If we take the train from Munich to Dachau, how close will we be to the actual camp? Will we need additional transportation to get there?
Also, is it better to take the train/bus connection to get to neuschwanstein or to do a tour from munich?
thanks!
You can take the train - S2, in the direction (Richtung, in German) of Petershausen, to the Dachau station. From there you need to take the bus (#726, I believe) to the "K-Z Gedenkstätte". If you have an MVV XXL Tageskarte (Day ticket) it will cover the train and the bus.
As for a tour, I have been to the castles in Hohenschwangau three time (2x Neuschwanstein, 1x Hohenschwangau) and did not need a tour. Taking a tour, IMO, is exchanging a little planning for a LOT of money.
Thanks Lee. We are actually traveling on a regional Eurail pass. I just didn't know how difficult it would be to get to the Dachau camp from the train station.
Same goes for Neuschwanstein -- don't really want the $$,time,etc of a tour, but if taking one and the bus that goes with it will be easier than taking the train and switching to bus,etc, then I might consider it. We're traveling with another couple who have never been to Germany - I want to make things as simple as I can for everyone.
K.
Kathy:
I don't know where you are coming from or to within Germany, but if you can visit either of these on the same day you are using your pass you'll save money.
For example, after leaving Rothenburg we toured Dachau enroute to our Munich Base. The lockers are upstairs to your right as you exit the station. If they are full, the TI office will hold your bags for you. After arriving in Munich we could use the S bahn to get to our hotel.
When you say "regional" pass, I assume you mean a "Select" pass, which is valid in 3-5 countries. Those passes are sold for a number of days (5-15) in a 2 month period, not consecutive days, so you wouldn't ordinarily use them every day. Your day from Munich to Dachau or Neuschwanstein would seem to be one of those days where you wouldn't want to use a day of your pass. Four people can travel anywhere in Munich using any mode of transport using just one Munich Gesamtnetz Partner-Tageskarte (entire network dayticket, for 2-5 people) for €18 (€4,50 or ~$7 pP). The Tageskarte is valid for unlimited rides on any conveyances (U-/S-Bahn, streetcar, or bus) within greater metro Munich for the entire day. To go from downtown to Dachau memorial, you would only need a Munich XXL (2 inner zones) Partner-Tageskarte for €11,80 total, €2,95 ($4.60) pP.
If you used a day of the railpass, it is only valid for the S-Bahn. Each person would also need to buy 2 (RT) single trip bus tickets at €1,10 each way.
To travel to Hohenschwangau, you could use a Bayern-Ticket, which is valid for unlimited rides in 2nd class on all regional trains throughout Bavaria as well as for the RVO bus between Füssen and Hohenschwangau and unlimited rides in Munich. A Bayern-Ticket costs €29 from a ticket counter (€7,25 or ~$11 pP), €2 less from a ticket automat.
Here is the station layout for Füssen. The bus to Hohenschwangau leaves from Bus stop 2 right across the parking lot from the station building 10 minutes after the train arrives, plenty of time for the short walk. You probably won't be the only people making the connection, just stay with the "herd".
As for Dachau, you don't have to catch the S2 at the main station, you get it at any of the stations in town, from Ostbahnhof to Laim, including Marienplatz and Isartor. Again, the bus will leave from in front of the Dachau station a few minutes after the train arrives.
Kathy, I just returned from Germany and went to both of these sites last week. You will be amazed at how easy it is to get to both. Like someone else stated "just follow the herd" It is really the only touristy thing to do in both places and everyone will be headed there as well. The tour is included in the price of your ticket for the castles. You can't avoid the tour. They time your tickets for each castle 2 hours apart and that is the only way in. I found the tours to be very informative. have fun.
Can anyone tell me whether we can travel from Munich to Dachau on a Bayern regional pass? we are planning to use a Bayern pass to travel to Rothenburg after Dachau. Will that pass get us from Munich to Dachau as well or do we need to buy a local Munich pass too?
Sara:
Dachau is covered by the Bayern-ticket.
Just be sure to stay off IC or ICE trains. (I think the only way to Dachau is via the S-bahn, so you should be fine.)
Travel to Dachau would be covered by the Bayern-Ticket, but it would cost more. Why pay more if you don't have to? A Bayern-Ticket costs €27 online or from a ticket automat, €29 for personal assistance at a ticket counter, and it is valid all day for up to five people. A Muenchen XXL Partner Tageskarte is valid for all day travel in the inner two zones of Munich MVV for up to five people. It costs only €11,80. You can buy one from any ticket automat in Munich or, for the same price, from a ticket counter. Both the Bayern-Ticket and the MVV XXL Tageskarte cover the S-Bahn to Dachau and the bus to the memorial.
With a Bayern-Ticket, on weekday, you can only travel after 9 AM; the XXL Tageskarte is valid anytime.
Trains of all classes, express and regional, as well as S-Bahns use that line through Dachau, although the express trains do not stop there. There are regional train that stop at Dachau, but they only originate at the Hbf. You can't take a regional train from Marienplatz to Dachau, but you can take the S-Bahn from Marienplatz.
Are you going on to Rothenburg the same day as Dachau, or are you going back to Munich for the night and then going to Rothenburg the next day. If you are doing it all, Munich to Dachau to Rothenburg, on the same day, then a Bayern ticket would cover all of your travel.
