Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, about 90 minutes from Krakow, preserves the site of the largest Nazi German concentration and extermination camp of World War II, where an estimated 1.1 million people were murdered, the majority of them Jews. General admission is free, but since March 1, 2026, every entry pass — free or guided — must be booked online in advance through the museum's own site; on-site ticket sales have been discontinued entirely. A guided tour (strongly recommended, and required for groups) runs about 150 PLN (roughly $38) and lasts 3.5 hours.
There's no version of this guide that treats Auschwitz-Birkenau like a typical attraction, because it isn't one — this is one of the most significant historical sites on Earth, and visiting it well is less about ticking a box and more about giving it the time, quiet, and seriousness it demands. Here's the practical version: how to actually get in, what to expect, and how to visit respectfully.
Book online, and book early. As of March 1, 2026, the memorial has permanently discontinued on-site ticket sales — every entry pass, free general admission or a paid guided tour, must be reserved in advance through the museum's own official booking system at visit.auschwitz.org, never a third-party reseller. Free entry passes open up 7 days ahead; guided tours can be booked up to 3 months ahead and regularly sell out, especially May-September. There is no 'just show up early and queue' option anymore.
What is Auschwitz-Birkenau?
Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest of the Nazi German concentration and extermination camps built during World War II, operated from 1940 to 1945 in German-occupied Poland. It consisted of two main sites, both open to visitors today: Auschwitz I, the original camp (administrative buildings, prisoner blocks, and the infamous 'Arbeit Macht Frei' gate), and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the much larger extermination camp about 3 km away, where the majority of the site's estimated 1.1 million victims — most of them Jews, along with Polish political prisoners, Roma, Soviet POWs, and others — were murdered.
General admission vs. a guided tour
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General admission (self-guided) | Free | Timed entry pass required; only available outside the busiest guided-tour hours |
| Guided tour, individual visitors | ~150 PLN (~$38) per person | 3.5 hours, headset included, covers both Auschwitz I and Birkenau with shuttle transport between them |
| Guided tour, organized groups | Required by museum policy | Any group must be accompanied by a licensed guide-educator |
What to expect
The standard guided tour runs about 3.5 hours and covers both Auschwitz I and Birkenau, including a shuttle bus between the two sites. Expect to walk through original camp blocks, exhibition spaces with recovered belongings (shoes, suitcases, hair), the ruins of gas chambers and crematoria at Birkenau, and the site's rail platform where new arrivals were selected. It is, deliberately, a heavy and slow-paced visit — this isn't a place to rush, and most visitors describe needing quiet time afterward rather than moving straight on to another activity.
- Auschwitz I — the original camp, administrative buildings, and the museum's core exhibitions on the history of the camp and the Holocaust.
- Auschwitz II-Birkenau — the much larger extermination camp, including the iconic guard tower and rail entrance, and the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria, dynamited by retreating German forces in January 1945.
- The Sauna building (Birkenau) — a smaller, less-visited exhibition space with a genuinely moving photo collection recovered from victims' confiscated belongings.
Getting there from Krakow
Auschwitz-Birkenau sits in the town of Oświęcim, about 90 minutes from Krakow. Organized day tours (round-trip transport plus a guide, often the simplest option) run from most Krakow hotels and tour operators; independently, a direct public bus or a train-plus-short-connection covers the same distance for less money but more logistics. Either way, budget the entire day — this isn't a half-day add-on to another itinerary item.
Visiting respectfully
- Dress modestly and avoid clothing with slogans, bright branding, or anything that could read as flippant for the setting.
- Photography is allowed in most areas (with exceptions clearly marked, including some indoor exhibition spaces) — but keep it quiet and considered, not a photo-op.
- Children under 14 are not recommended by the museum itself, given the graphic content of the exhibitions.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your booked entry time for a security check — arriving late can mean losing your slot entirely.
Common mistakes
- Trying to book last-minute in summer — guided tours and even free entry passes for May-September routinely sell out days to weeks ahead.
- Combining this visit with something upbeat the same day, like the Wieliczka Salt Mine — the emotional whiplash does a disservice to both.
- Buying tickets through a third-party reseller charging a markup for what's officially a free or fixed-price government-run booking system.