A comprehensive guide to visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Plan your visit with dignity, understand the history, and secure your entry to the world's most significant Holocaust memorial site.
Advance booking is mandatory. Tickets often sell out months in advance. We recommend authorized guided tours for the most educational experience.
Auschwitz-Birkenau is not merely a museum; it is a cemetery without graves, a witness to the darkest chapter of human history, and a stark warning for future generations. Located in Oświęcim, Poland, roughly 70 kilometers from Krakow, the site encompasses two main parts: Auschwitz I (the original concentration camp) and Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the extermination camp).
Visiting this site requires preparation—both logistical and emotional. As of 2026, the demand for entry is unprecedented. To maintain the solemnity and preservation of the site, strict regulations regarding entry passes, group sizes, and conduct are enforced. This guide serves to navigate these complexities, ensuring your visit is respectful and informative.
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Everything you need to know before stepping onto the memorial grounds. Proper planning is essential for a smooth experience.
You cannot buy tickets at the door. All visitors must reserve an Entry Pass online. For individual visitors, slots are released 3 months in advance and vanish within minutes.
Most visitors opt for Guided Tours which include entry, headphones, and an educator. This is highly recommended to understand the context of what you are seeing.
Strict limit: Max size 30x20x10 cm (approx A4 sheet size). Larger bags must be left in paid lockers or vehicles. No exceptions.
The visit covers both Auschwitz I (brick buildings, museum exhibits) and Auschwitz II-Birkenau (vast wooden barracks, ruins of gas chambers).
A free shuttle bus runs between the two sites every 10-15 minutes.
Entry passes are personalized. You must bring a valid ID or Passport that matches the name on your ticket. Mismatched names will result in denied entry.
A visit to Auschwitz is physically demanding and emotionally draining. It requires careful logistical planning, especially regarding transport from major Polish cities and securing entry. This section outlines the critical steps to ensure your pilgrimage to this memorial is properly managed.
There are two primary ways to experience the memorial. Your choice depends on the depth of historical insight you seek and your available time.
The main entrance is located at the Auschwitz I site (Więźniów Oświęcimia 20). If you are arriving by car, there is a paid parking lot adjacent to the entrance. If booking a tour via our recommended partners, transportation from Krakow is often included, dropping you directly at the gate.
Security is airport-style. You will pass through metal detectors. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled entry time. Late arrivals are strictly not permitted to join groups once they have departed.
Auschwitz I: You will walk through the gate bearing the cynical slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei." Here, you enter brick barracks housing exhibits of evidence: piles of shoes, human hair, suitcases, and prosthetics looted from victims. You will also see Block 11 (the Death Block) and the execution wall.
Auschwitz II-Birkenau: After the first part, you take a shuttle to Birkenau (3km away). This site is vast. You will see the unloading ramp (Judenrampe) where selections took place, the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria destroyed by the Nazis in an attempt to hide their crimes, and the Pond of Ashes.
"It is in Birkenau where the scale of the industrial murder becomes comprehensible. The sheer distance from the entrance gate to the ruins of Gas Chamber V is a physical testament to the magnitude of the crime."
This is a memorial site. Visitors are expected to behave with solemnity.
For detailed history regarding the camp's establishment, please refer to our dedicated history page.
Read History of Auschwitz →Don't risk sold-out dates. Book a certified tour from Krakow featuring hotel pickup.
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Planning the logistics can be tricky. Use this tool to estimate your total trip duration and recommended wake-up times based on your transport and tour choices.
Calculation includes 30min security buffer and standard transfer times.
Krakow is the most common base for visiting Auschwitz. The memorial is approximately 70km west of the city. While independent travel is possible via train or public bus, it often adds significant stress regarding timing and transfers to the museum entrance.
Public trains arrive at the Oświęcim station, which is still 2km from the camp entrance, requiring a taxi or local bus connection. For this reason, organized transport remains the most seamless option, eliminating the risk of missing your strict entry slot due to public transport delays.
View Detailed Transport Guide| Transport Mode | Cost | Convenience | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive Tour | $$$ | High | Includes ticket, guide, and door-to-door bus. Zero stress. |
| Public Bus | $ | Medium | Direct to museum, but schedules can be irregular. |
| Train | $ | Low | Requires transfer from Oświęcim station to Museum (2km). |
| Rental Car | $$ | Medium | Flexibility, but paid parking is required and often full. |
The Museum does not recommend visiting with children under the age of 14 due to the graphic and emotional nature of the content. There are no specific restrictions banning them, but parents should exercise extreme caution.
Yes, during specific late-afternoon hours, entry is free for individuals without a guide. However, you still need to book a "Tour without an educator" pass online. Be aware that without a guide, you miss significant historical context.
Partially. Auschwitz I has rough terrain and stairs in blocks, making it difficult. Birkenau is mostly flat but has uneven dirt paths. Wheelchairs are available to borrow at the visitor center.
Eating is prohibited on the museum grounds. You may bring water. There are small cafes near the entrance of Auschwitz I and II, but not inside the memorial perimeter.
— George Santayana, inscribed at Block 4
Due to high regulation and demand in 2026, we strongly advise securing your tour at least 2 weeks prior to your trip to Poland.