Dachau

[carcrazy@cloudb]

My brother and I are considering seeing the concentration camp remains at Dachau while in Munich this October. Has anybody done this? Amount of time to allot?

I see it is on the S-Bahn 2 line. Is this a good way to get there, or would you just drive? (Don't know yet which Munich hotel we will be using.)

Thanks!

[iczer34]

My brother and I are considering seeing the concentration camp remains at Dachau while in Munich this October. Has anybody done this? Amount of time to allot?

I see it is on the S-Bahn 2 line. Is this a good way to get there, or would you just drive? (Don't know yet which Munich hotel we will be using.)

Thanks!

My wife and I did the Dachau tour recently on our ED in June. It's definitely a must-see. We originally were going to drive there ourselves but decided to do it with a local tour guide. I believe it was 28 euros each (don't remember exactly) for a 4 hour tour with an english speaking guide. This includes transportation on the S-Bahn as well. The tour company was located at the Munich Central Train Station, so it's convenient. We stayed at Le Meridien hotel, so all we did was walk across the street!

But if you're looking to save a few bucks, you can definitely do it yourself. You can get on the S-Bahn into Dachau then take the bus to the concentration camp. At the camp you can pay for admission and an audio headset tour.

[b-y]

Answers in reverse order...

1. You will need to take a bus from the Dachau stop of the S2. From the official website (http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/information/directions.html):
Traveling from Munich, the easiest way to reach the Memorial is by public transportation. Take the S2 train from Munich in the direction of Dachau/Petershausen until you reach the Dachau station. The train ride takes approximately 25 minutes from Munich’s Central Station (Hauptbahnhof).
Once you’ve arrived at the Dachau train station, take bus 726 towards "Saubachsiedlung" to the entrance of the Memorial Site ("KZ-Gedenkstätte").

There are also detailed driving directions at the same web page.

2. There is a fair amount to see--tours, archives, etc. Official info at the website. Use the SEARCH feature here for lots of reports from other "fest members who have visited the KZ.

[tuscany]

We did it in April. It was most worthwhile. The drive was easy, and for 3 euros each we rented handheld audiotour guides which I would strongly recomend. The video was also a must-see. Be prepared for some time for reflection afterwards.

[DonnaBlackson]

I did it in May. As b-y indicates, subway easiest. I would allow about 5 hours to see inside and outside grounds which are very vast..plus the 1/2 movie that is presented in English at 11:30 ( and other times ,but i went to the 11;30)

[MB330]

I visited Salaspils concentration camp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaspils_concentration_camp) when I was a college student and can't sleep for few days after.
postponed our visit to Dachau during our ED - just afraid that I can't drive back after visit. :(

[blauner]

I drove as well, very easy drive, there is a nice big parking lot and it cost a couple Euros. There is a lot to see so we just took our time, which was nice because some places we spent a lot more time at than others.

[obelix]

Be prepared for some time for reflection afterwards.

Definitely. It's very much worthwhile, but it's not "fun".

And please, if you do decide to go, don't take a picture of yourself grinning in front of the gate in the Jourhaus (the one that says "Arbeit Macht Frei"). I saw a number of people doing that when we were there, and I personally found it inappropriate.

[M FUNF]

Definitely. It's very much worthwhile, but it's not "fun".

And please, if you do decide to go, don't take a picture of yourself grinning in front of the gate in the Jourhaus (the one that says "Arbeit Macht Frei"). I saw a number of people doing that when we were there, and I personally found it inappropriate.

I have never seen anyone leaving smiling. Yes the picture would be inappropriate, and reflects a lack of understanding of what they are about to experience.

[d geek]

I went to visit Dachau in 1986, and it was a very sobering contrast to Oktoberfest that we visited the night before. The memory is still very vivid. This is a must-see for anyone visiting that area.

In addition to the "Arbeit macht frei", the "nie wieder" sculpture is also very powerful. Something to think about when you hear racism of any sort...

[Zooks527]

We visited on a grey, rainy day in May on our ED. Very appropriate backdrop for the tour (self-directed using the audio sets). We spent perhaps 1.5 hours there.

As we left we noted a rather bizarre advertising placement. "McDonald's Dachau, 500m." Made for a very odd final note.


George

[dean2c]

As has been said, it's an easy drive with easy parking if you want an alternative to public transportation.

I arrived at Dachau planning on a couple hours' stay, but was there over 5 hours. The exhibits are exhaustive in their detail, so if you're a student of history, allot more time than you expect to need. For me, it was well worth the better part of a day.

[Snareman]

We did it the afternoon of our first day there. Arrived in Munich, went to the Welt, picked up the car, drove to Dachau. We did a self tour and spent a few hours there. As has been mentioned, there is a ton of stuff to read if you want to take the time to absorb it all. Parking is easy. I think its closed on Mondays though, (learned this on my first ED) so just plan around that.

A few pics I took...

http://www.fototime.com/F230194591C2132/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/4E2DF6344B91385/orig.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/3582D9D6A6803C4/orig.jpg

The walls in this room are so thick because its a room that they used to torture people and didn't want others to hear their screaming
http://www.fototime.com/FB047A6C104E601/standard.jpg

[ucdbiendog]

It's a very worthwhile experience, but beware, it is very sobering. My friends and I drove there (very easily if I remember correctly), and spent a good half day there (could have gone longer, but hunger and thirst for Andechs beer took over). There are a few pictures of our visit there in the link in my sig below.

[IrvRobinson]

Went there in October,it was a cold and ugly day......We can only imagine what these people were feeling...The picures I took were both B&W and color,no people,just reminders of what was left.......It seemed odd that people would want to live in townhomes overlooking the central courtyard in Dachau.It was even wierder to see the smart car outside........truely a moving experienced that we shall never forget

[V&E]

Dachau is a must see--and definitely something you will not forget. I highly recommend getting the audio guide and plan on spending at least 4 hours. My wife and I took the train and then transferred to the bus--very straight forward. One thing to remember is that Dachau is closed on Mondays. Also, wear comfortable walking shoes since the site is large and bring water, especially if is going to be a warm day.

[DonnaBlackson]

I think its ok for people to take pictures of whatever they want to , who are we to make judgements on what is approriate or not....if they want a picture in front of the gate, then so be it, nothing horrible or bad about that! come on, loosen up! dont be so uptight!! I guess it was highly inapproriate that i asked someone to take a photo of me in front of the entrance of Auschwitz Birkenau?? I wanted a picture of me somewher in Auschwitz, and what area best describes Auschwitz than the entrance to Birkeanu ....so i asked someone to take my picture....I dont find that distasteful, i spent over 5 hours there going through the camps and remembering the victims......lighten up folks!
Attached some photos of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II ( Birkenau) and Dachau, all of which i saw during my ED trip..

PS : You surely do not need a tourguide to Dachau, total waste of money as entrance is free and each area you visit is fully descriptive, that is , there are signs showing exactly what you are seeing, Plus the information office gives you a brocuhure which is free. You can rent the audio guide, which is 3 euros......that will help you, but is not required as there are plenty of signs with every exhibit. It is extremely easy to take S Bahn to Dachau and take bus which is right there as you get off the subway, very very easy. I was there and by myself and no problems , very easy to get around , dont waste your money on a tour....best to go on your own and take your time. Tours rush you through...and i read 28 euros for at tour!! gosh , what a rip off......entrance is free to Dachau and subway is , what 2 Euros..! If you find yourself in Poland and wish to visit Auschwitz, same deal there, dont waste your money on tours the hotels try to sell you. Total waste of money.....They rush you through........ I went to Auschwitz during my Ed trip..but didnt book a tour, i took a local bus for $ 4 round trip, got in free as there is no admission charge. I did book the museum tour guide, but that was different as it was inside musuem and cheap ( although i look back now and realize was not necessary because all the exhibits are so clearly marked). In summary, dont waste money on tours to Dachau or Auschwitz......you can get to them easily...very easily on your own........

[Alfred G]

The KZ in Dachau is of course an irreversible and terrible fact in the history of Germany and Dachau.

But let's not forget, Dachau has a history of 1200 years, not only 12 years.

So while you're in Dachau, you could take a look at the old town and the palace on top of the town hill with great view to Munich. (And cafe also)

[Alfred G]

Link to the castle:

google maps (http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=dachau,+Schlo%C3%9Fstra%C3%9Fe&sll=48.258441,11.433485&sspn=0.009786,0.01929&ie=UTF8&ll=48.258613,11.433163&spn=0.019572,0.038581&t=k&z=15)

[Northcar]

My brother and I are considering seeing the concentration camp remains at Dachau while in Munich this October. Has anybody done this? Amount of time to allot?

I see it is on the S-Bahn 2 line. Is this a good way to get there, or would you just drive? (Don't know yet which Munich hotel we will be using.)

Thanks!

OK, here is the shot my son took at Dachau on our visit there on the 4th of July '07.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/dalejay/n700041156_178961_2167.jpg



With regard to transportation the first time I visited we drove. It took some creative inputting though to get the Nav to take us there. Dachau itself is of course a city so you have to go to one of the alternative menus to find something that relates to the memorial. You might ask your delivery person to program the location for you. On our more recent visit we took a taxi from our hotel and came back on the bus/train routing. If you are on a tight schedule that will help to get you there in time to maximize your visit and you can then ride the public transportation back after the late afternoon closing. Taxi Fare was something like 30 Euros from the Munich Marriott as I recall and we pre-purchased a family pass for the SBahn at the hotel's front desk.

[Zooks527]

With regard to transportation the first time I visited we drove. It took some creative inputting though to get the Nav to take us there.

If you have a nav, program it for the intersection of Alte Römerstrasse and Pater-Roth Strasse. You should be within 100' of the entrance to the parking area (on Alte Römerstrasse, south of Pater-Roth Strasse / north of Robert-Bosch Strasse).


George

[boothguy]

Donna:

While I commend you for your interest and time commitment to visiting the camps on your recent ED trip, I have to say that I find your response above to be way off base.

No one is saying that one shouldn't take pictures at these places - only that they show some respect and understanding of where they are and behave appropriately. And that includes what they're doing in the pictures. This is hallowed ground and it deserves to be treated as such. I've never really understood why it is that people need to have a picture of themselves standing in front of every edifice on their trip. But that's a different topic. As far as I'm concerned, though, anyone who can smile in a picture of themselves in a place of such gravity has completely missed the point and is demonstrating it in a way that many of us find distressing.