages and provides important historical context. Showtimes are posted at the entrance and can be found here.

The Gates of Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany — The Gates to Dachau

What to Expect During Your Visit

Plan for 3-4 Hours Minimum

While you could walk through Dachau in 90 minutes, I strongly recommend allowing at least 3-4 hours for a meaningful visit. This allows time to:

Walk through the museum exhibition (1-1.5 hours)
View the documentary film (38 minutes)
Visit the barracks reconstructions (30 minutes)
See the crematorium and gas chamber (20-30 minutes)
Walk the grounds and reflect (30-60 minutes)

If you take a guided tour, plan for 4-5 hours total.

The Layout and Route

The memorial follows a thoughtful path through the camp.

1. Visitor Center

Start here to get oriented, use the restrooms (there are limited facilities once you enter the memorial grounds), pick up a map, and rent audio guides if desired.

2. The Jourhaus (Gate Building)

Pass through the infamous iron gates bearing the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”). The bitter irony of this slogan is impossible to miss.

3. Museum Exhibition

Housed in the former maintenance building, this extensive exhibition chronicles:

The rise of the Nazi party
The establishment of Dachau
Daily life (and death) in the camp
The liberation
Post-war justice and remembrance

The exhibition includes photographs, documents, and testimonies from survivors. It’s detailed and heavy. Take your time.

4. The Roll Call Square (Appellplatz)

The gravel yard where prisoners were forced to stand for hours during morning and evening roll calls. Imagine 36,000 people standing here in all weather, weak from starvation and forced labor.

5. Reconstructed Barracks

Two barracks have been reconstructed to show living conditions:

One shows the barracks as they appeared in the early years
One shows the severe overcrowding during the final years when prisoners slept three or four to a bunk designed for one

6. Religious Memorials

Several memorial chapels and monuments have been built on the grounds:

Jewish Memorial
Catholic Mortal Agony of Christ Chapel
Protestant Church of Reconciliation
Russian Orthodox Chapel
Carmelite Convent

7. The Crematorium and Gas Chamber

This is perhaps the most difficult part of the visit. The old crematorium was expanded into a larger building that included:

Disrobing area
Gas chamber (there is conflicting historical evidence about whether it was used for mass executions)
Crematorium ovens

There are no survivors from this area of the camp, which is why some details remain unclear.

8. The Memorial Path

A walk along a path lined with memorial sculptures and plaques.

What to Wear and Bring

Dress Code

While there is no formal dress code, please dress respectfully. This is a memorial site and former place of death.

Avoid clothing with offensive slogans or imagery.
No costumes or anything that could be considered disrespectful.
Shorts and t-shirts are acceptable in summer, but keep them modest.
Bring warm layers in cooler months as much of the visit is outdoors.
Wear comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be on your feet for several hours on gravel paths.

What to Bring

There’s no need to complicate things. Just pack a few key belongings in a small purse or backpack.

Water bottle (no food allowed in the memorial itself, but you can eat in designated areas)
Tissues… this is an emotional visit.
Fully charged phone/camera (photography is allowed in most areas)
Weather-appropriate clothing (umbrella, sunscreen, warm jacket)

What NOT to Bring

Large bags or suitcases (limited locker space available)
Food into the memorial buildings

Photography Rules

Photography is permitted in most areas of the memorial EXCEPT:

Inside the gas chamber and crematorium ovens
In certain exhibition areas (marked with no-photo signs)

When taking photos, I’d say use common sense, but as it isn’t always common:

Be respectful. This isn’t Instagram tourism.
Don’t take selfies or pose inappropriately.
Be mindful of others who are there to reflect and mourn.
Consider whether posting certain images on social media is appropriate.

The 70th Anniversary of Liberation: My Personal Experience

I visited Dachau on May 3, 2015, the day commemorating 70 years since liberation. While the actual liberation occurred on April 29, 1945, the anniversary is always observed on a Sunday.

Seventy years earlier, my grandfather arrived at this place with his US Army division. They were among the first American forces to reach Dachau, and what they found was beyond comprehension. He rarely spoke about the war, but he’d shown me a few photographs a friend had taken upon their arrival… images of skeletal survivors, piles of bodies, the shocked faces of American soldiers seeing the unimaginable.

The Anniversary Ceremony

The atmosphere on this anniversary day was particularly solemn and powerful. The rainy weather just reinforced the overall mood. According to the memorial staff, 133 survivors attended the ceremony that year, though the number dwindles with each passing year.

Throughout the memorial grounds, wreaths were placed by various groups and nations. The ones that moved me most were those labeled “Liberators”, representing the soldiers, like my grandfather, who opened the gates and freed the 32,000 surviving prisoners.

I arrived in the afternoon after the morning program had concluded and tours had resumed. My guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, walking our group through:

Each building and its function
The different categories of prisoners and the work they were forced to do
The story of the one man who successfully escaped
Countless other details that brought the camp’s horrific reality into focus

Confronting the Incomprehensible

Standing in the crematorium and seeing the gas chamber was the hardest part. There’s conflicting historical information about whether the gas chamber at Dachau was used for mass executions, but the reason for this is that this section of the camp had no survivors upon liberation. The uncertainty itself is haunting.

Walking through the museum, I saw some of the same photographs my grandfather had kept in his Ohio living room. Seeing them displayed as part of the historical record made my connection to this place visceral and real. These weren’t just images in a book. They were captured by someone who was there, someone I knew, someone who could barely speak about what he’d witnessed.

The scale of the operations is staggering. Morning and evening roll calls with 36,000 people standing in that enormous square? The systematic dehumanization, torture, medical experiments, and murder?

I went to Dachau hoping it would help me understand. In many ways, I left with a bigger mystery: How could human beings do this to other human beings?

The Strength of Survivors

What struck me most was the courage of the survivors who returned for the anniversary. The memorial staff member mentioned that 133 survivors were present that day. Men and women who had every reason never to set foot in this place again, yet they came back. They came back to remember those who didn’t survive and to ensure the world doesn’t forget.

I think often of my grandfather’s struggles with what he saw. (I was fortunate that he lived into his 90s.) And I’m in awe of the survivors who carry the memories of what they lived. They know a strength most of us will fortunately never have to know.

Wreaths commemorating 70 years of liberation at Dachau — Wreaths commemorating 70 years of liberation

"Liberators" Wreath at Dachau, Germany — “Liberators” Wreath

Frequently Asked Questions about Dachau

Plan for at least 3-4 hours for a visit to Dachau. This includes:

1-1.5 hours for the museum exhibition
38 minutes for the documentary film
30-45 minutes to see the reconstructed barracks
20-30 minutes at the crematorium area
30-60 minutes to walk the grounds and reflect

If you’re taking a guided tour, allow 4-5 hours total. Some visitors spend an entire day here, especially if they’re deeply engaged with the history or taking time to read every exhibition panel.

Half-day or full-day? Most visitors from Munich make this a half-day trip (leaving Munich mid-morning, returning by mid-afternoon). However, if you want a more contemplative experience or plan to take a guided tour, consider dedicating a full day.

Dachau is a memorial site and former place of mass suffering and death… dress respectfully.

Avoid:

Clothing with offensive slogans, images, or political statements
Anything that could be considered a costume
Excessively revealing clothing (though this is less about strict rules and more about respect)
Flip-flops or uncomfortable shoes (you’ll be walking on gravel for hours)

Do wear:

Modest, casual clothing (jeans and a shirt are perfectly fine)
Comfortable walking shoes
Weather-appropriate layers (it can be cold, hot, or rainy)
In summer: shorts and t-shirts are acceptable if modest

Think about it this way: Dress as you would for a funeral or visiting a cemetery, respectfully and practically.

The same guidelines apply to visiting any concentration camp memorial.

Absolutely avoid:

Anything with Nazi imagery or symbols
Clothing that makes light of the Holocaust
Revealing or inappropriate clothing
Costumes

Remember: You’re visiting a place where tens of thousands of people were murdered. Dress in a way that honors their memory and shows respect to survivors, families of victims, and other visitors who are there to mourn and remember.

When in doubt, ask yourself: “Would I wear this to a memorial service?” If the answer is no, choose something else.

The walking distance from Dachau train station to the memorial is approximately 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers), which takes about 25-30 minutes on foot.

However, most visitors take bus 726 from the station, which:

Takes only 7 minutes
Runs every 20-30 minutes
Drops you right at the memorial entrance (stop: KZ-Gedenkstätte)
Costs the same as your regular Munich transit ticket

Should you walk?

If you have mobility issues or limited time, take the bus.
If you miss the bus, it’s a pleasant walk on a well-marked path.
The route is clearly signposted with brown “KZ-Gedenkstätte” signs.
Some visitors find the walk a good way to mentally prepare for the visit.

Yes, photography is permitted in most areas of the Dachau Memorial, with important exceptions:

Where you CAN take photos:

The museum exhibition (in most areas)
The grounds and roll call square
The reconstructed barracks
Outside the crematorium building
Religious memorials

Where you CANNOT take photos:

Inside the gas chamber
Inside the crematorium ovens
Any area marked with a no-photography sign
Some specific exhibition areas

Photography etiquette:

Remember this is a memorial site, not a tourist attraction.
No selfies or inappropriate posing.
Be mindful of other visitors who are there to mourn.
Consider carefully before posting certain images on social media.
If you’re unsure about whether a photo is appropriate, don’t take it.

Many visitors choose to take very few photos and instead focus on being present with the experience.

While the concentration camp memorial is the primary reason people visit Dachau, the town of Dachau itself is a charming Bavarian town with several things to see.

In Dachau town:

Dachau Palace (Schloss Dachau): A Renaissance palace with beautiful gardens and views over Munich
Dachau Artists’ Colony: The town was once a thriving artists’ colony, and you can still visit galleries
Old Town: Quaint Bavarian architecture, cafés, and restaurants
Bezirksmuseum Dachau: Local history museum

That said, most visitors come specifically for the memorial and find it emotionally consuming enough that they don’t explore the town. The tonal shift from a somber memorial visit to sightseeing can feel jarring.

If you have extra time before or after your memorial visit, the Dachau Palace gardens are a peaceful place to decompress.

Yes, children can visit Dachau, but it’s recommended for children aged 13 and older due to the graphic nature of the content.

If you’re torn on bringing your kids, just know that:

The exhibition includes disturbing photographs and descriptions of violence.
Young children may not have the historical context to understand what they’re seeing.
The emotional weight can be overwhelming for kids.
Consider your individual child’s maturity level and sensitivity.

If you bring children:

Prepare them in advance about what they’ll see.
Be ready to answer difficult questions.
Allow them to take breaks or skip certain areas if needed.
Consider using a guided tour that can present information age-appropriately.

The memorial offers educational programs specifically designed for school groups with age-appropriate materials.

Yes, the Dachau Memorial is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It’s only closed on December 24.

Unlike many European museums and attractions, Dachau does NOT have a Monday closure day. You can visit any day of the week.

If you’re based in Munich, visit Dachau. It’s much closer, easier to access, and eliminates the need for a long trip to Berlin or Oranienburg.

Dachau from Munich:

25-minute train ride + short bus
Half-day trip
First concentration camp, served as the model for others
Excellent museum and memorial facilities

Sachsenhausen from Munich:

Would require traveling to Berlin (6-hour train ride each way)
Not practical as a day trip from Munich
Better visited if you’re based in Berlin

If you’re planning to visit both Munich and Berlin on your trip, you could see both memorials. But if you’re only in Munich, Dachau is the clear choice.

Explore More of Germany

Visiting Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial is not easy. It’s not fun. It’s not a typical tourist activity. But it’s important.

In a world where Holocaust denial still exists, where antisemitism is rising again, where new atrocities unfold, visiting places like Dachau becomes an act of defiance against forgetting. It’s a way of saying: this happened, these people mattered, we will not let this be erased from history.

For me, walking through Dachau connected me to my grandfather’s experience in a way I’d never felt before. I finally understood why he couldn’t talk about it. I finally grasped the weight he carried. And I felt the responsibility to carry forward the memory of those who suffered and died here.

As the last survivors and liberators pass away, we become the next generation to remember. We inherit their stories and the responsibility to never forget.

If you’re visiting Munich, make time for Dachau. Give it the hours it deserves. Listen to the stories. Remember. And perhaps most importantly: take that remembrance back into the world with you.

*all numbers represented were as given on our tour

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