Fastest ~45min-1h by train+bus
| 🚆 Train | ~20-25 min | S2 S-Bahn from central Munich to Dachau station, every 20 min |
| 🚌 Bus | ~10 min | Bus 726 from Dachau station to KZ-Gedenkstatte stop |
| 🚗 Car | ~25-35 min | About 20 km, on-site car park, little advantage over S-Bahn |
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The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site sits on the edge of the town of Dachau, about 16 km north-west of central Munich, and is one of the most visited memorial sites in Germany. Getting there is straightforward on Munich's excellent S-Bahn network, but this is a place of memorial rather than a sightseeing stop, and the journey is worth planning with the same care as the visit itself. If you're arriving fresh into the city, see our Munich airport to the city guide before setting off.
The S-Bahn and bus: the standard route
The most common way to reach the memorial is the S2 S-Bahn line, which runs from central Munich stations — including Munich Hauptbahnhof and Marienplatz — to Dachau station in around 20–25 minutes, with trains every 20 minutes or so through most of the day. From Dachau station, local bus 726 (direction Saubachsiedlung) takes about 10 minutes to the "KZ-Gedenkstätte" stop, right at the memorial's entrance. Including waiting time for the connecting bus, allow roughly 45 minutes to an hour door to door from central Munich.
Because Dachau lies within the Munich transport authority's zone system, a standard MVV day ticket or single ticket covering the relevant zones is valid for the whole journey, S-Bahn and bus alike — there's no need for a separate ticket. See our guide to Munich transport tickets for which ticket to buy, and Munich public transport for how the wider S-Bahn, U-Bahn and tram network fits together.
Organised tours from Munich
Several operators run half-day guided tours from central Munich that include return transport and a licensed guide who provides historical context throughout the visit. This suits travellers who would rather have the background explained as they go, and removes the need to plan the S-Bahn and bus connection yourself. Tours typically depart Munich in the morning and return by early-to-mid afternoon, and many stop first at the memorial's documentation centre before walking the grounds together.
Driving
The drive from central Munich is about 20 km and takes roughly 25–35 minutes outside rush hour, mostly via local roads rather than motorway. The memorial has an on-site car park. Driving offers little advantage over the S-Bahn unless you're combining the visit with other stops north-west of Munich, and Munich's own traffic and limited parking near the centre can eat into any time saved. See our driving in Germany guide for the basics if you're self-driving.
What to expect on arrival
Entry to the memorial site is free, and it is open every day except 24 December. An audio guide is available for a modest fee and is worth considering if you're visiting independently, since it provides context that the site's signage alone doesn't fully cover. A permanent exhibition in the former maintenance building, the reconstructed barracks, the crematorium area and the memorial monuments together make up the core of a visit, and most people need at least three hours to see the site properly — more if you also watch the documentary film shown at set times in the visitor centre.
A brief history
Dachau opened in March 1933, within weeks of the Nazi party taking power, and served as a model for the wider concentration camp system that followed — the SS used it to train camp guards who were later sent to run other camps across occupied Europe. Over its twelve years of operation, more than 200,000 people from across Europe were imprisoned there, and tens of thousands died from forced labour, medical experiments, disease and executions before the camp was liberated by American forces in April 1945. The memorial site was established by survivors in the 1960s, and the buildings, grounds and exhibitions that remain today are preserved specifically so this history is not forgotten.
Visiting respectfully
This was the first Nazi concentration camp, opened in 1933, and the site is preserved as a place of memory for the people who were imprisoned and died there. The memorial asks visitors to dress and behave respectfully, to keep noise to a minimum, and to be mindful that for many visitors this is also a place of personal or family history. Photography is generally permitted outdoors but restricted in some indoor exhibition spaces, with signage making clear where this applies. As with Auschwitz-Birkenau, the memorial recommends that very young children do not attend, given the nature of what is shown.
Which should you choose?
For most independent travellers, the S-Bahn and bus 726 combination is the simplest and most economical route, running frequently throughout the day and requiring only a standard MVV ticket. Choose an organised tour if you'd like a guide's context built into the visit and prefer not to manage the connection yourself. Driving makes sense mainly if you're continuing on elsewhere afterwards, since parking and traffic offset any time saved over the train. Whichever you choose, plan for at least half a day once travel time on both legs is included, and treat it as a standalone visit rather than pairing it with a lighter day trip such as Munich to Salzburg on the same day.
Practical tips
- Set aside at least half a day in total, including roughly an hour of travel each way and a minimum of three hours on site.
- Bring a valid MVV ticket covering the S-Bahn and bus legs, or buy one at the station before travelling.
- Large bags may be restricted inside some buildings; check current rules before you travel if you're carrying more than a small day bag.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Munich to Dachau Memorial Site?
Take the S2 S-Bahn from central Munich to Dachau station, about 20–25 minutes, then bus 726 towards Saubachsiedlung to the "KZ-Gedenkstätte" stop, around 10 minutes. A standard MVV ticket covers both legs.
Is entry to the memorial free?
Yes. Entry to the Dachau Memorial Site is free, though the audio guide and some guided tours carry a modest charge, and it's open every day except 24 December.
How much time should I plan for the visit?
Most visitors need at least three hours on site to see the exhibition, the grounds and the memorial areas properly, plus roughly an hour of travel each way, so allow half a day overall.
Is the Dachau train station the same as the memorial site?
No. The S-Bahn only reaches Dachau town station; the memorial itself is a short bus ride or a longer walk from there, not within easy walking distance of the station.
Sources and further reading:
- Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site — official visitor information.
- Munich transport authority (MVV) — S-Bahn and bus timetables and ticketing.