CityBuddy
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau)
Best time to visit
Early morning tours right after opening reduce crowds and allow quieter reflection; avoid midday in July and August when coach arrivals peak.
Budget tips
Museum entry is free but requires a timed reservation on the official website; guided tours cost about 60 to 100 PLN per person through the museum or licensed operators. Book free tickets weeks ahead in high season and compare guided-tour prices to decide if a paid guide adds value.
Recommended for
History buffs, Students and educators, Researchers of World War II and Holocaust studies, Reflective, respectful travelers
Plan your visit
3-4 hours
About
Faits rapides: Walking between rows of wooden barracks, you feel a heavy hush and see personal belongings stacked like mute witnesses: shoes, glasses and children's clothes. More than a million men, women and children were killed there, and preserved elements such as gas chamber foundations and the rusting railway tracks force visitors to confront the scale of the atrocity.
Points forts: Few things hit like the museum's objects room: around 1.1 million lives are referenced in the exhibits, including an astonishing seven tons of human hair stacked like pale rope and thousands of suitcases with original names stitched on their corners. On the long railbed, visitors quietly leave small stones, notes, or candles along the tracks, a private ritual that turns the cold wooden sleepers into a mosaic of personal remembrance.
Insider tips
- Wear sturdy comfortable shoes and layered clothing, Birkenau's paths are long, often uneven and exposed to wind.
- Bring a printed or digital reservation and your passport, entry checks are strict and walk-up tickets are limited.
- Respect museum rules on photography and never photograph human remains or personal effects on display.
- If short on time, focus on Auschwitz I exhibitions first, then walk the main memorial field and barracks at Birkenau for the most powerful impressions.
Cliquez pour réserver une visite guidée GRATUITE à pied à Krakow, Poland
La meilleure façon de découvrir une ville avec un guide local.
Tip: We strongly recommend a free walking tour on your first day to get to know the city with a local guide. They usually cover all main attractions and you can ask for personal recommendations based on your interests for the next days. Book early as spaces fill up fast!
Reviews
Reviews (2)
4.0Visited at noon and it was packed with a long wait. Guided tour felt overpriced and hurried, but the site itself is essential to see.
Arrived at 8am with almost no line. Audio guide was worth the extra fee; exhibits are powerful and well presented.
