best dachau tour from munich

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12 Best Dachau Tours

Of all the concentration camps established by the Nazis during World War II, Dachau was the first, and it opened nearly 7 years before the official declaration of war by Germany.

The camp is located just a few kilometers from Munich in the German state of Bavaria, and due to its proximity, most tours of Dachau begin in Munich, so if you’d like to see the camp and spend more than a few days in the area, that’s probably where you’ll stay.

Dachau was liberated by the Allied Forces in April 1945, and according to documents there were more than 30,000 deaths that had taken place in the camp over the years.

Below is a list of 12 of the best tours of Dachau.

1. Munich and Nazi History Combo Day-Tour

This Munich – Dachau combo tour kicks off at the famous Marienplatz central square in downtown Munich.

From there, tour guests, along with their guide, will utilize the public transportation system to get to Dachau, where they’ll get a thorough historic narration as they visit every corner of the camp that was the macabre home to hundreds of thousands of Jews during its 12 year existence.

You’ll have time to strike out on your own too and take extra time at specific areas or exhibits that you find particularly poignant or interesting.

Upon return to Marienplatz at 3:00 PM you and your companions will set off on a walking tour through Munich, where you’ll visit historically significant areas.

2. Dachau Full-Day Tour in English

Though Dachau is just one of many similar camps that were spread over Europe during World War II, it’s one of the most well-known, and was the first of its kind when it opened in early 1933.

This tour includes the services of a local, official guide who’ll be able to answer your questions and add a lot of value to this already amazing site.

You’ll learn why the camp was opened, what the official plans were for those who were forced to live and work here, and what life was like for the soldiers and guards that were stationed here as well.

You’ll get access to the amazing first-hand stories of people who lived and died here, and some from those who were lucky enough to make it out with their lives as well.

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3. Private Tour of Dachau Concentration Camp

Curt’s tours are considered some of the most enlightening and heart-wrenching of all the tours that are available at Dachau.

Though the site itself is a real eye-opener, for those interested in knowing everything there is to know, the service of a professional guide is invaluable.

The tour includes all the areas inside the camp, including admittance and orientation, living, eating, and working areas, and of course the facilities built specifically to extinguish the most amount of lives in as an efficient and inexpensive manner as possible.

Your tour guide Curt is an American, who is licensed as a guide and has been giving tours of the site to visitors for more than 10 years.

4. Dachau Memorial Site and Shooting Range Tour

This Munich-based tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial site also includes a visit to the nearby SS shooting range.

The tour, which lasts approximately 6 ½ hours, includes entry into the museum and a short documentary film that’s a great introduction for first-time visitors.

Visitors will hear the horrific stories of the sadistic experiments that were carried out here, and after seeing all the area’s highlights, guests will have a little free time to process all the things they’ve just seen.

It’s really a once in a life time opportunity, and this tour gives guests plenty of time to take it all in.

Everything is included except food, drink, and gratuities.

5. Dachau Concentration Camp Tour by Train

This 5-hour tour of the Holocaust Memorial Site at Dachau begins in Munich and includes transportation to and from the city to the memorial site.

The tour includes stops at all the important areas of the camp like the prisoner and guard barracks, as well as the medical facilities and the extermination chambers.

Though not all of the site’s structures are original, they’ve been restored to return them to near-original shape, so that guests can get a true feeling of how it must have felt to be an unwilling occupant here.

Many visitors are surprised to learn that in addition to Jews, Poles, homosexuals, and clergy members were also sent here.

6. Dachau Small Group Tour from Munich via Train

For those who’ve got the time to dedicate a full-day to visiting this unique historical site, this tour from Munich would be a great choice.

Your guide will not only explain the sights you’re seeing at the memorial, but you’ll also learn about the conditions that existed in Germany that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and The Third Reich.

It’s a fascinating tale and is really world history, as opposed to just German history.

The global war that ensued as a direct result killed millions and changed the world as we know it.

You’ll have time for a bit of self-guided exploration as well.

7. Walking Tour of Dachau from Munich via Train

Taking the train from Munich is a great way to see the outskirts of the city before entering the concentration camp.

For much of the Nazi’s rise to power, Munich was a city that was central to the aims of The Third Reich, and as such is one of the most historically-relevant cities of the Second World War.

Visitors will get up close and personal with the camp’s barracks, transportation system, cells, and where the inmates were taken for extermination.

The gas chambers are probably the most lurid of all the camp’s areas, and it’s almost unfathomable to put yourself in the shoes of an inmate marching to their certain death.

This tour requires a fair amount of walking and lasts about 5 hours.

Transportation via train to and from the site are included in the tour’s cost.

8. Dachau Concentration Camp Private Tour from Munich

For many visitors to Dachau, a half-day tour is the right amount of time to see all the camp has to offer without overdoing it.

Not surprisingly, Dachau can be an emotionally overwhelming place, so before booking a tour carefully consider how much time you’d like to spend onsite.

Guests will walk through the camp’s eerie gate which claims that, ‘work will set you free.’

Obviously, freedom wasn’t an option for the majority of the inmates sent here, though some lucky souls did make it out alive.

This tour hits all the camps most important areas and give guests a well-rounded overview of the camp’s history in a relatively short amount of time.

9. Frankfurt to Munich City, Dachau Concentration Camp Day Trip

This full-day tour begins in Frankfurt and includes stops at Munich and Dachau as well.

All portions of the tour are guided, and the tour’s first stop is the Dachau Memorial, and includes the barracks, work areas, and gas chambers to name a few highlights.

Following the tour of Dachau, you’ll proceed to historic Munich for another guided tour.

Sights to be seen in Munich include the Old Town Hall, Marienplatz, the Cathedral of our Blessed Lady, and a few of the beer halls made famous as meeting places for Nazi organizers and sympathizers leading up to them taking control of the German government.

Though this tour makes for a long day, it’s perhaps the most well-rounded and value packed of all Dachau tours.

10. Private Round Trip to Dachau Camp from Munich Hotels

If you’d prefer to have someone else worry about the tedious details when traveling, this hassle-free tour of Dachau is a great choice.

Transportation to and from your Munich hotel is included, and once at the camp site you’ll have ample time to give yourself a self-guided tour.

The grounds and museum are laid out well to facilitate guests in seeing all the site has to offer in an efficient way.

Once you’ve had your fill of this unique spot, you’ll meet your driver who’ll zip you and your travel companions back to your Munich hotel.

It’s just a short drive, but it will give you a little time to reflect on the magnitude of what you’ve just seen.

11. Munich World War II Sites: Dachau and Third Reich Walking Tour

This walking tour of Dachau and other sites related to The Third Reich will give guests plenty of access to camp grounds while stretching their legs and getting plenty of fresh air as well.

Guests will enjoy a guided tour of the camp that’ll hit all its most important areas and includes plenty of history leading up to the war as well.

The second portion of the tour includes a walk to some of Munich’s most historic sites, and you’ll learn about their significance and the parts they played in the historical saga that played out in Germany in the ‘30s and ‘40s.

This tour includes transportation from Munich to the site and back but doesn’t include hotel pickup and drop-off.

12. Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, Private Tour

For World War II history buffs, there may be no better place to visit than the concentration camp grounds at Dachau.

It’s been turned into a permanent memorial to remember those who walked through its gates, in the hope that education will prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again.

On this private guided-tour, guests will get a poignant overview of the camp’s layout, and how it was used in the wholesale extermination of Jews, and anybody else who attempted to stand up to the Nazi State.

Multiple start times are available, and hotel pickup and drop-off is included if they’re requested at the time of booking.

12 Best Dachau Tours:

• Munich and Nazi History Combo Day-Tour
• Dachau Full-Day Tour in English
• Private Tour of Dachau Concentration Camp
• Dachau Memorial Site and Shooting Range Tour
• Dachau Concentration Camp Tour by Train
• Dachau Small Group Tour from Munich via Train
• Walking Tour of Dachau from Munich via Train
• Dachau Concentration Camp Private Tour from Munich
• Frankfurt to Munich City, Dachau Concentration Camp Day Trip
• Private Round Trip to Dachau Camp from Munich Hotels
• Munich World War II Sites: Dachau and Third Reich Walking Tour
• Munich to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, Private Tour

Top Tours in Dachau, Germany

Dachau tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Walking Tours
• Scenic Railroads
• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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What travellers are saying.

• Marija K 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles An unforgettable experience I will never forget this experience. This was a gift for my boyfriend who loves history. I also learned a lot of new things. We had an amazing guide, his name is Jack. I recommend from the bottom of my heart! Read more Review of: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich by Train Written 25 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• James S 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Dachau with Stephanie Stepanie was an awesome guide! She was very knowledgeable and explained things very well! The visit was heartbreaking but would recommend to anybody who wants to understand the atrocities of Hitler! Highly recommend taking the time while in Germany. Read more Review of: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Walking Tour with Guide from Munich by Train Written 23 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich by Train
• Dachau Small-Group Half-Day Tour from Munich By Train
• Guided Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour with Train from Munich
• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Walking Tour with Guide from Munich by Train
• Full-Day Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich

• Learn about significant Dachau sites, such as the former SS training camp
• Hear the wartime history linked to Dachau from a knowledgeable guide
• Travel with a guide from an easy-to-find meeting place in central Munich
• Find all the key sights, including the Memorial to the Unknown Prisoner
• See itinerary
• Professional guide
• Transportation
• Entry/Admission - Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
• Food and drinks
• München Hbf, Bayerstraße 10A, 80335 München, Germany Your Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Tour starts in front of Starbucks Coffee inside München Hauptbahnhof (main train station), beside platform 11. Just look for the team with red SANDEMANs t-shirts!
• Wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• With the advise of Dachau Memorial Site, you must be over 13 years old to join this tour
• Average tour length. The independent guides with whom we work have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites and stories above and lasts this long, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group!
• Most travellers can participate
• This tour involves a 45 min journey (approx), included in the tour ticket price
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at München Hbf Bayerstraße 10A, 80335 München, Germany Your Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Tour starts in front of Starbucks Coffee inside München Hauptbahnhof (main train station), beside platform 11. Just look for the team with red SANDEMANs t-shirts! See address & details
• 1 Munich Central Station Stop: 35 minutes See details
• 2 Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Stop: 4 hours - Admission included See details
• 3 Munich Central Station Stop: 35 minutes See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• Quest199358 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Informative tour guide My boyfriend and I did the walking tour with Vassily on Christmas Eve. He was very hilarious and inviting right away. We toured around from 2-5ish. Vassily was very knowledgeable and gave us a comprehensive tour of the city. He was engaging he whole time and provided ample information about each site. I loved the mixture of legends and facts about Munich. It was a fantastic way to spend our first day here. I can’t recommend this tour enough, it’s a perfect way to see Munich. Read more Written August 3, 2023
• Juan C 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent All guides were very knowledgeable and open to share additional tips as residents of the places we visited with them. Read more Written May 15, 2023
• vaskom248 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Get serious, please Having a booking confirmation (a ticket), waiting at the meeting point ten minutes in advance, total for 30 minutes, and there's no red umbrella in sight. Trying to reach the operator thru email, WhatsApp, Viber.. in vain. About three hours later, an email, saying the guide "was unable to attend due to illness..". Reading other reviews of the kind in the aftermath I realize we had to read them and take them seriosly in advance. Read more Written October 20, 2022
• aaguilarch85 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Be warned: I have been scamed I got scammed and got stole 64€. I was a very loyal customer of this company, took tours in different countries in Europe and I consider myself a very good tipper because the quality of the tours were also good. I reserved 4 adults/ 1 children for September’s 2022 tour; but a week before the tour Laura Choca from NewEuropeTours wrote an email explaining that the guide was sick and they have to cancel the tour, she did also mentioned that in 3-5 days I would get the reimbursement. I didn’t happened. I wrote back, called to the central. NO ANSWER at all. It’s been almost a month already and I think this company is struggling and is not a good idea to reserve anything with them ever. Read more Written October 12, 2022
• 602pand 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles No tour guide The tour guide didn't come, leaving me and my friends waiting in rain for an hour...it is fraud and lie. Read more Written October 2, 2022
• Sean L 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well paced tour with an excellent guide Emanuela was a very good tour guide. She handled the busy crowds very well, finding quiet spots to allow her to tell us some fascinating stories. It was a decent walk, but very interesting and well paced. It lasted a bit over 2 hours, which was perfect. Read more Written October 2, 2022
• TO-psych 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great overview of Munich I did the 2 hour free (tip based) walking tour on Munich recently. It started at 10:45 and was about 2 hours. It was a good length as an introduction to the old town and some important historical periods of the city. I loved that the tour was arranged so we could hear a bit of history about Marienplatz (where the meeting point was) and then could watch the glockenspiel at 11am. Our guide was Emanuela and she was extremely knowledgable and approachable if we had any questions. She shared lots of interesting and memorable facts that helped the city and its monuments come to life. I usually try to do a walking tour on my first day in a city, but I had already been in Munich 3 days prior to this tour (the one of the day I arrived was sold out online). Even though I had already walked by some of the buildings she discussed, I felt i got more in depth knowledge through the tour. Our group was about 15 people or so. Since I was traveling solo it was a nice way to meet other travelers as well (I even ended up having lunch after with someone I met in the tour!). Read more Written September 24, 2022
• mikaelk769 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth the time! Emanuela is a very knowledgeable and nice guide, with a good sense of humor. The walk is very intersting. The only negative comment that I have is, that the tour was advertised as a three-hour tour, but it only lasted two hours and fifteen minutes. Read more Written September 18, 2022
• ladydpw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wünderbar My fiancé signed us up for the free walking tour. Our guide, Emanuela was fantastic! The tour was informative, but not overwhelming. Good amount of info, good amount of walking, and kept us in the shade as much as possible. I greatly appreciated the halfway break to rest a little. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking to learn about Munich history! Read more Written August 4, 2022
• dkata94598 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Tour guide never showed up We signed up for the free walking tour. The tour guide never showed up despite all the emails reminding us to show up. There were at least 10 other people waiting also. We ended up joining another walking tour company that was starting at the same time and the guide was speaking English. Can't recommend this company if the tour guides aren't going to show up Read more Written May 26, 2022
• Keith A 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Steer away this is a scam!!! Tour guide didn’t bother to turn up. Left us waiting in the cold and snow. Thieves!!! Shameful!! This was supposed to be the highlight of our trip as we are history afficionados. Irresponsible behavior considering that today it was -1 degrees!!!!! Tried calling the contact number on the booking but the office was closed and the messaging app is useless as no one answered our messages!! Utterly disappointed!! Steer away from Sandemans as they are thieves!!! Read more Written April 2, 2022
• mrzer02018 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Hannah gives a great tour Hannah, our guide, was energetic and informative. Great tour of a great town. Next trip I would like greater depth but what we covered in 2 and half hours was amazing. Well done, Hannah. Read more Written January 3, 2022
• adrianooi3 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Historical Tour of Munich Had a wonderful and informative couple of tours with Hannah. On my first day in Munich we did the free city tour, Hannah is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about history and this shows in her enthusiasm for the job. Got to see quite a bit of the old town of Munich whilst learning about the significance of different historical spots. The first tour left me wanting to learn more about the city and it's WWII history, so joined Hannah's paid city tour on the Saturday. This gave an ever deeper understanding of the history of the third Reich in the city. Hannah was a really lovely guide and was able to provide us with tips on places to eat and drink. Really highly recommend doing both tours but especially the free city one if you only have time for doing one. Read more Written December 24, 2021
• StefanaMitrea 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Insightful walk around Berlin I did the free walking tour around Berlin with Esterina and she was very professional, knowledgeable and lovely. You could see her passion on the subject and her insights and stories provided great value to the experience. I recommend it 110%. Read more Written August 27, 2021
• Alice T 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing company! Yet another great tour from SANDEMAN tours! The guide was very knowledgeable, funny and friendly. If you are new to Munich, this should be the number one tour you take. Read more Written October 19, 2020

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Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site Tour from Munich provided by SANDEMANs NEW Europe - Munich