Located in southern Bavaria, this German town preserves a World War II concentration camp memorial while maintaining its calm old center with traditional architecture and local markets.
Dachau lies 20 kilometers northwest of Munich. You can walk through its medieval streets, visit the 18th-century palace with panoramic views of the Alps, or explore the baroque Church of St. Jakob with its ornate frescoes. The town's most significant site is the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, which draws visitors from across the globe. Many Munich residents now call Dachau home, creating a calm residential atmosphere in this historic Bavarian town.
Historic Town Center
Walk up the hilltop to find Dachau Palace, built in the 16th century. The palace's single remaining wing sits where a four-wing complex once stood, giving you views across the town and toward the Alps. The 17th-century Church of St. Jakob rises above the town center, its onion dome visible from afar. Inside, you'll find baroque frescoes and detailed woodwork. The surrounding streets contain well-preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings with traditional Bavarian painted facades and wooden balconies.
Natural Areas
The Dachauer Moos wetlands stretch between Dachau and Munich. Walking trails wind through reed beds and meadows, where you can spot local bird species. This ecosystem has shaped the town's growth patterns since medieval times. Today, about 45,000 people live in Dachau, with paper mills, electronics factories, and ceramics workshops forming part of the local economy.
Memorial Site
The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site opens daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with no entrance fee. You can explore independently or join English-language guided tours at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The site includes reconstructed barracks, a crematorium area, and several religious memorials. The main exhibition in the former maintenance building documents the camp's history from 1933 to 1945. Among the monuments, you'll find Fritz Koelle's statue of the unknown prisoner and Hermann Guttmann's Jewish memorial building.
Getting to the Memorial
Take the S2 train from Munich's central station to Dachau station (20 minutes), then catch bus 726 to the "KZ-Gedenkstätte" stop. By car, set your navigation to Alte Römerstraße 75. Road signs clearly mark the route from major roads around Dachau.
Visitor Information
The Visitor Center rents audio guides in multiple languages (€4.50). Guided tours last 2.5 hours (€4 per person) - arrive 30 minutes early. You can take photos in most areas but maintain respectful behavior. The site closes on December 24th, and last entry is 30 minutes before closing time. Free information brochures are available at the center, which also has restrooms and a small café.
