Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau: What to Expect + Helpful Tips
PLANNING A VISIT TO AUSCHWITZ? HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!
As a Holocaust educator and someone who has studied World War II deeply, I have had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz on many different occasions over the past decade. I can confidently say that visiting Auschwitz is a powerful experience, and something well worth doing. This post covers what to expect from a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the best ways to get to the camps, and answers to all of the questions you might have about visiting a concentration camp. I remember the first time I visited- I was so nervous on the way there. Don’t worry- I’ll share all my tips to help!
Why Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp?
Many people wonder whether or not Auschwitz is worth visiting.
Truthfully, Auschwitz is the number one thing near Krakow that I recommend travelers take the time to see- whether you’re interested in Holocaust history or not.
It is worth noting that Auschwitz is not a tourist attraction. This is not a place to go for leisure, for a relaxing afternoon, or for fun. Auschwitz is hallowed ground.
During World War II, the Nazis housed at least 1.3 million prisoners in this camp complex, killing many of them in gas chambers and other horrific ways. The grounds themselves are an incredibly well-preserved piece of history.
Auschwitz is a place to reflect on the atrocities that can happen within the human race, a place to mourn the deaths of those murdered there, and a place to educate ourselves on how to ensure something like the Holocaust does not happen again.
Don’t have time to read this whole post?
Here’s What You Need to Know About A Trip to Auschwitz!
✅Auschwitz is worth visiting, but it is a difficult & heavy place to visit.
✅Visiting Auschwitz is FREE, but you still need to Reserve Entrance Ahead of Time
✅Plan to spend about 7 hours total (travel + tour)
✅I recommend this guided tour (includes transportation from Krakow)
Auschwitz: A Brief History
The grounds of Auschwitz were in operation from 1940-1945.
Without a doubt, it was the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp in all of Europe. It was also the only extermination camp that labeled prisoners with the numbered arm tattoos so many people associate with the Holocaust.
Auschwitz was made up of three different camps: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II- Birkenau, and Auschwitz III- Monowitz. Today, both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau are open to visitors. Auschwitz III-Monowitz no longer exists.
Auschwitz I was the main section of the camp. Here, some prisoners, officers, and guards were housed, along with the camp commandant and his family in their own home. There are many barracks and one gas chamber at Auschwitz I.
Auschwitz II-Birkenau is located about two kilometers down the road from Auschwitz I. This section of the camp is also familiar to many- easily recognizable by the large guard building and the train tracks that run through it. The remainder of the interior of Birkenau is made up of rows of wooden barracks and the ruins of crematoriums and gas chambers.
It is estimated that 1.1 million people died on the grounds of this Nazi Concentration Camp before it was liberated in January 1945. Many of their stories are memorialized throughout the Auschwitz museum.
How to Get to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp
Here’s everything you need to know about the best ways to get to Auschwitz:
Where is Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp?
Auschwitz Concentration Camp is located in Oświęcim, Poland.
This tiny town is located about an hour outside of Krakow, one of the largest cities in Poland.
Krakow to Auschwitz Map
Using a Tour to Get From Krakow to Auschwitz
By far, the easiest way to get to Auschwitz from Krakow is by booking a tour. Tours generally pick you up from your hotel or at a centralized point in Krakow and take care of all transportation.
In addition, most tour companies show a documentary during the ride to the camps, so you have the opportunity to gain some baseline knowledge about Auschwitz on the way.
Read this article for my recommendations of the best tours for visiting Auschwitz.
⭐ This tour of Auschwitz provides round-trip transportation from Hotels in Krakow & a fantastic guided tour of Auschwitz. Book your seat now!
How to Get To Auschwitz By Bus
The cheapest way to get from Krakow to Auschwitz is by taking a shuttle bus. You can book transport for about 12-18zł each way.
These trips on the shuttle bus take about 90 minutes each way. They will take you from the Krakow bus station behind the (Galeria Krakow Dworzec Autobusowy) and drop you right next to the Museum grounds.
If you’d like to book your transport ahead of time, use the MDA Bus Planner.
Krakow to Auschwitz Via Car
While you can get to Auschwitz by car, I don’t typically recommend it.
You will likely not need a car for anything else during your stay in Krakow, and driving in Poland can be confusing. Renting a car, then, is not very cost-effective unless you’re going to be traveling via car often during your trip.
If you do choose to drive to Auschwitz, car rentals are available in Krakow. The Auschwitz Memorial does offer free parking at Auschwitz I.
Travel to Auschwitz By Train
There is a direct train from Krakow to Auschwitz.
It runs from the central Krakow station (Kraków Główny) to Oświęcim. However, the train station in Oświęcim is about a 25-minute walk from Auschwitz I, so you will need to take a taxi or other transport from the train station to the grounds of Auschwitz.
How to Visit Auschwitz (With + Without a Guide)
There are LONG lines at Auschwitz no matter the time of day.
It is incredibly important that you book a tour ahead of time, or it is very possible that you will arrive and be unable to tour, or will arrive and have to wait in line in open heat for hours.
There are two ways to visit Auschwitz: by booking a guided tour, or by touring on your own.
🚨 IMPORTANT: Regardless of whether you want to visit with a tour or on your own, you MUST BOOK TICKETS TO AUSCHWITZ ahead of time!
Visiting Auschwitz With a Guide
I recommend visiting Auschwitz via a guided tour from Krakow. In fact, it is the only way I will tour Auschwitz myself because it is just so efficient.
With guided tours, you skip the entrance line, which can be very long at times. Plus, transportation is arranged for you for all legs of the journey.
In addition, you’ll have a designated tour guide who narrates your own personal small-group tour.
Most importantly, a guided tour often gives visitors insight into smaller details about Auschwitz that others might not have the opportunity to experience.
For instance, I actually once had a guide who was personally touched by Auschwitz as her two uncles had been murdered there.
This made the tour so much more impactful because I heard the story of prisoners from a family member who was personally invested in the history of Auschwitz.
Visiting Auschwitz Without A Guide
✔ Self-Guided Tour: Visiting Auschwitz without a guide is possible as long as you are visiting independently and not with a group.
The best option for this is a self-guided audio tour that you can pick up at the entrance to the grounds.
Even if you are visiting without a guide, you will need to book a ticket with an entry time.
What to Expect: Visiting Auschwitz Concentration Camp
Before touring Auschwitz, many people wonder: What will I see while visiting Auschwitz?
The truth is that the tour of Auschwitz is extremely extensive. This is what makes Auschwitz worth visiting in the first place. Here’s what you can expect from a visit to Auschwitz:
Visiting Auschwitz I
You’ll enter Auschwitz through the large gates which are often the most symbolic photo of Auschwitz. The entrance to Auschwitz alone is stunningly moving.
Along the gate still runs barbed wire which was electrified to keep prisoners in.
The majority of the tour will be spent in this main part of the camp. You’ll walk through the grounds, passing the camp kitchen, public gallows, and countless barracks.
You can walk through many of the barracks in Auschwitz I. Some have been well-preserved as they were during World War II, and others have been made into museums.
For example, the Block 5 barrack is where the evidence of crime artifacts are housed. Here, you’ll see thousands of shoes, suitcases, and other items that were excavated from the ruins of the camp when it was liberated.
The next area you will see in Auschwitz I will take you into the section of the camp that housed the commandant of Auschwitz- Rudolf Höss- and his family.
Finally, you’ll end your tour of Auschwitz I seeing the only still-standing crematorium and gas chamber. The rest were destroyed by the Nazis before liberation in order to leave as little evidence of what happened at Auschwitz as possible.
This piece of the tour is devastating and poignant.
You will walk into a gas chamber where you can still see where the poisonous gas, Zyklon B, was used to suffocate prisoners. Then, you will walk out through the crematorium room where four ovens still stand– the exact ovens that were in use back then.
Silence is requested in this portion of the tour for obvious reasons.
Visiting Auschwitz II- Birkenau
After touring Auschwitz I, you will travel two kilometers to Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
You will enter the camp through the front guard tower entrance and walk along the railroad tracks and loading area that once brought prisoners into the camp.
One train car still remains on the train tracks at the entrance of Birkenau.
This is where prisoners waited to hear whether they’d live or die, and where they were often separated from their families.
It is likely that a large number of people walked directly from this spot to their deaths in the gas chambers.
The rest of Auschwitz-Birkenau is made up mainly of barracks.
While many are destroyed, you can still walk through a few that make it obvious these barracks were noticeably more crowded than the ones in Auschwitz I.
Finally, you will stop at the site of the three gas chambers and crematorium in Auschwitz II-Birkenau. These were blown up as the Nazi were retreating and attempting to cover up their war crimes.
At the back of the camp, the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism is the perfect place to spend a quiet, reflective moment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Visiting Auschwitz
The first time you visit Auschwitz, you will definitely have some questions- especially if this is your first time visiting a concentration camp.
Here are answers to some of the top questions I get about visiting Auschwitz:
Is Auschwitz Worth Visiting?
Auschwitz is absolutely worth visiting. It is, without a doubt, one of the most influential places you can still visit in the world.
Obviously, the visit will be a somber one. However, the camp has been incredibly well-preserved, and there is such a wealth of information on the premises that you will learn so much just by visiting.
Can I Visit Auschwitz?
Visitors are welcome at Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau all year round.
When Is The Best Time to Visit Auschwitz?
Visit Auschwitz during the spring or summer months. While these are more crowded months to travel, it is extremely cold in Poland during winter, and the tour of Auschwitz is mainly outside.
I have visited Auschwitz both in the summer and in the winter, and while both visit were meaningful, I was much more comfortable during summer.
Can I Visit Auschwitz in Winter?
Visiting Auschwitz in the winter is somehow more difficult than visiting during another time of year.
If you’re visiting Auschwitz in winter, the coldness is palpable. You can almost imagine prisoners walking barefoot through the snow, and you can’t help but wonder how they survived.
You absolutely can visit Auschwitz in winter. In fact, you may want to since there will be much fewer crowds.
Winter in Auschwitz is eerie- even more so than usual. The world there is quiet and haunted. It may make your visit even more moving, to be honest.
However, make sure you’re prepared if you choose to visit Auschwitz in winter. It goes without saying that winters in Poland are FREEZING! Especially if there is wind chill.
No, like, really freezing.
I visited Auschwitz on a day that was below zero with wind chill, and while I would absolutely do it again, it is not for the faint of heart.
How Much Does It Cost To Visit Auschwitz?
Entry to the museum is free, but you may want to book a guided tour. These can run anywhere from $35.00+ depending on what type of tour you book.
Can I Visit Auschwitz With A Child?
Visiting Auschwitz with a child can be difficult and should not be taken lightly.
Before you go, consider the ages of your children and whether or not they can maintain the reverence that is required of a site such as Auschwitz.
It is a memorial– not a place for children to run around. In fact, the Auschwitz Memorial recommends that children under 14 not visit.
I would also advise caution based on what your child can handle emotionally.
Tips For Your Visit to Auschwitz: What You Need To Know
1. Visit Auschwitz Early
There is little to no shade on the grounds of both camps.
If you are visiting during the summer, you want to be at Auschwitz by late morning so that you can be on your way back before the heat of the day hits.
2. Book a Ticket In Advance
DO NOT show up to Auschwitz without having booked an entrance ticket in advance. It is way too far from Krakow to risk being denied entry.
Auschwitz is a popular place to visit with more than two million visitors annually.
They do sell out of entry tickets, and they will deny you at the gate if they have to.
3. Consider the Content of Auschwitz and the Reverence Necessary for the Site
People were murdered here. If you cannot respect the magnanimity of that, please do not visit.
Auschwitz is a memorial and a site for education and remembrance.
4. Mind Your Volume and Your Demeanor
There are places, for example the crematorium in Auschwitz I, where silence is required.
When you visit, you will legitimately be walking through a gas chamber where people were murdered and a room with ovens where people were cremated.
These artifacts still stand in their entirety, and, out of respect for the victims, silence is necessary.
I visited once with a group where three people laughed inside the crematorium at a joke that was made by their friend. It was irreverent and unacceptable.
Please, don’t be those people.
5. Wear Closed-Toed Shoes at Auschwitz
It is obvious that visiting Auschwitz requires a lot of walking. However, many do not realize that the ground in Auschwitz is primarily made up of dirt, gravel, and grass.
Wear closed-toed shoes or you will be covered in dirt by the time you leave.
6. Have Coins For the Toilet
There are toilets at both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau. However, they are paid toilets.
Have change available!
7. Allot Time During Your Visit to Check Out the Bookstore
While there is a bookstore in both sections of the camp, I recommend the one at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. It is larger and easier to peruse.
Here you can find books that are published only through the Museum and are not available elsewhere.
8. You Will Have To Go Through Security to Enter Auschwitz
You will have to go through security in order to enter the grounds of the camp.
Items not permitted include food, luggage, strollers, and pets.
Thankfully, there is a luggage hold on the grounds of the museum if you should need it.
For more information about what is allowed, visit the official Museum website here.
9. Leave Time to Decompress and Process Your Emotions
Please recognize that visiting Auschwitz will leave you feeling heavy.
If it didn’t, I would have many questions.
It is important to leave time after the tour for processing and discussion– especially if you are taking your children with you.
There is a lot to see and a lot to learn, but it is not easy to be faced with the cruelty of humanity so blatantly in one day.
Where To Stay To Visit Auschwitz
It can be difficult to know where to stay when visiting Auschwitz. And, honestly, I would not recommend you stay in Oswiecim.
Krakow is by far the easiest place to stay if you’re planning a visit to Auschwitz. It is the second-largest city in Poland, so there is much to do there, amazing restaurants, and fantastic scenery.
The best area to stay in is in the Stare Miasto (Old Town) neighborhood, close to Rynek Główny.
The Best Places to Stay to Visit Auschwitz:
✔️ My Top Pick (Centrally Located): Parkside Apartments Old Town
✔️ Best For Families: Lounge Apartments
✔️ Best Hostel For Backpackers: Greg&Tom Party Hostel
✔️ Centrally Located Budget: Tyzenhaus Apartments Economy
✔️ Luxury Hotel: Hotel H15 Luxury Palace
Final Thoughts: Visiting Auschwitz
A visit to Auschwitz is something that will stay with you forever.
You will learn so much on your tour of the grounds, and there is something about being there that is incredibly powerful and moving.
It is not an easy day. It is not a relaxing tour.
But it is educational and important and critical that we continue to learn about the Holocaust by visiting Auschwitz so that we can ensure this never happens again.
↳ Read Other Helpful Holocaust Travel Content Below!
✔ These are the Top Holocaust Sites to Visit Around the World!
✔ Traveling Around Europe? Don’t Miss these Holocaust Tours
✔ Full Guide to Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp
or Dachau Concentration Camp
✔ Here are the Best Auschwitz Tours to Take From Krakow!
✔ Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Anne Frank House
✔ Make sure you have the best travel items for a trip abroad!
