Dachau Concentration Camp memorial site
The Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site is located near Munich, Germany. Dachau, established in 1933, was the first Nazi concentration camp. This memorial site is a reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust. The memorial site preserves original buildings, including barracks, a crematorium, and the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” gate. The memorial honors the victims and serves as a place of reflection and remembrance.
getting to Dachau Memorial Site
There are several ways to visit this memorial site. Many tour operators offer guided tours of the site. Most tours are about 5 hours long and cost about $50. Alternatively, visiting the site can be done via public transport. First, take a 25 minute train from Munich’s central station (Hauptbahnhof) to Dachau train station. From the train station, take the 726 bus toward Suabachsiedlung stop KZ-Gedenkstätte to the entrance of the memorial. The walk from the train station to the memorial site is 3 km or a 40 minute walk. Lastly, if you drive yourself there is a 3 euro parking fee.
Getting around
Once on site you can tour by walking around the grounds. There is an exhibit with so much information to educate isitors about the camp’s history, the suffering of its prisoners, and the broader context of the Nazi regime.
My experience
I went to Munich in 2012 for Oktoberfest with a group of friends. We spent most of our time enjoying the festivities but also took in some of the town of Munich as well as making this day trip to this memorial. Be ready to break out some tissues. It was a really sobering experience. We took public transport to and from the memorial which was easy to do. This memorial offers a reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust.
Tips
Plan for at least half a day
There is so much information with the exhibits and memorials that it is best to allot around 4 hours to truly experience the memorial. It also takes some time to get there and back. Trust me, you can’t rush this.
Bring some tissues
It is a really intense place to visit. I was completely overwhelmed with just being there. It is a truly somber feeling and you may need to wipe a tear from your eye more than once.
Consider a guide
There are options to have a guided tour or an audioguide. Alternatively, you can visit without a guide and there is a ton of information in the exhibit halls. Visiting the memorial is free. The auidoguide is a few euros but a deposit is necessary and returned on return of the device. Many people said that having a guide was well worth it. When I visited we did not get a guide or do the audioguide I still felt there was a bunch of educational information.
Plan something lighthearted after
The feels from this place will stick with you for hours if not days. Make sure to have some time to reflect afterwards but try to plan something fun afterwards. It’s so hard to not be depressed after visiting such a place but it is such a great reminder of things to not repeat in the future.
