Dachau tour recommendations

I'm not familiar with all the tour companies you mentioned but I have taken the Radius Tours trip to Dachau, and I would certainly recommend them. They travel to the site by train, and it's nice to get a preamble from the guide on the way to Dachau. I thought the tour was very well done, considering the subject, and the guide allowed some free time for the group to reflect on their thoughts.

As I recall, Dachau also provides site tours and that's also an option, but I preferred to go with Radius as they arranged all the transportation and it was nice to make the trip with the guide.

I preferred to go with Radius as they arranged all the transportation

I think the only reason anyone pays for a 3rd party tour is to avoid figuring out the logistics of getting there. For some it might seem intimidating, but it's really not that difficult.

The most one person would pay for the S-Bahn and bus to the Dachau Memorial, 10,30€, and a tour led by one of the Memorial's guides, for 4,-€, would be 14,30€ ($15.21 at today's exchange rate). It's not really difficult to DIY and save $30. To me, $30 is a lot to spend to avoid thinking.

I thought our Memorial trained guide was excellent. She talked continuously for 2½ hours about what went on at Dachau KZ. I don't think I can remember half of what she told us. I can't imagine any other guide telling us enough to make it worth that much extra.

In your case, for 4 people, you could use a zone M-1 group day ticket for 19,20€ ($20.43) and 16,-€ (17,03€) for the tour, vs 4x$45.55) for the 3rd party tour. A savings of $145.

And, if you need to use public transportation to get to the tour meeting place, or if you want to use transportation to get anywhere else in Munich that day, that's included with the day ticket if you do it yourself.

Thank you both for your responses. Lee, the reason I was aiming for a tour is because some of our group are not as interested as others and will likely not read placards and signage. I figured a live human would be more engaging, hence the plan for a tour. However, I didn't know about Memorial guides. How is that arranged -- do you need to book them in advance? Maybe I overlooked something in Rick's book about this?

...some of our group are not as interested as oalthers and will likely
not read placards and signage.

Perhaps those individuals should not be made to participate. Their disinterest might stem from the very dark nature of the experience; perhaps they already understand the revulsion they will experience on viewing the exhibits and reading the details you want them to read. As you said, the details are overpowering. Even an "engaging" guide can't mask them.

We're in it for a solid education but do not need (or, really, want)
to spend time reviewing every single detail

You know already that at Dachau, human beings were abused in some of the worst possible ways. The point of the exhibit and any tour you take is to delve into the details. I'm not sure what knowledge you are looking for, exactly, but it sounds like you will not find the visit very rewarding.

I didn't know about Memorial guides. How is that arranged

Here is a link to the Memorial's website, and here is the link to the page on tours guided by guides trained (and licensed) by the Memorial itself. Admission to the Memorial is free. The guided tours in English are at 11am and 1pm, take 2½ hours, and cost 4,-€/adult. There are also audio guides available in English and other languages for 4,50€. Either before or after the tour, there is a free half hour documentary film about the Memorial at 10:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:00 p.m.

I don't believe there are any advance reservations; just get there 30 minutes early and sign up at the information desk of the Visitors’ Center. There is also a nice cafeteria there, so you could arrive early and spend the your wait having lunch. If you don't want a guided tour (but I would highly recommend it), you can also just walk around and read the signs.

There is nothing difficult or complicated about getting to out to Dachau Memorial. I don't know from where you are starting, somewhere in the downtown Munich area, I assume. If you are staying near the S-Bahn trunk line that goes under Munich (Ostbahnhof, Rosenheimerplatz, Isartor, Marienplatz, Karlstor, the Hauptbahnhof), you just get on the S2 S-Bahn and all the way to Dachau Bahnhof. If you are staying somewhere off the mainline, there are buses or U-Bahn to get you to the S-Bahn line. From Dachau Bahnhof you take bus 726 from in front of the station to the Memorial. Coming from town, the best way is to buy a Group Day Ticket (Gruppe Tageskarte) for 19,20€. That ticket will cover all of you from anywhere in downtown Munich to the Memorial by whatever forms of transit (S/U-Bahn, streetcars, or buses) you need, round trip, and any other travel in Munich for the rest of that day.

Sounds great, Lee. Thank you!