Dachau Concentration Camp: Half-Day Tour from Munich by Train

What Dachau Was Built to Teach: A Half-Day from Munich

You travel by train from central Munich to Dachau with a licensed guide and a group of no more than 18 people. The five-hour tour covers the camp's layout, the Nazi rise to power, Dachau's role as the model for all other camps, prisoner registration, the SS training facility, and the liberation in 1945. You return to Munich by 2pm with transport and the guide included in the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dachau Memorial Half-Day Tour

• Depart Marienplatz Munich at 9:00
• Travel by train to Dachau Memorial
• Visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
• Learn about Nazi rise and Hitler
• Explore camp system history and phases
• See SS training facility and main gate
• Study prisoner registration and categories
• Understand Kristallnacht and Jewish prisoners
• Discuss camp liberation and aftermath
• Return to Munich around 14:00

The experience

"You have to understand. This place wasn't hidden," our guide said as we stood at the Jourhaus gate, looking at the words ARBEIT MACHT FREI. "It was the first camp. The model. Everything that came after, it all started here." We'd left Marienplatz at 9am sharp, traveling by train with a small group, no more than 18 of us, and arrived at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site ready for what would be a five-hour walk through the most preserved camp in Europe. The guide wasn't there to soften anything. He moved through the history methodically: the rise of Hitler through the 1920s, the Reichstag burning in 1933, the moment the SS chose this location outside Munich to build the prototype for everything that would follow.

The tour covers ground most people don't expect, not just the physical layout of the camp, but the three major phases of the system itself, the registration process for prisoners and their categories, the role of Kristallnacht in 1938 and the sudden flood of Jewish prisoners that followed. You walk through the Documentation Center, see the barracks, stand in the spaces where people were held. The guide explains what happened between 1945 and the opening of the memorial in 1965, the liberation and the aftermath. It's not a quick march through. It's methodical, and the small group size means you can ask questions without holding up thirty other people. The memorial site itself is wheelchair accessible, all surfaces are paved, and the mix of indoor and outdoor walking means you need to dress for the weather. It can be cold even when Munich isn't.

You're back at Marienplatz by 2pm. The guide is included, public transport is covered, and there's no rushing. One thing to know: children under 14 aren't allowed on the guided tours. The memorial has that rule. And you need to arrive by 8:45 for check-in. The train leaves at 9am and won't wait. Refreshments aren't sold during the tour itself, though you can buy them at the memorial site before or after. Bring water.

What’s included

Your half-day includes pickup from Marienplatz in downtown Munich, train transport to and from the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, and a fully licensed professional guide who covers the camp's history as the first Nazi concentration camp, the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party, the Reichstag burning, Dachau's role as the model for all other camps, the three major phases of the camp system, the SS training facility, the Jourhaus gate, prisoner registration and categories, Kristallnacht and the influx of Jewish prisoners, liberation in 1945, and the memorial's development through 1965. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and refreshments can be purchased at the memorial site.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Under 14: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by In Their Shoes Dachau Memorial Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're in Munich and want to understand Dachau's history with a guide who knows it deeply, without arranging transport or navigating the site alone: the small group size and fixed schedule mean you get a thorough, unhurried five hours with someone who can answer the questions that matter.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years). Under 14: they can't be included in the booking.

What time does the tour leave Munich?

9am from Marienplatz. Arrive by 8:45 for check-in. The train does not wait for late arrivals.

How long is the tour?

Five hours at the memorial site, with train travel included. You're back in Munich by approximately 2pm.

What's included in the price?

A fully licensed professional guide and public transport to and from the memorial site. Refreshments are not included but can be purchased at the site.

What's the maximum group size?

18 people per tour, ensuring a more personal experience than larger groups.

Is the memorial site accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the site is suitable for all physical fitness levels.

What should I bring?

Check the weather and dress appropriately. The tour is a mix of indoor and outdoor walking. Bring water. Refreshments aren't available during the tour.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. You must arrive 15 minutes early for check-in before the 9am departure.