Know Before You Go: Visiting Auschwitz
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Auschwitz was the most notorious of the Nazi concentration camps, and the ruins remain a tragic reminder of Poland’s history. Visiting is a moving and educational experience, but before you take your trip, here are a few things you should know.
You can visit independently or with a guide.
There are two main areas of Auschwitz—Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau—and it's often said that the most convenient and informative way to visit is with a guide. Private and group tours last about 3.5 hours, visiting the museum, exhibitions, and memorials of Auschwitz I, followed by the original camp buildings at Birkenau, including the prisoner barracks, gas chamber, and crematoriums.
Respect the rules.
Over 1.1 million people lost their lives at Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945, and visiting is an unsurprisingly somber affair. Be mindful of this and observe the rules of visiting, which include acting and dressing with appropriate solemnity and respect.
Turn off your phones and cameras.
The sensitive nature of the exhibitions means that photography is banned throughout many parts of the Auschwitz museum; however, it is permitted in most outside areas. Eating, smoking, and the use of cell phones (except to take photos) are also prohibited on the site.
You can visit from Krakow or Warsaw.
The easiest way to get to Auschwitz is from Krakow, which is about a 1.5-hour journey by car or bus. Most tours take at least 6 hours and include hotel pickup and round-trip transport. Meanwhile, Warsaw is just under 4 hours away by road, with tours last over 10 hours given the transport times.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Auschwitz covers an area of about 12 square miles (30 square kilometers), and although shuttle buses run between the areas open to visitors, you will still do a lot of walking. Wear sturdy shoes suitable for uneven terrain and comfortable clothing that you can walk in for the duration of the tour.
Visiting with younger children is not recommended.
Due to the disturbing nature of the material inside, visits to the museum are not recommended for children under 14 years old.
Krakow Tours & Activities (7)
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Day TripsAuschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial Guided Tour from Krakow
Experience a poignant piece of World War II history on a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow. Led by a knowledgeable guide, explore the UNESCO-listed former Nazi concentration camp complex and preserve the memory of those who perished there. Pass through the crematoriums, old prison blocks, and moving memorials, and hear the stories of this dark time in history from your guide in a sensitive manner. Your tour concludes with transportation back to your original departure point in Krakow.
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- 7 hours
- Free Cancellation
- Taking safety measures
From
$51.67
Day TripsKrakow and Auschwitz Small Group Tour from Warsaw with Lunch
Take a full-day tour from Warsaw that includes a Krakow city tour and a sobering visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. At Auschwitz-Birkenau, visit still-standing parts of the original Nazi concentration camps along with artifacts from the prisoners who perished there during World War II. Learn about the murderous Nazi campaigns against Europe’s Jewish populations and other ‘undesirables’ as you tour the camps. Change pace in Krakow, taking in landmarks including St. Mary’s Basilica and more.
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- 16 hours
- Taking safety measures
From
$309.13
Price varies by group size
Private Sightseeing ToursPrivate Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow Tour
On this 9-hour tour of Aucshwitz-Birkenau, you’ll travel to the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp in a private vehicle before exploring the UNESCO-listed site with a guide. See features of the original Auschwitz concentration camp — including wooden watch towers and fencing — in addition to possessions belonging to former prisoners. Listen to history rich-commentary during a group tour and spend an unconstrained amount of time in Auschwitz before taking private transport back to Kraków, where you'll make a stop in Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter.
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- 9 hours
- Free Cancellation
- Taking safety measures
From
$452.45
per group
Bus ToursAuschwitz-Birkenau Museum Guided Tour with pick-up from Selected Krakow Hotels
Visit the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau on this full-day tour from Krakow. In the company of a guide, explore both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and learn about the history of the UNESCO-listed memorial site and those once imprisoned within its walls.
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- 7 to 8 hours
From
$47.11
Nature and WildlifeSuper Saver: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine in two days
Discover Poland's top UNESCO-listed sites on this Super Saver, combining two popular Krakow tours at a special value price. First, follow an expert guide on a half-day tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau and explore the moving exhibitions and prison blocks of the former Nazi concentration camp complex. On the second day, marvel at the underground tunnels and salt formations inside the 700-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mine. Sharpen your knowledge on two important historical sites over the course of two days.
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- 1 day 6 hours
- Free Cancellation
From
$91.85
Private Sightseeing ToursAuschwitz-Birkenau VIP Tour from Krakow
Don’t waste precious vacation time organizing transport and buying tickets: let a guide do the hard work for you on a tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum from Krakow. As well as hotel pickup and drop-off, your package includes entrance fees to the former Nazi concentration camp and a guided tour. Plus, once you've been to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, you'll explore Krakow's Jewish District.
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- 8 hours
- Taking safety measures
From
$907.50
per group
Day TripsDay Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial from Krakow
Remember victims of the Holocaust with a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, the largest and most infamous Nazi concentration and extermination camp. On this full-day trip from Kraków, learn about the dark history of the camp through informative displays and a guided tour of the surviving prison barracks, gas chambers, and crematorium. En route to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, watch a documentary film about the liberation of Auschwitz for added historical context.
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- 7 hours
- Free Cancellation
From
$43.63