Major city · Germany
Dachau
Go for one day, not a base: the memorial site needs 3–4 hours and the old town 2. Sleep in Munich and ride the S2 out.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds at the memorial), Dec–Feb (short, grey days)
- Airports
- MUC · MUC
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Germany ↗Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Germany ↗Nazi symbols and gestures are criminal offences, including as jokes or souvenirs.
- Germany ↗Many city centres are low-emission zones: a car needs the right sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter.
Dachau is a town of about 46,000 people 20 km north-west of Munich, reached in 25 minutes by S-Bahn S2 on a Munich transport ticket. It is known worldwide for the KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp, now a free memorial site that draws around 800,000 visitors a year. The same town has a small Renaissance palace, a 19th-century artists' colony legacy and a walkable old town that escaped wartime bombing. Almost everyone visits as a half or full day from Munich; a night here only makes sense if you want the memorial at opening without the Munich commute.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Dachau, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Germany-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.Germany-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.Germany-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.Germany-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Germany-wide
- SafetyDachau is a safe small town; the real risks are pickpockets on the crowded S2 into Munich, bicycles on shared paths…
- RestroomsStation toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (≈ US$1–2) (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers…Germany-wide
- Emergency numbers112 fire and ambulance · 110 police · 116 117 Out-of-hours doctor (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close on Sundays and public holidays nearly everywhere except stations and airports.Germany-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMUC Munich Airport (S-Bahn S1 or S8 to Munich centre, then S2 to Dachau; about 1 h 30 min door to door).
- Getting aroundThe old town is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beer0.5 l in a tavern / bottle from a shop€4–5.50 (≈ US$5–7)€1–2 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi3.1 mi taxi€15–20 (≈ US$18–25)
- Museum or sight ticketMemorial site entryFree
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, guesthouse or hotel, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- High-end bedDouble room, guesthouse or hotel, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €180 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MUC Munich Airport (S-Bahn S1 or S8 to Munich centre, then S2 to Dachau; about 1 h 30 min door to door) · MUC Munich Airport (car) (About 40 min by car via the A92 and A99)
Weather and climate
Dachau: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C37°F
−3°C27°F
10 rd
Feb
5°C41°F
−3°C27°F
9 rd
Mar
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
10 rd
Apr
15°C59°F
4°C39°F
10 rd
May
20°C68°F
8°C46°F
12 rd
Jun
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
13 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
14°C57°F
13 rd
Aug
25°C77°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Sep
20°C68°F
10°C50°F
10 rd
Oct
14°C57°F
6°C43°F
10 rd
Nov
7°C45°F
1°C34°F
10 rd
Dec
4°C39°F
−2°C28°F
11 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is flat and walkable in 15 minutes end to end. Dachau sits inside the Munich MVV network, so a Munich zone ticket covers the S2 and the local buses. Bus 724 and 726 run to the memorial site; bus 719, 720 and 722 serve the palace and museums. Taxis wait at the station.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 25–35 min
S-Bahn S2 or regional train from Dachau station
Munich transport tickets are valid on the S2 as far as Dachau, so the same ticket works both ways.
Door to door: 1–1.5 h
S1 from Munich centre, or train via Munich
Cathedral hill and Weihenstephan; pairs well with an airport day.
Door to door: 1.5–2 h
Regional train via Munich, or car on the A9
Better as its own day from Munich than from Dachau.
Door to door: 1.5–2 h
Regional train via Munich
Fuggerei and old town; long for a Dachau-based day.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Dachau old town (Altstadt)
Hotels and guesthouses within a 10-minute walk of Dachau station and the palace; best if you want the memorial at opening.
Dachau station area
Practical for one night with bags: S2, regional trains and the buses to the memorial all stop here.
Munich (recommended base)
Most visitors sleep in Munich and ride the S2 out; more beds, more food, same 25-minute train.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €45–70 (≈ US$55–85) excl. bed
- Mid
- €70–120 (≈ US$85–140) excl. bed
- High
- €120 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, guesthouse or hotel1 × 1 night × €120 | €120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €95 | €190 |
| MVV day ticket covering Dachau and Munich (check zone)2 × €9 · check | €18 |
| Memorial site audio guide2 × €4 | €8 |
| Memorial site English guided tour2 × €3 | €6 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15 | €30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €37 |
| Trip total≈ €205 per person per day, bed included | €409≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in euro; long-distance trains and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €2.50–4 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Bavarian main dish in a Gasthaus | €12–20 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Burger with sides | €6–12 (≈ US$7–14) |
| Beer, 0.5 l in a tavern / bottle from a shop | €4–5.50 (≈ US$5–7) / €1–2 (≈ US$2–3) |
| 5 km taxi | €15–20 (≈ US$18–25) |
| Memorial site entry | Free |
| Dachau Palace entry | €2 (≈ US$3) adults, €1 (≈ US$2) concessions |
| Museum combination ticket (Paintings Gallery, District Museum, New Gallery) | €8 (≈ US$10) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The memorial site is a cemetery and a place of mourning: no picnics, no loud groups, no climbing on remains.
- Some visitors find the site emotionally heavy; plan a quiet hour afterwards rather than a packed schedule.
- The site is free but audio guides and guided tours cost extra and English tours fill up.
- The memorial is closed or shortened on some public holidays: check the official site before you travel.
- Dachau is a normal residential town, not a theme park: shops close on Sundays and many kitchens stop at 21:00.Dachau is a normal residential town, not a theme park: shops close on Sundays and many kitchens stop at 9:00 PM.
Emergency numbers
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Out-of-hours doctor
- 116 117
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
DachauDachau
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire and ambulance112
- Police110
- Out-of-hours doctor116 117
Embassy
No embassies in Dachau; consulates-general and embassies are in Munich and Berlin. US citizens: check the US consulate in Munich.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Munich centre → Dachau, S2: about 25 min; covered by a Munich MVV ticket (check zone)
- Dachau station → memorial site, bus 724/726: about 10–15 min; same MVV ticket
- Taxi Dachau station → memorial site: €15–20 (≈ US$18–25)
Say or show
- Entschuldigung — Excuse me / Sorry (ent-SHOOL-dee-goong)
- Danke — Thank you (DAN-kuh)
- Bitte — Please (BIT-tuh)
- Wie viel kostet das? — How much is it? (vee feel KOS-tet das)
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ikh mit KAR-tuh TSAH-len)
- Wo ist die Toilette? — Where is the toilet? (voh ist dee toy-LET-tuh)
The memorial site is a place of mourning: dress and behave accordingly.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dachau. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds at the memorial), Dec–Feb (short, grey days) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MUC: last S-Bahn departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Dachau station and old town, the palace and court garden, the museums quarter, the memorial site.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (memorial site, Dachau Palace, District Museum, Paintings Gallery) and eat pages with last orders.
- Quiet-return fixtures so the memorial visit ends with a calm, low-stimulus route back.