Dachau Memorial Tour from Munich

A comprehensive, historically grounded visit, guided with sensitivity and respect.

Officially Authorized Dachau Memorial Site Guides • 15+ Years Experience • Native English-Speaking • Early Start

TOUR AT A GLANCE

5 hours
Max 25
Age 13+
Early Start
English
Karsplatz, Munich
Adult - € 52

What’s included

  • Expert guide authorized by Dachau Memorial Site

  • All public transport costs
    (Munich → Dachau → Munich)

  • Native English-speaking guide

  • Survivor stories shared with care

  • Early start to avoid crowds

Not included

  • Food, drinks, or personal purchases

Helpful details

2.5 km / 1.5 miles walking distance
Operates rain or shine
Walking on gravel paths
Photography permitted respectfully
Sensitive historical content
Free cancelation (24h)

WHAT SETS OUR DACHAU TOUR APART

Official Authorization & Ethical Standards

Led by officially authorised guides and conducted in accordance with the educational and ethical framework of the Dachau Memorial Site.

Specialists in Dachau & Third Reich History

Guides with over 15 years focused on studying and guiding at Dachau and related sites.

Testimony Presented With Care

Survivor testimony and victims' experiences are respectfully woven into the tour within their historical context.

Calm, Structured Experience

Early start designed to avoid rush and overcrowding, allowing space for reflection and understanding.

BOOK YOUR TOUR

THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF DACHAU

Established in March 1933, Dachau was the first permanent concentration camp created by the National Socialist regime. Initially used to imprison political opponents, it soon became a model for a wider system of repression that spread across Germany and later throughout occupied Europe.

Dachau was not only a place of imprisonment; it also became a training ground for members of the SS and a template for other camps. Many of the methods, routines, and hierarchies developed here were later replicated elsewhere.

Over time, Dachau — the longest-running concentration camp of the Nazi regime — expanded in both function and scope.

What began as a site for political detainees came to include Jews, clergy, Sinti and Roma, people persecuted for their sexual orientation, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many others deemed enemies of the regime. By the end of the war, more than 200,000 people had been imprisoned in Dachau and its subcamps.

Understanding Dachau requires placing it within the broader historical context of Munich in 1933, where National Socialism first consolidated power. On this guided tour, the memorial site is approached not as an isolated location, but as part of a wider process that reshaped Germany and Europe.

Today, Dachau stands as a place of remembrance and education — not separate from history, but as a lasting reminder of the consequences of that period.

TOUR ROUTE & KEY STOPS

This guided visit follows the historical progression of the Dachau Concentration Camp: from its creation to its function within the Nazi camp system, and how the site is preserved and commemorated today.

Stage 1: Journey from Munich to Dachau

We begin in Munich and travel together by train to Dachau. Your guide introduces the day and prepares you for the visit before the in-depth guided tour at the Memorial Site.

  • Karlsplatz (Stachus)

  • Train journey to Dachau

A large, historical archway in a city with many pedestrians walking underneath. The archway is white with decorative features, and two round relief sculptures are visible on the facade. The background shows modern buildings and some greenery.
A modern red double-decker train at a train station with large glass windows and a curved ceiling.

Stage 2: Orientation & Historical Context

Upon arrival, we enter the memorial site and begin with an introduction to the camp’s history, structure, and purpose.

  • Memorial Site Entrance

  • Exhibition & Visitor Center

Historical metal gate with German phrase 'Arbeit Macht Frei' in front of a barren courtyard, with buildings and a cloudy sky in the background.
A detailed layout model of the Dachau Memorial Site grounds with its buildings, for sighted and visually impaired visitors.

Stage 3: The Camp Grounds

The main part of the visit is a comprehensive guided walk through the camp grounds, following the path prisoners were forced to take and examining how the camp functioned day to day.

  • Barracks

  • Roll Call Square (Appellplatz)

  • Punishment cells

  • Execution area

  • Crematorium

  • International memorial

  • Religious memorial spaces

A series of empty plots with concrete borders and small flowers, lined with tall green trees to the left and a gray building with windows in the background under an overcast sky.
Long, narrow hallway with multiple closed doors on both sides, dim lighting, and visible people in the distance near an exit door.
People walking toward the entrance of the Jewish Memorial in the Dachau Memorial Site, marked by a small building with a sloped roof and a menorah on top.

Stage 4: Reflection & Remembrance

Time is provided to explore the memorial independently, reflect, or revisit areas of personal interest.

  • Free exploration time within the memorial

  • Optional visit to the Memorial bookshop

A white stone plaque with brown inscription, lying on the ground on a gravel walkway. The plaque reads: "FOSSE COMMUNE GRAB TAUSENDER UNBEKANNTER GRAVE OF THOUSANDS UNKNOWN." There is some grass and fallen leaves around the plaque.
Memorial with floral wreaths at the base, a wall with the years 1933-1945, and a sculpture of intertwined human figures above.

Stage 5: Return to Munich

We conclude the visit by returning together to Munich.

  • Train journey back to Munich

  • Arrival at Karlsplatz

People walking through a large city archway with buildings on either side, trees in the background, and a cloudy sky overhead.
A red Deutsche Bahn train at an underground train station with a sign indicating direction to Munich and platform 1, and a clock showing about 11:07.

GUESTS REFLECTIONS

MEETING POINT

Karlsplatz (Stachus)

Karsplatz 8, 80335, Munich

Between Starbucks and McDonald's, just steps from the Karlstor gate.

 

How to find your guide

  • Meet directly in an area between Starbucks and McDonald's, facing the Karlstor gate.

  • Your guide wears a blue name badge

  • Please arrive 10 minutes before departure for smooth check-in

A city square with a historic building featuring multiple signs, including a Starbucks and a store named Lederwaren. There is an archway labeled Karlstor on the right. The photograph marks a meeting point in front of the store, with people walking and biking in the square under a clear blue sky.

Getting there

Karlsplatz (Stachus) Station

  • U-Bahn: U4, U5

  • S-Bahn: All main lines (S1–S8)

  • Trams: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Exit the station toward Karlsplatz (Stachus).

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

What to wear

  • Comfortable walking shoes

  • Weather-appropriate clothing

  • Layers for wind or colder days

  • Modest attire recommended

What to bring

  • Water

  • Small snack

  • Camera (respectfully used)

  • Sunscreen (summer)

  • Umbrella (if rain is forecast)

Prohibited items

  • Any symbols, signs, clothing, or materials associated with extremist or totalitarian groups.

  • Any imagery or messaging that promotes hatred, discrimination, or violence.

Accessibility

  • Much of the site has gravel paths, which may be difficult for visitors with mobility issues.

  • The Memorial Site provides wheelchairs and mobility scooters for loan (subject to availability).

  • Many, but not all, of the buildings have accessible entrances via ramps.

  • Accessible toilets are available in the visitor centre.

Please contact us in advance if you have mobility questions — we’re happy to advise

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • On our tour we take a train (20 mins) and bus (9 min) as it is the fastest and most comfortable way to get there.

  • No, eating is not allowed on the memorial grounds out of respect. Exceptions are made for medical conditions. There is a canteen at the visitor centre near the entrance. We return to Munich by about 1:30 pm, in time for lunch.

  • The tour runs rain or shine. Much of the site is outdoors, so please bring weather-appropriate clothing.

    In the rare event of extreme weather, public transport disruption, or official site closure, the tour may be cancelled for safety reasons. In such cases, guests will be offered a full refund or the option to reschedule.

  • The Memorial Site is large and requires extended walking and standing. Most visitors find it manageable, but comfortable shoes are essential.

  • The minimum age for our tours is 13 years with no exceptions. The content is intense and covers disturbing historical material. Teenagers aged 13+ are welcome, and the tour is handled with appropriate sensitivity.

  • Absolutely. The content can be emotionally difficult. You're free to step outside, take breaks, or leave at any time. Your guide will check in with the group throughout.

  • Please arrive 10 minutes early. We depart promptly to catch our scheduled train and cannot delay departure for late arrivals.

    If you are running late, contact us immediately using the number in your booking confirmation (WhatsApp or SMS preferred). Late guests may need to make their own way to the Dachau Memorial Site and meet us there.

PLAN YOUR VISIT TO DACHAU

Experience Dachau with accuracy, empathy, and expert guidance.

Questions before booking? See our FAQ or contact us.