How to get to Dachau from Munich: 5 Different Ways, All the Steps

If you’re wondering how to get to Dachau from Munich for your upcoming day trip to the former concentration camp, know that you can get here a variety of different ways. But however you decide to travel, getting to the memorial site is super easy.

This post covers each of the different ways to get from Munich to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site—by car, train, bus, organized tour, and even on foot. (I’ve personally done all of these with the exception of joining a tour, so I’ve got some road-tested advice for you today.)

Definitely don’t miss my full guide to visiting Dachau Concentration Camp. It has everything you need to know and tons of photos.

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How to visit Dachau Concentration Camp from Munich

The former Dachau Concentration Camp is just 11 miles (19 kilometers) from Munich. But before I begin with how to get to Dachau from Munich, there are a few things I should clear up first.

Dachau vs. Dachau Concentration Camp

Though the word “Dachau” has become synonymous with the former concentration camp, “Dachau” is actually the name of the town where the camp was built, and it remains the same today. So, “visiting Dachau” and “visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site” are two different, though often related, things.

Out of respect for its current residents (and historical accuracy), I always try to differentiate between the two. However, for the sake of brevity within this and other posts, I sometimes refer to the Memorial Site as “Dachau” because I know that’s what you’re here to read about. Regardless, the directions to both the town and the former concentration camp are pretty much the same.

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Getting to the former concentration camp

If you’ll be driving yourself or joining an organized day trip from Munich, you’ll be able to go straight to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.

If you plan to take the train from Munich, you’ll then have a couple of options to get from the Dachau station to the memorial site. Read on!

Don’t miss my guide to all the Munich WWII sites you can visit.

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How to get to Dachau from Munich by car

If you’ll have your own car (or will be renting one), getting from Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp is going to be super easy and quick. If you haven’t done so yet, check out the best rental car deals in Munich here.

The drive from Munich to the memorial site at the former camp is just 30 minutes. (This is measured from the Munich Hauptbahnhof, so adjust accordingly if you’re staying on the other side of the city.) The route is pretty straightforward with only a couple of turns.

To get here, simply put this address into your GPS: Alte Römerstraße 73, 85221 Dachau. This is the address for the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site parking lot. Putting in “Parkplatz KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau” should also take you directly to the parking area.

KZ-Gedenkstätte stands for “Concentration Camp Memorial” in German. So, you’ll see the Dachau memorial site often referred to as “KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau.” The letters KZ are the abbreviation for the German word Konzentrationslager (“concentration camp”).

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Parking at Dachau Concentration Camp

Once here, the Memorial Site has a designated lot for you to park in. The cost is a flat €3 per car. (And this hasn’t changed since my first visit by car in 2012!) This is payable by cash only.

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Which train to take?

The easiest way to get to Dachau via public transportation is to start your journey at the Hauptbahnhof—Munich’s central station. You can easily walk here from all over central Munich or arrive via the S-bahn, U-bahn, tram, or bus networks if coming from farther away (even the Munich airport).

From the Munich Hbf, take the S2 train in the direction of Petershausen or Altomünster; it could say either one, or both. In 2019 my train said “Altomünster.” In 2024 it said “Petershausen.” Get off at the stop for Dachau Bahnhof which is (typically) 9 stops away.

Provided there aren’t any delays, this journey takes 23 minutes. This route runs frequently, with trains leaving every 10-20 minutes.

Once an hour, you can also take the RB16 (in the direction of Eichstätt Bahnhof). This takes you directly from the Munich Hbf to the Dachau Bahnhof without any stops in between. Without any delays, this journey takes just 11 minutes.

The ‘S’ indicates the S-Bahn which stands for Stadtschnellbahn (“urban rapid rail”). ‘RB’ stands for Regionalbahn (the regional train).

The S2 typically leaves Munich from Platform 2. (That should be easy to remember!) Enter the Hauptbahnhof; walk through the open-air section; and go downstairs. Veer right and take the first escalator down again.

The RB16 to Dachau typically leaves Munich from Platform 21 which is upstairs (street level) in the open-air section. You can view a map of the Munich Hauptbahnhof here.

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Returning to Munich

To get back to Munich, you can take the S2 (in the direction of either “Erding” or “München Ost”) or the RB16 (in the direction of “München Hbf”). These are just the reverse of your earlier journey. Your Day Ticket will cover this fare as well. (See below.)

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Which train ticket to buy?

There are several ticket options available that include this route (way too many actually). But, if you are only planning to take this one trip from Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp and back (and you’ll be traveling alone), you’ll want to purchase the Single-Tageskarte for €10.50.

The “Single-Tageskarte” (“Single Day Ticket”) is valid for one adult and includes unlimited trips on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Bus, and Tram systems in Munich plus Zone M-1. (Dachau is in zone M-1.) This will cover you for the train to Dachau + the bus from the Dachau train station to the concentration camp, and both on the way back as well.

A single one-way train ticket is €5.80. So, even if you plan to arrive to the concentration camp site on foot from the Dachau train station (i.e., skipping the bus), this is still saving you money.

Children’s day tickets are available too and cover the same zones. Look for the “Kinder-Tageskarte” which costs €3.60. A “child” in this case is 6-14 years old. (But be aware that children under 14 are highly discouraged from visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.)

You can also purchase Group Day Tickets (“Gruppen-Tageskarte”) for €19.20. This includes unlimited trips on the aforementioned public transport systems for up to 5 adults. (In this case, 2 children count as 1 adult.) Unless you’re traveling by yourself, this is the best option! Even for just two people.

All of these day ticket options are valid for the entire day, but expire at 6:00 am the following morning. In other words, they’re valid for the entire calendar day that you use them, not for a full 24-hour period.

The Single-Tageskarte used to be called the Munich XXL ticket, so you may see some old reference to that.

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How to buy a train ticket from Munich to Dachau

There are a few easy ways to buy your train ticket to Dachau. They are:

1. Directly from Bahn.com

Head to Bahn.com, enter your origin (München), destination (Dachau Bahnhof), and the date/time you plan to go. Choose a train time and hit ‘Continue.’ The next page will show you all the available tickets you can purchase. (Like the photo in the previous section.)

Choose either the Single-Tageskarte, Kinder-Tageskarte, or Gruppen-Tageskarte depending on your situation. You’ll then continue with payment.

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2. Via an app

There are two phone apps that come in handy here: DB Navigator and MVV. 

The DB Navigator app is the official app of the Deutsch Bahn. You can buy your train tickets directly in the app and always have them readily available. (But I gotta mention that it’s often pretty glitchy when trying to do this, so just be prepared.) You’ll also have quick access to live journey information, delays, and much more. [Android/Apple]

MVV is the transit authority in Munich. (Even if you purchase your tickets via the Deutsch Bahn, you’ll still be buying MVV tickets.) You can buy all the transit passes you need in the MVV app. [Android/Apple] 

Both apps work the same and either one is great for this trip. (I personally use the DB Navigator app because I travel by train all over Germany, so this covers everywhere I need to go, not just Munich. I also find it’s much more user friendly.)

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3. From the ticket machines at the train station

Now that you know what kind of ticket you need to buy, using the ticket machines at the Munich train station shouldn’t be too difficult. (Just be sure to change the language to English at the start.)

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4. From the information booth at the Hauptbahnhof

If all that still seems too daunting, go straight to the information booth at Munich central station. Tell the attendant which ticket you want to buy and they will sell it to you right there. Easy peasy.

Looking for another great day trip from Munich? Check out the WWII sites of Berchtesgaden (which include the famous Eagle’s Nest).

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Ticket validation

Important note! Train tickets in Germany must be validated before you start your journey. If you buy your ticket online, it’ll already be validated (since you have to choose a time). If you purchase a paper ticket at a ticket machine, you have the option of choosing a pre-validated ticket or an unvalidated ticket.

Opt for the pre-validated ticket if you’ll be leaving right then. If you’re buying your ticket for another day, buy the unvalidated ticket. (Or else your ticket will be null and void by the time you go to use it.)

If you buy an unvalidated ticket, you must validate it before you get on the train. If you get caught using an unvalidated ticket, you’ll have to pay a fine.

To do this, simply insert your ticket into one of the validation machines in the train station. These are bright blue, shoebox-sized boxes on standalone poles. Your ticket goes into the red slot and the machine stamps it. There’s one right in front of the escalators to go down to Platform 2.

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How to get from Dachau train station to the concentration camp

Once you’ve arrived at Dachau Bahnhof, you now need to get to the Memorial Site. There are two ways to do this: by bus, or on foot. Here’s how to do both…

How to get to Dachau Concentration Camp by bus

From the train platform, head down the steps into the station and follow the signs for “KZ-Gedenkstätte.” These will lead you outside to a curb-side bus stop. There’s also a café and convenience shop here too in case you were wondering if this was the right place.

From here you’ll board bus 726 in the direction of “Saubachsiedlung.” Get off at the stop for “KZ-Gedenkstätte” (the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site) which is 7 stops away. These buses leave the train station every 20 minutes. The bus will drop you off just outside the main entrance next to the Visitors Center.

To return to the train station afterwards, catch bus 726 in the direction of “Dachau Bahnhof” from the bus stop across the street from where you were dropped off. If you purchased one of the Day Tickets for the train, that will also cover your bus fare in both directions.

For a route map of bus 726, click here. For the full timetable, click here.

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How to get to Dachau Concentration Camp on foot

If you’d prefer to walk to the Memorial Site, you can do that as well. In fact, I personally believe you should.

The route from the Dachau train station to the former concentration camp is actually an official walking route known as the Path of Remembrance. It follows the original path taken by the prisoners who were forced to walk to the camp after arriving at the Dachau train station.

Along the way are 12 informational panels that tell the history of the camp, the experiences of the prisoners, and the relationship between the camp and the residents of Dachau. You can also see some interesting memorials and historical sites like sections of the original rail line and original SS buildings.

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How to get to Dachau from Munich on a tour

One of the easiest ways to get from Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp is by simply joining an organized tour. By doing so, your roundtrip transportation on the train and bus will already be covered. A dedicated guide will lead you through the process so you won’t have to navigate any of the logistics yourself.

There are actually tons more options from several tour operators. You can see all Dachau tours on Viator here and from Get Your Guide here.

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