Rhine to Rothenburg to Munich

If you leave Rothenburg Bahnhof at 9:06 and take the train south from Steinach to Treuchtlingen, one of the regional trains (RE 59093) from Treuchtlingen to Munich stops at Dachau Bahnhof at 12:20. There are locker on the track 1 platform where you can leave your luggage. The bus to the Memorial leaves every 20 minutes from a well marked bus stop in front of the station. Because you will have a rail pass, which only includes the S-Bahn in Munich (not other conveyances, like buses), you'll have to buy a ticket from the bus driver, but it should only be €2,50 per person each way. There is a snack bar at the Memorial; you can have something to eat while you wait for a tour. The Memorial is open until 5 PM. That should give you enough time to take the guided tour of the memorial. There are also audio guides for about the same price. When you come back to Dachau Bahnhof at the end of your tour, you can take a regional train or any S-Bahn to the Munich Hbf. The S-Bahn runs every 20 min. I've been to Munich 7 times for 16 nights since 1987, and there are probably 20 places in Munich I would rather go to than Dachau. I didn't bother to go there until my 7th trip in 2009. I was much relieved to find that, although many people died in the camp from overwork, it was a work camp, not an extermination camp.

I had 2 nights in Rothenburg and felt it was more than enough. But I know many people who have done it in 1 night and were still able to get most of the main sights in. Perhaps if you could arrive in the AM, you'd have better part of that day to explore, stay overnight, then have the next morning/early afternoon to see some more of that very pretty city before departing. Seeing Dachau the same day you arrive in Munich might be a little tight, but IMHO, not impossible. It's a very easy trip from Munich; by train to Dachau (via the SBahn) is only around 40 min or so, and then from the Dachau train station, there are busses marked "KZ" which take you right to the camp/memorial. So, it's all made very easy for the traveler. And I could not agree more with Michael above re: the crucial importance of visiting this historically significant site/memorial while in Munich. Germany is a great, vibrant country with so much to see, do and enjoy; but we can also never forget its monstrously dark, tainted and evil past. Whether it was a "work" camp or "extermination" camp (as so many others in Europe were), innocent men, women and children were tortured and died there and we go to learn and honor and remember those who perished. Well said, Michael.

Id get there late afternoon and spend the whole day (2 nights) but again if you can get there very early one night is enough (have to do the night watchman tour!) and a nice dinner before that. then get out early the next AM. Love to walk the walks early and late! Munich should have 2 full days (or at least 1.5!) - one day for the museums and one for a bike tour in the park!

We, too, traveled from the Rhine to Rothenburg. I loved Rothenburg, however, there is not a lot to do per se-it is more a place to enjoy walking around, viewing the delightful village architecture, soaking it up. The Night Watchman's Tour is an absolute must, also a walk through the city park near the Town Hall is also a mustyet it isn't as if there are tons of don't miss museums, or canoeing adventures or other activities that will take up lots of time. There are many small touristy shops, if you like that sort of thing, I don't, yet I was still enchanted by the cobblestones, the architecture, and enjoyed simply walking around taking it all in. We were there 2 nights, and I wasn't bored because I found the surroundings charming.

For Rothenburg, two nights gives you a full day, with a travel days on either side. A full day works pretty well. You could shrink it to a half day with one night if you need to. Munich has enough to do to use up as many days as you have available. If Dachau is your only goal, why not skip Munich, go directly to Dachau for a day trip and find lodging on the way to your next destination? It's usually cheaper to sleep in smaller towns than cities.

My first trip to Dachau was in 1964, I believe. There were barracks buildings lined up across the area. People were living in some of the barracks. I am thinking they were refugees or guest workers from some other country. They were not German. A few years ago I went back to Dauchau. The place looks entirely different. All the barracks are gone and just the cement slabs remain. There are several memorials and lots of photos on display. At both times a chill went up my spine as I remembered the terrible things people suffered in such places. It is well worth a visit.
Ann

Someone had a good suggestion of just going straight to Dachau. If you aren't planning on exploring Munich, you should head straight to Dachau and stay there and then continue on the next morning. There is a RB train between Dachau and Munich so if you need to catch a train out of Munich you can. Also, the actual city of Dachau is quite nice with a lovely castle on the hill. I don't remember the camp taking all day, so there may be time for some strolling in the city or a visit to the castle.
Lest all of you think I'm some heartless creature by suggesting it, I think visiting the two in one day provides a huge juxtaposition of the differing sides of human nature.