# Study in Dachau district, Bavaria

> Dachau is a rural district (Landkreis) in Bavaria with 153,595 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). There is no university in Dachau district itself; the nearest is Technical University of Munich in Munich, about 24 km away. Summers average 17.7 °C and winters 0.2 °C, with about 857 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Dachau is a Bavarian district northwest of Munich, with commuter towns, rural villages and rail access to university life.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 153,595 | Destatis, 31 Dec 2024 |
| Area | 579.16 km² | Destatis |
| Universities in the district | 0 | Where Is My Uni? catalogue |
| Nearest university | Technical University of Munich, Munich (24 km) | Where Is My Uni? catalogue |
| Typical student rent | €13.00/m² net cold — Average monthly net rent across the apartments covered by Dachau town’s 2026 qualified Mietspiegel, independent of floor area and construction year. Excludes operating costs; this is neither a new-listing average nor a WG-room price. | [source](https://www.dachau.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mietspiegelbroschuere-Dachau-2026_Maerz.pdf) |
| Mean temperature | 8.8 °C (summer 17.7 °C, winter 0.2 °C) | DWD 1991–2020 |
| Rain | 857 mm a year | DWD 1991–2020 |
| Sunshine | 1,763 hours a year | DWD 1991–2020 |

## About Dachau district

Dachau district lies northwest of Munich in Upper Bavaria. Dachau is the administrative centre, while Markt Indersdorf serves the agricultural hinterland. Beyond the commuter settlements, the landscape becomes gently rolling farmland ([district background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_Dachau)).

The former concentration camp is now a place of remembrance and historical education ([Dachau Memorial](https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/en/historical-site/historical-site-memorial-site/)). The town also has an artistic history: its artists’ trails connect the old town, the Amper river and Etzenhausen ([Dachau Tourism](https://www.tourismus.dachau.de/spazierwege-rundgaenge/)).

- **Dachau**: The district’s administrative centre, with regional trains and S-Bahn connections towards Munich ([district background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_Dachau), [city transport information](https://www.dachau.de/mobilitaet/)).
- **Karlsfeld**: A substantial residential and business municipality with S2 access; check the connecting bus journey because the station is separate from parts of the settlement ([Gemeinde Karlsfeld](https://www.karlsfeld.de/Ortsbeschreibung.n27.html)).
- **Markt Indersdorf**: A service centre in the district’s rural hinterland, on the Altomünster branch of the S2 ([district background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_Dachau), [MVV timetable](https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/fileadmin/mediapool/downloads/fahrplanmedien/2026/1-2-B-s26-1-MFP_M.pdf)).
- **Altomünster**: A market town known for its former monastery and the church of St. Alto and St. Birgitta ([town background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altom%C3%BCnster)).
- **Petershausen**: A useful rail-based housing search location, with S2 and regional services towards Munich and Ingolstadt ([DB timetable](https://www.bahnhof.de/downloads/schedule/Regeltafel_4907.pdf)).

## Nearest universities

There is no university in Dachau district. Nearby options include the Technical University of Munich and Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, so living here means organising life around a commute. Dachau Bahnhof has direct trains to Munich; calculate the additional journey to your actual teaching building before choosing accommodation ([city transport information](https://www.dachau.de/mobilitaet/)). This is worth considering if you prefer a smaller-town home and are comfortable travelling for classes and university social life. For a vocational alternative, Helios offers nursing apprenticeships locally ([Helios Amper Kliniken](https://www.helios-gesundheit.de/karriere/standorte/amper/das-sind-wir/)).

- **Technical University of Munich** (Munich) — 24 km away, 216 courses
- **Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences** (München) — 25 km away, 97 courses
- **Akademie der Bildenden Künste München** (München) — 26 km away, 6 courses
- **International University SDI München** (München) — 26 km away, 159 courses
- **Hochschule für Musik und Theater München** (München) — 26 km away, 107 courses

## Housing

Approach this as a competitive Munich-region housing search: the Studierendenwerk describes affordable accommodation in Munich and its surroundings as scarce ([Studierendenwerk](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/wohnheime/)). Dachau town has an official rent guide, but it does not apply to the other municipalities in the district ([Stadt Dachau](https://www.dachau.de/mietspiegel/)). Compare actual offers rather than assuming that a district address guarantees a saving.

**How to find a place**

- Start with the Dachau shared-room search on [WG-Gesucht](https://www.wg-gesucht.de/wg-zimmer-in-Dachau.371.0.1.3.html), checking the precise address and whether utilities are included.
- Use the Studierendenwerk’s free [private-room matching service](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/wohnheime/privatzimmervermittlung/) alongside commercial portals.
- For a self-contained apartment in Dachau town, compare its characteristics with the [official Mietspiegel](https://www.dachau.de/mietspiegel/); do not apply that benchmark unchanged to other municipalities or individual shared-flat rooms.
- Check weekday and evening journeys before viewing a room, particularly where a bus is needed to reach the railway. The [MVV timetable page](https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/netz-plaene-medien/fahrplanmedien/download/s-bahn/) links both S2 branches and explains how to obtain current service information.

## Cost of living

Housing deserves particular attention in your budget. Dachau’s rent guide excludes operating costs, so compare the full monthly payment rather than the advertised cold rent alone ([official rent guide](https://www.dachau.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mietspiegelbroschuere-Dachau-2026_Maerz.pdf)). In 2026, eligible students can obtain the Bavarian discounted Deutschlandticket for €43 per month; the regular ticket costs €63 ([Studierendenwerk](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/index.php?id=767)). Both the accommodation price and the commute should determine whether an offer is better value than living in Munich.

## Jobs & employers

Local employment includes healthcare, municipal services and specialist technology: Helios operates hospitals in Dachau and Markt Indersdorf, Stadtwerke Dachau runs local utilities and transport, and measurement-technology company IPETRONIK has a Bergkirchen branch ([Helios](https://www.helios-gesundheit.de/karriere/standorte/amper/das-sind-wir/), [Stadtwerke](https://www.stadtwerke-dachau.de/karriereportal), [IPETRONIK](https://www.ipetronik.com/en/company/locations.html)). For work alongside lectures, retail and hotel roles are concrete search options; Stadtwerke also explicitly welcomes student internship applications ([ALDI SÜD](https://jobs.aldi-sued.de/go/Jobs-in-Dachau/8858101/), [Hotel MODI](https://www.hotel-modi.com/modi-family/), [Stadtwerke careers](https://www.stadtwerke-dachau.de/karriereportal)).

- Supermarket sales and checkout work: ALDI SÜD’s Dachau careers page includes student sales roles ([ALDI SÜD](https://jobs.aldi-sued.de/go/Jobs-in-Dachau/8858101/)).
- Shelf replenishment in local supermarkets ([ALDI SÜD Dachau](https://jobs.aldi-sued.de/go/Jobs-in-Dachau/8858101/)).
- Hotel reception work, with part-time applications available at Hotel MODI ([Hotel MODI careers](https://www.hotel-modi.com/modi-family/)).
- Hotel cleaning and housekeeping, also offered through Hotel MODI’s part-time application route ([Hotel MODI careers](https://www.hotel-modi.com/modi-family/)).

- **Helios Amper Kliniken** (Healthcare): Operates the Amper-Klinikum in Dachau and the Amper-Klinik in Markt Indersdorf; offers nursing training and routes for medical students ([Helios careers](https://www.helios-gesundheit.de/karriere/standorte/amper/das-sind-wir/)).
- **Stadtwerke Dachau** (Utilities, transport and public services): The municipal operator covers energy, water, wastewater, transport and swimming pools, and explicitly offers internships for students ([Stadtwerke careers](https://www.stadtwerke-dachau.de/karriereportal)).
- **IPETRONIK** (Measurement technology and engineering): Has a branch in Bergkirchen. Its company-wide careers portal includes internships and thesis opportunities; check which location each opportunity covers ([locations](https://www.ipetronik.com/en/company/locations.html), [careers](https://careers.ipetronik.com/en/)).
- **ALDI SÜD** (Food retail): Its Dachau recruitment page lists local sales, checkout and shelf-replenishment roles, including student employment ([ALDI SÜD careers](https://jobs.aldi-sued.de/go/Jobs-in-Dachau/8858101/)).

## Getting around

The S2 connects Dachau with Munich and branches towards Petershausen and Altomünster; local buses provide onward connections ([MVV timetables](https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/netz-plaene-medien/fahrplanmedien/download/s-bahn/)). Allow roughly 20–25 minutes from Dachau Bahnhof to München Hauptbahnhof by S-Bahn; selected regional trains take about 12–13 minutes, based on the published timetable ([DB timetable](https://www.bahnhof.de/downloads/schedule/Regeltafel_4907.pdf)). Add the trip to the station and onward campus travel. The Deutschlandticket covers regional and local public transport throughout the MVV area ([MVG](https://www.mvg.de/abos-tickets/abos/deutschlandticket.html)). Check current connections because engineering works can change the annual timetable.

- Station: Dachau Bahnhof — S2 and regional trains towards Munich and Ingolstadt ([Stadt Dachau](https://www.dachau.de/mobilitaet/)).
- Station: Petershausen (Oberbay) — S2 and regional rail connections ([DB timetable](https://www.bahnhof.de/downloads/schedule/Regeltafel_4907.pdf)).
- Nearest airport: Munich Airport — The nearby international airport identified by Dachau’s city administration ([Stadt Dachau](https://www.dachau.de/lage-anbindung/)). Its rail connections are the S1 and S8; plan an interchange from the Dachau network rather than expecting a direct airport train ([Munich Airport](https://www.munich-airport.com/oeffentliche-verkehrsmittel-90215)).

## Weather & seasons

- Winter: 0.2 °C, 53 mm rain a month, 2.2 h sun a day
- Spring: 8.8 °C, 67 mm rain a month, 5.8 h sun a day
- Summer: 17.7 °C, 104 mm rain a month, 7.5 h sun a day
- Autumn: 8.7 °C, 62 mm rain a month, 3.7 h sun a day

Expect cold, frequently frosty winters and a gradual spring warm-up. Summer brings longer outdoor evenings, but also the wettest part of the year, so keep waterproof clothing handy for the commute. Karlsfelder See provides a local swimming option in suitable conditions ([Gemeinde Karlsfeld](https://www.karlsfeld.de/Karlsfelder-See.o755.html)). Autumn becomes cooler and darker: lights and warm layers are sensible if you cycle to a station.

## Culture & language

Local traditions include village maypoles, Kirchweih celebrations and Volksfeste. Dachau also has a distinctive traditional costume ([district background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_Dachau)). Its artists’ trails offer an accessible introduction to the town’s painting heritage ([Dachau Tourism](https://www.tourismus.dachau.de/spazierwege-rundgaenge/)).

For evenings out, the annual Musiksommer brings concerts and a street-music festival into Dachau’s old town ([Stadt Dachau](https://www.dachau.de/dachauer-musiksommer/)). Treat the district as a smaller-town base rather than expecting campus-centred nightlife; if university events matter to you, include the journey home in your housing decision.

English is available in some visitor settings, including guided tours at the Dachau Memorial ([official tours](https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/en/visit/guided-tours-individual-visitors/)). Do not assume the same for every landlord or workplace. As a practical learning goal, aim for B1 German for everyday independence and work towards B2 for customer-facing employment; these are suggestions, not universal entry requirements. Bavarian dialect is part of local speech, with Swabian influence around Altomünster ([district background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_Dachau)).

## Local food

- **Schweinebraten with dumplings**: A Bavarian inn staple served locally with dark-beer gravy, cabbage salad and potato or bread dumplings ([Kochwirt Dachau](https://www.beimkochwirt.de/speisekarte/)).
- **Kaiserschmarrn**: A sweet pancake dish found on local Bavarian menus; Kochwirt serves its version with raisins, almonds and apple sauce ([Kochwirt Dachau](https://www.beimkochwirt.de/speisekarte/)).

## Events

- **Dachauer Musiksommer** (Summer): An annual programme combining Jazz in allen Gassen, open-air concerts on Rathausplatz and the Barockpicknick in the palace garden ([Stadt Dachau](https://www.dachau.de/dachauer-musiksommer/)).
- **Dachauer Volksfest** (August): The town’s traditional fair includes beer-tent music and food. Its tent operator confirmed the August edition for 2026 ([festival operator](https://www.festzeltbetrieb-schweiger.de/volksfest-dachau)).

## Places to see

- **Dachau Palace and Court Garden** (Palace): A former court residence with a historic hall and gardens above the town; the garden preserves features from several periods of landscape design ([Bavarian Palace Administration](https://www.schloesser.bayern.de/deutsch/Schloss/objekte/dachau.htm)).
- **Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site** (Memorial): A place of remembrance on the former Nazi concentration camp grounds, with exhibitions documenting persecution and imprisonment ([Memorial Site](https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/en/historical-site/historical-site-memorial-site/)). Approach it as a historical and educational visit.
- **Dachau Artists’ Trail** (Art and walking): Follow one loop through the old town and along the Amper, or another through Etzenhausen; interpretation panels connect paintings with their locations ([Dachau Tourism](https://www.tourismus.dachau.de/spazierwege-rundgaenge/)).
- **Karlsfelder See** (Lake): A bathing lake with walking paths, lawns and recreational facilities, including beach volleyball and table tennis ([Gemeinde Karlsfeld](https://www.karlsfeld.de/Karlsfelder-See.o755.html)).
- **St. Alto and St. Birgitta, Altomünster** (Historic church): The former monastery church is a principal historic landmark in Altomünster ([town background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altom%C3%BCnster)).

## FAQ

### Is Dachau district a good place to live as a student?

It can suit someone who prefers a smaller-town home and accepts commuting. Dachau has direct rail connections to Munich, but check the complete journey to your teaching building before signing a lease ([city transport information](https://www.dachau.de/mobilitaet/)).

### Is there a university in Dachau district?

No. Nearby study options include the Technical University of Munich and Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences; students living in the district generally need to plan travel to their chosen campus.

### How long does it take to get from Dachau to Munich?

From Dachau Bahnhof, published services take roughly 20–25 minutes to München Hauptbahnhof by S-Bahn, or about 12–13 minutes on selected regional trains. These are station-to-station times, before onward campus travel ([DB timetable](https://www.bahnhof.de/downloads/schedule/Regeltafel_4907.pdf)).

### Is Dachau expensive for students?

Do not assume it is a cheap alternative to Munich. Dachau town’s 2026 rent guide reports an average net cold rent of €13.00/m²; operating costs are additional, and the figure is not a student-room average ([official rent guide](https://www.dachau.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mietspiegelbroschuere-Dachau-2026_Maerz.pdf)).

### Are there Studierendenwerk halls in Dachau district?

The Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern’s published residence directory lists none in the district. Its residence named Dachauer Straße is in Munich, not Dachau ([residence directory](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/wohnheime/wohnanlagen/)).

### What jobs can students find in Dachau?

Concrete options include supermarket sales and replenishment, plus hotel reception and cleaning work ([ALDI SÜD Dachau](https://jobs.aldi-sued.de/go/Jobs-in-Dachau/8858101/), [Hotel MODI](https://www.hotel-modi.com/modi-family/)). Stadtwerke Dachau also accepts student internship applications ([Stadtwerke careers](https://www.stadtwerke-dachau.de/karriereportal)).

## Sources

- [District geography, traditions and dialect](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_Dachau)
- [Dachau Memorial: historical site](https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/en/historical-site/historical-site-memorial-site/)
- [Dachau Tourism: walking and artists’ trails](https://www.tourismus.dachau.de/spazierwege-rundgaenge/)
- [Dachau public transport](https://www.dachau.de/mobilitaet/)
- [Karlsfeld municipal profile](https://www.karlsfeld.de/Ortsbeschreibung.n27.html)
- [MVV S2 Altomünster timetable](https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/fileadmin/mediapool/downloads/fahrplanmedien/2026/1-2-B-s26-1-MFP_M.pdf)
- [Altomünster background](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altom%C3%BCnster)
- [DB Petershausen departure timetable](https://www.bahnhof.de/downloads/schedule/Regeltafel_4907.pdf)
- [Helios Amper Kliniken: sites and careers](https://www.helios-gesundheit.de/karriere/standorte/amper/das-sind-wir/)
- [Studierendenwerk: housing market and residences](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/wohnheime/)
- [Dachau official rent-guide information](https://www.dachau.de/mietspiegel/)
- [Dachau qualified rent guide 2026](https://www.dachau.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mietspiegelbroschuere-Dachau-2026_Maerz.pdf)
- [WG-Gesucht: Dachau shared rooms](https://www.wg-gesucht.de/wg-zimmer-in-Dachau.371.0.1.3.html)
- [Studierendenwerk private-room matching](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/wohnheime/privatzimmervermittlung/)
- [MVV timetable downloads and service guidance](https://www.mvv-muenchen.de/netz-plaene-medien/fahrplanmedien/download/s-bahn/)
- [Studierendenwerk: discounted transport ticket](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/index.php?id=767)
- [Stadtwerke Dachau careers and internships](https://www.stadtwerke-dachau.de/karriereportal)
- [IPETRONIK locations](https://www.ipetronik.com/en/company/locations.html)
- [IPETRONIK careers](https://careers.ipetronik.com/en/)
- [ALDI SÜD jobs in Dachau](https://jobs.aldi-sued.de/go/Jobs-in-Dachau/8858101/)
- [Hotel MODI careers](https://www.hotel-modi.com/modi-family/)
- [MVG Deutschlandticket](https://www.mvg.de/abos-tickets/abos/deutschlandticket.html)
- [Dachau location and airport access](https://www.dachau.de/lage-anbindung/)
- [Munich Airport public transport](https://www.munich-airport.com/oeffentliche-verkehrsmittel-90215)
- [Dachauer Musiksommer](https://www.dachau.de/dachauer-musiksommer/)
- [Kochwirt Dachau: Bavarian food](https://www.beimkochwirt.de/speisekarte/)
- [Dachauer Volksfest tent operator](https://www.festzeltbetrieb-schweiger.de/volksfest-dachau)
- [Bavarian Palace Administration: Dachau](https://www.schloesser.bayern.de/deutsch/Schloss/objekte/dachau.htm)
- [Gemeinde Karlsfeld: Karlsfelder See](https://www.karlsfeld.de/Karlsfelder-See.o755.html)
- [Dachau Memorial English guided tours](https://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/en/visit/guided-tours-individual-visitors/)
- [Studierendenwerk residence directory](https://www.studierendenwerk-muenchen-oberbayern.de/wohnheime/wohnanlagen/)
- [Commons: Dachau Palace panorama](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schloss_Dachau_und_Schlossberg_-_Panorama.jpg)
- [Commons: Karlsfelder See panorama](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karlsfelder_See_im_Sp%C3%A4tsommer_-_Panorama.jpg)
- [Commons: Altomünster church](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Alto_und_St._Birgitta_Altom%C3%BCnster.jpg)

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Published by [Where Is My Uni?](https://whereismyuni.com) — every German university on one map. Canonical page: https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/bavaria/dachau-district. Last updated November 2026. [How we research](https://whereismyuni.com/study-in/how-we-research).