Visit Dachau Concentration Camp: Private Driving Tour From Munich

Just 10 miles outside of Munich, Dachau was one of the first regular concentration camps established by Nazi Germany and the longest-running. Opened in March 1933, only weeks after Hitler came to power, it remained in operation until its liberation by the US Army in April 1945. During this period, more than 180,000 prisoners are believed to have been held there, while as many as 40,000 people died under the brutal conditions imposed by the SS. Today, the site serves as a memorial and museum, offering a deeply moving insight into this dark chapter of German history. Visiting with a knowledgeable local guide provides important context while helping you navigate the extensive grounds with care and respect.

On your private Dachau driving tour, you will:

• Travel from central Munich to Dachau in a private vehicle with your local expert guide;
• Learn about the circumstances surrounding the camp’s establishment in 1933;
• Hear how Dachau evolved and expanded against the backdrop of Nazi Germany and WWII;
• Explore the grounds of the former concentration camp and learn about the experiences of those imprisoned there;
• Walk through the roll call area, where prisoners were required to assemble repeatedly, often for hours and in all weather conditions;
• See the preserved and reconstructed buildings that remain on the site;
• Visit the barracks and learn about the harsh and overcrowded conditions prisoners endured;
• Stop at the crematorium and hear about the enormous loss of life at Dachau;
• See the religious memorials created by different communities to commemorate those who suffered and died here;
• Explore the permanent exhibition, where original documents, photographs and survivor testimonies help bring the history of Dachau into focus;
• Return to Munich by private vehicle after your visit.

Your journey begins in Munich, where you will meet your guide and set off for Dachau in a private vehicle, making the journey to the memorial site comfortable and straightforward. Once there, your guide will introduce you to the history of the camp, from its origins as a place of imprisonment for political opponents of the Nazi regime to its later expansion during the Second World War. You’ll learn how Dachau became a model for the concentration camp system and hear about the experiences of the many thousands of people imprisoned there.

As you walk through the memorial grounds, your guide will take you to some of the site's most significant locations. In the roll call area, you’ll learn about the daily routines and punishments prisoners endured. The preserved and reconstructed barracks offer a stark impression of the conditions in which people were forced to live, while the crematorium provides a particularly sobering reminder of the scale of suffering and death at the camp.

You’ll also visit the various memorials located throughout the grounds before entering the permanent exhibition. Here, historical documents, photographs and survivor accounts provide a more personal perspective on the history of Dachau and the people who passed through its gates. Your guide will help place these individual stories within the wider historical context, allowing you to better understand how the camp operated and the events that shaped its history.

A visit to Dachau is a serious and deeply moving experience, offering an opportunity to engage directly with an important part of Germany’s 20th-century history. With a private vehicle and an expert local guide throughout the excursion, you can focus on the memorial and its history without the logistics of public transportation, before travelling back to Munich together. 

Please note: Children under 13 cannot join this guided tour. Due to site regulations, licensed guides cannot lead tours for children younger than 13. Parents may visit the memorial independently with younger children, though the sensitive content may not be suitable.