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Auschwitz Birkenau: il tour nel campo di concentramento

Le informazioni per partecipare al tour di visite all'interno del campo di concentramento di auschwitz birkenau..

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L’itinerario del viaggio

Una delle esperienze più emozionanti e suggestive da fare almeno una volta nella vita è il tour nel campo di concentramento di Auschwitz Birkenau . Una visita che permette di ricordare le tantissime vittime dei nazisti, e ripercorrere gli attimi più tragici della nostra storia.

Scopriamo, quindi, tutte le informazioni per partecipare a questi suggestivi tour.

Auschwitz Birkenau: il tour

I libri di storia dedicano capitoli su capitoli ai massacri della seconda guerra mondiale e agli stermini dei campi di concentramento. Ma per comprendere fino in fondo ciò che è davvero è successo in questi luoghi può essere utile visitare personalmente questi posti in cui è stata scritta una delle pagine più nere del passato.

Si tratta sicuramente di visite che scatenano emozioni forti, che non tutti sono pronti a vivere.

Il tour nel campo di concentramento di Birkenau , in Polonia, è infatti una delle esperienze più forti e struggenti che si possano vivere in Europa. Un cammino nella storia, nelle vite di chi non ce l’ha fatta e di chi, invece, è riuscito a fuggire.

Ma vediamo quali sono le informazioni sulle visite da conoscere.

Il tour inizia dal centro di Cracovia , e continua dirigendosi a Oświęcim, la località polacca scelta dai nazisti per costruire i loro campi di concentramento e sterminio.

Qui si inizia una visita al campo di Auschwitz I , il principale campo di concentramento, per proseguire, poi, il viaggio verso quello che è noto come Auschwitz II , Birkenau . Quest’ultimo è il campo di sterminio costruito dal Nazismo nell’ambito della “Soluzione Finale del Problema Ebraico”.

Una visita tra i luoghi di sofferenza, passando per la caserma, le latrine, i binari ferroviari, lo stagno delle ceneri e i resti dei forni crematori e delle camere a gas.

Diverse agenzie organizzano questi tour con guide esperte, in diverse lingue. I prezzi delle visite si aggirano intorno ai 30-35 euro per gli adulti, con sconti per studenti e minorenni.

Il prezzo può, inoltre, variare in base al tipo di visita, se con libro guida, e in base ai mezzi utilizzati per raggiungere le destinazioni.

Il costo dell’ingresso al campo di concentramento è di circa 16 euro per gli adulti, ma per i viaggi organizzati in genere è compreso nel pacchetto.

La visita è sconsigliata ai minori di 14 anni.

La durata della visita va dalle 6 alle 8 ore, compreso il viaggio in autobus. La singola visita al campo di concentramento di Birkenau dura circa 3 ore e mezza, ma è possibile partecipare a visite giornaliere di sei ore.

Ci sono, inoltre, diverse navette che permettono di raggiungere i campi di concentramento .

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mi interessava sapere i prezzi per la visita ad auschwitz partendo da torino con pernottamento circa tre giorni

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Auschwitz und Birkenau: Live-Führung mit Transport und Abholung vom Hotel

• Professioneller Reiseleiter
• Transfer vom und zum Hotel
• Beförderung im klimatisierten Kleinbus
• Gemeinsame Hin- und Rückfahrt
• Garantiertes Umgehen der Warteschlangen
• Headset, damit Sie die Kommentare Ihres Reiseleiters gut hören
• Eintritt – Staatliches Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau
• Eintritt – Grodzisko
• Garantierter Zutritt ohne Warteschlange
• Speisen und Getränke
• Floriana Straszewskiego 14, 33-332 Kraków, Poland Gr8way Treffpunkt
• Der Kunde muss seine Unterkunft angeben, damit die Abholung vom Hotel durchgeführt werden kann. Falls diese Informationen fehlen, wird der Kunde an unserem Treffpunkt in Garbarska Straße 2 erwartet. Einige der Hotels in der Altstadt von Kraków befinden sich in einem Bereich mit eingeschränkter Verkehrslage und es ist keine direkte Abholung möglich. In diesem Fall bieten wir eine Abholung vom nächstgelegenen Abholort an.
• Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Kraków, Poland
• Nicht barrierefrei
• Mit Kinderwagen zugänglich
• Sitze für Kleinkinder verfügbar
• Sie erhalten die Bestätigung zum Zeitpunkt der Buchung.
• Für die meisten Personen geeignet
• BESUCHSTEMPO: Bitte beachten Sie, dass täglich Hunderte von Personen das Auschwitz-Museum besuchen und es nicht möglich ist, in Ihrem eigenen Tempo zu besichtigen.
• ABFAHRTZEIT: Sie werden zwischen 5:30 und 13:30 Uhr von Ihrem ausgewählten Ort abgeholt, je nach Verfügbarkeit des Museums, um die Tour zu beginnen. Wählen Sie Ihr günstigstes Zeitfenster aus und wir werden versuchen, Sie einzuplanen, eine Garantie gibt es jedoch nicht. Wir teilen Ihnen die endgültige Abholzeit mindestens 12 Stunden vor der Abholzeit mit, damit Sie Ihre Ankunft am Abholort planen können.
• GEPÄCKGRÖSSE: Jeder Reisende darf maximal 30 x 20 x 10 cm Gepäck ins Auschwitz Birkenau Museum mitnehmen. Dies entspricht mehr oder weniger der Größe eines A4-Blattes. Es ist in Ordnung, eine kleine Handtasche oder Brieftasche bei sich zu haben. Wenn Ihr Gepäck größer ist, können Sie es im verschlossenen Bus neben dem Museum lassen. Unser Fahrer wird sich um Ihr Gepäck kümmern, während Sie unterwegs sind.
• WETTER: Wir arbeiten bei jedem Wetter. Während dieser Tour verbringen Sie bis zu 70 % der Zeit im Freien, vor allem während des zweiten Teils an der Gedenkstätte Birkenau. Tragen Sie bitte entsprechend des Wetters geeignete Kleidung.
• ABHOLUNG VOM HOTEL: Einige der Hotels in der Altstadt von Kraków befinden sich in einem Bereich mit eingeschränkter Verkehrslage und es ist keine direkte Abholung möglich. In diesem Fall bieten wir eine Abholung vom nächstgelegenen Abholort an.
• Um das Auschwitz-Musuem betreten zu können, muss der Kunde dem Reiseveranstalter die vollständigen Namen aller Teilnehmer nennen. Andernfalls können Kunden nicht teilnehmen.
• AUSWEISDOKUMENTE: Jeder Besucher muss einen Ausweis mitbringen, um sich zu verifizieren. Andernfalls könnte der Sicherheitsdienst den Zutritt zum Museum verweigern
• Kinder müssen von einem Erwachsenen begleitet werden
• Mit einem gültigen Studentenausweis erhalten Sie einen Jugendrabatt.
• Aufgrund von Covid 19 behält sich das Auschwitz Museum das Recht vor, die Besuchszeit zu ändern, daher ist die Abholzeit ungefähr und kann sich ändern
• Für dieses Erlebnis ist eine Mindestanzahl an Reisenden erforderlich. Sollte es storniert werden, da die Mindestanzahl nicht erreicht wurde, wird Ihnen ein anderes Datum/Erlebnis oder eine vollständige Rückerstattung angeboten.
• Diese Tour/Aktivität ist für höchstens 30 Reisende geeignet.
• Stornieren Sie mindestens 24 Stunden vor dem Datum Ihrer Aktivität, um eine vollständige Rückerstattung zu erhalten.
• Staatliches Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

Ähnliche Erlebnisse

• Startpunkt der Tour: Floriana Straszewskiego 14 Sie können auch abgeholt werden. Abfahrtsinformationen ansehen
• 1 Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau Stopp: 2 Stunden - Eintritt inbegriffen Details anzeigen
• 2 Memorial and Museum Auschwitz II-Birkenau Stopp: 60 Minuten - Eintritt inbegriffen Details anzeigen
• Sie kehren zum Ausgangspunkt zurück.

• K3866LJmatthiask 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Sehr netter Fahrer und gute Fahrt Unser Fahrer Jakub M., hat mit uns vor dem Abholen schon über WhatsApp kommuniziert, was den ganzen Ablauf erleichterte. Er war ebenfalls sehr freundlich, zuvorkommend und offen. Wir können Jakub nur weiterempfehlen. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 22. Mai 2024
• OnAir02551140842 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Problemloser Airport-Transfer in Krakau zu einem vernünftigen Preis - TOP! Meine Freundin und ich hatten einen Flughafen-Transfer in Krakau gebucht und waren mehr als zufrieden! Unser Fahrer, Jakub M., hatte uns bereits vor unserer Ankunft eine WhatsApp gesendet und uns den genauen Abholort am Flughafen mitgeteilt sowie sein Fahrzeug genau beschrieben. Alles funktionierte einwandfrei, obwohl unser Flug mehr als eine Stunde Verspätung hatte! Jakub war darüber hinaus sehr freundlich und zuvorkommend, und gab uns einige tolle Restaurant-Tipps für Krakau. Sehr empfehlenswert!!! Mehr lesen Verfasst am 8. Mai 2024
• janamS3321DR 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Transfer Flughafen/Krakau Der Transfer klappte einwandfrei und der Fahrer Martin war sehr nett und zuvorkommend. Alles hat super geklappt. Die Fahrer waren pünktlich da und haben uns pünktlich abgesetzt. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 29. April 2024
• beatakN2017PK 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Perfekter Service Ich wurde spät in der Nacht abgeholt. Der Fahrer informier mich freundlich über deinen Standort hat mich direkt am Flughafen empfangen mir dabei mit meinem Gepäck geholfen und ins Hotel gebracht. Sergey war ein sehr netter zuvor kommender Fahrer. Ganz liebe Grüße Mehr lesen Verfasst am 9. Februar 2024
• latinasuiza 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Sympathisch und Zuverlässig DOMINIKA ist pünktlich, sehr zuverlässig und sympathisch. Wir können sie äußerst empfehlen. Weit wünschen ihr weiterhin viel Erfolg. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 30. Januar 2024
• andrelA668BP 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Transfer Flughafen Krakau Sergey war ein sehr guter und freundlicher Fahrer. Er brachte uns sicher und zügig vom Flughafen zum Hotel. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 5. Dezember 2023
• christiang577 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Top Service Der Fahrer war pünktlich, freundlich, zuverlässig und die Fahrt war günstig! Extrem empfehlenswert!! Mehr lesen Verfasst am 20. September 2023
• Thomas H 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Top Transfer Unsere Fahrerin Dominika war sehr freundlich und geduldig (musste über eine Stunde warten, da der Flug verspätet ankam). Während der Fahrt hat sie uns zudem einige Tipps gegeben, was wir in Krakau besichtigen können. Alles in allem eine sehr angenehme Fahrt, wir empfehlen Dominika auf jeden Fall weiter! Mehr lesen Verfasst am 30. August 2023
• monikahQ8253TP 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Super! Super! Einfach toll super erlebnis. Tolle servis einfache Kontakt. Abholung von Hotel und zurrück Fahrt an gewünschte Platz Mehr lesen Verfasst am 30. Mai 2023
• B9156EDwolfgangt 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Schöne Tage in Krakau Wir wurden pünktlich am Airport abgeholt und zum Hotel gebracht. Patrick gab uns zahlreiche Informationen zu guten Restaurants, die wir auch beherzigen.Scgöne Tage in Krakau Mehr lesen Verfasst am 23. April 2023
• E2848BGdanielr 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Super entspannte Fahrt vom Flughafen zum Apartment Karol, hat uns gleich nach der Landung per WhatsApp angeschrieben und uns genau und einfach gesagt wo er uns abholt. Das war super leicht zu finden auch für mich obwohl ich das erste Mal in Krakau war. Dazu ist Karol super freundlich und er hat uns noch geholfen unser Apartment genau zu finden und uns bis vor die Haustür gefahren. Er hat auch für unseren kleinen Sohn einen passenden Sitz dabei gehabt. Alles in allem waren wir super zufrieden und können Karol nur weiterempfehlen. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 18. April 2023
• danielgO3532FU 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Besser geht nicht! Bart war ein toller Fahrer. Lief alles problemlos. Nachricht per WhatsApp sofort nach Ankunft am Flughafen, Taxi sofort am Ausgang. Das Auto sehr gut und sauber. Besser geht nicht. Gerne wieder. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 4. April 2023
• 334doroa 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten Privat Transfer mit Bart Wir hatten einen privat Transfer von Flughafen zum Appartement in Krakau. Unser Fahrer hieß Bart. Bart war sehr nett, freundlich und hilfsbereit, sowie professionell. Zudem hat er uns direkt am Flughafen gefunden und wir mussten nicht warten. Danke Bart :) Mehr lesen Verfasst am 3. April 2023
• Gundula D 0  Beiträge 3,0 von fünf Punkten Tour nach Auschwitz Die Tour wurde um 2 1/2 Stunden verschoben, wir wurden aber per WhatsApp informiert. Beim zweiten Termin kam der Fahrer Michael eine halbe Stunde zu spät, er hatte verschlafen. Auschwitz war perfekt Auf der Rückfahrt war unser Fahrer mehr mit dem WhatsApp Verkehr beschäftigt, was das eine oder andere hektische Manöver nach sich zog. Mehr lesen Verfasst am 13. März 2023
• Nicole K 0  Beiträge 5,0 von fünf Punkten War alles super cool Alles super nett und schön.fein und super cool. Würde es immer wieder buchen. Alles gut. Top nett und freundlich Mehr lesen Verfasst am 7. März 2023

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Visiting Auschwitz – How to Plan the Auschwitz Tour

Visiting Auschwitz, albeit a very somber experience, is one of the must things to do in Poland. The largest Nazi Germany concentration and extermination camp during World War II, where over 1,3 million people lost their lives, needs no introduction. Conveniently located near Krakow , Auschwitz can be an easy addition to your Poland itinerary.

It took me almost 37 years to finally visit Auschwitz (although I’ve been to other Nazi Germany camps in Poland), and even if I knew very well what to expect, the place still overwhelmed me with its cruelty and tragedy. And I think everyone should plan a trip to Auschwitz to understand history better and see what people are capable of when the ideology brainwashes them. And, of course, to pay respect to all the unnecessary victims. It’s important to visit places like Auschwitz so we can do our best to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

If you are visiting Poland (especially Krakow , Warsaw , Katowice , or Wroclaw ), I prepared this guide to help you plan your Auschwitz tour without too much hassle. There are different ways to visit Auschwitz, but no matter which one you choose, be prepared for one of the most difficult yet necessary travel experiences of your life.

Table of Contents

Where is Auschwitz

The former Nazi Germany Concentration Camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, is located in a town of around 37.000 inhabitants called Oświęcim in southern Poland. Krakow is less than 70 km away, and Katowice is 35 km away. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is around 330 km away from Oświęcim.

A brief history of Auschwitz

Even if Auschwitz is known mainly as the extermination camp, it was established as a concentration camp in mid-1940. It was one of over 40 camps in Poland that were supposed to be a solution to the problem of overflowing prisons full of arrested locals. The first people were brought to Auschwitz on June 14th, 1940, from the prison in Tarnow.

Since 1942 Auschwitz has also been used as the extermination camp where Nazis implemented their plan to murder Jewish people from all over Europe. At the peak of its operation, in 1944, Auschwitz was divided into three parts: Auschwitz I (the oldest one, in the old Polish military barracks), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the largest one, founded in 1941, the majority of victims were killed here), and Auschwitz III (this was a group of over 40 sub-camps created near industrial plants, made for work prisoners).

Numerous Polish villages were demolished, and locals were evicted to develop such a large institution. The camps were isolated from the outside world. The total area was around 40 square kilometers, including all three Auschwitz camps and the so-called “interest zone” used for the technical or supply background, offices, and barracks for Nazis.

Since Auschwitz had a strategic location on the front line, in August 1944, the camp’s liquidation began – the prisoners were taken to Germany, and the evidence of the crimes was covered up. The liberation of Auschwitz took place on January 27th, 1945, when around 7,5 thousand prisoners were still held there.

Altogether, in the almost four years of operation, over 1,3 million people lost their lives in Auschwitz; the majority were Jewish (around 1,1 million), but also Polish (about 150 hundred thousand), Roma people (23 thousand), and other nations.

In 1979 Auschwitz was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List – it is the only former Nazi concentration camp with that title in the world.

How to visit Auschwitz

You can visit Auschwitz two ways: with a tour from where you are staying in Poland (most likely Krakow, Katowice, Warsaw, or Wroclaw) or independently, reaching the site by car or using public transport. Both options are doable; however, the tour is a slightly better one as everything will be taken care of for you.

There is a wide selection of tours to choose from that depart from Krakow as well as other mentioned cities. Most of them cover more or less the same things: pick-up from your accommodation, transportation to/from Auschwitz and back, the entrance ticket to the concentration camp, and the guided tour on-site.

When I visited Auschwitz, I arrived by train from Warsaw, with the change in Katowice. I was at the museum almost an hour before my guided tour of the site was supposed to start, and despite the poor weather (it was raining on that day), there was no place to hide and wait for the tour. Visitors were not allowed to enter the museum until a few minutes before the tour was about to start. Me and a few other unlucky visitors just stood near the trees, hiding under the umbrella and waiting for our time to enter the site. I can’t say it was a comfortable situation (but at least the weather worked perfectly well for such a sad place to visit). Recently, a new visitors center was opened so hopefully the situation is better.

When using public transport, you need to rely on the schedule of trains/buses and, just in case, plan to be at the site with some extra time ahead; hence a tour is a better option. Still, visiting Auschwitz is doable independently – I did it, and once the tour of the site started, it was really good.

Visiting Auschwitz – practical information

Visiting Auschwitz memorial site is free of charge; however, I recommend joining the tour with the educator provided by the museum. They have a huge knowledge of the place and the tragedy that occurred here and can answer all the questions visitors always have. Tours are available in various languages: Polish, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Czech, and Slovak.

Even if you decide to visit the site independently, you still need to book the entry pass – those with free entrance start in the afternoon. You can buy/reserve your ticket online at the website of Auschwitz Museum here.

Currently, the price for the tour with the educator is 80 PLN for Polish and 90 PLN for other languages. When booking the ticket, you must state your full name and surname – this will be checked later.

Since tickets can sell out quickly, booking one at least a month in advance is recommended. If there are no tickets left for the day you want to visit Auschwitz, you can join the organized tour from Krakow or other cities, as tour operators usually have tickets booked in advance. Due to the sensitive nature of the place, children under 14 years old should not visit Auschwitz Museum.

Once you have your ticket, you need to arrive at the Auschwitz visitors center 30 minutes before your tour starts to go through the security check (it’s rather thorough, similar to the airport), have your ticket inspected (remember to have the ID or passport with you), get the headset for the tour and meet your group. You are allowed to have a bag or backpack with a maximum dimension of 30x20x10 cm; any larger luggage must be left in the paid lockers.

Auschwitz Museum is open every day except January 1st, December 25th, and Easter Sunday. Opening hours vary depending on the month and are as follows:

• 7:30-14:00 in December
• 7:30-15:00 in January and November
• 7:30-16:00 in February
• 7:30-17:00 in March and October
• 7:30-18:00 in April, May, and September
• 7:30-19:00 in June, July, and August

The closing time means the last entrance – after that, you are allowed to stay on-site for an hour and a half. However, if you want to see Auschwitz Museum properly, you need at least 3,5 hours for that – that’s also how long the standard tour with the educator lasts. It is usually divided equally between Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II- Birkenau. A free shuttle bus runs between the two sites every few minutes.

Taking pictures and making videos is allowed in Auschwitz, for individual use, except in two places: the hall with the hair of Victims (block nr 4) and the basements of Block 11. Your educator will remind you not to take pictures there.

Remember what sort of place you are visiting and behave there with respect. It might be obvious for most, but I can’t count how many times I’ve read news about inappropriate behavior in Auschwitz and other similar sites in Poland, so I think it’s worth reminding this is not your typical tourist attraction but a place of one of the greatest tragedy that ever happened in the world.

Getting to Auschwitz independently

If you decide to visit Auschwitz on your own, you must get to the visitors’ center, where your tour will start. The new visitors center, which opened just recently, is located at 55 Więźniów Oświęcimia Street in Oświęcim ( here is the exact location ). If you drive there, there is a large parking lot where you can leave your car before visiting the museum.

If you use public transport, there are both trains and buses you can take to reach Oświęcim. I recommend trains as they are slightly faster and more comfortable; however, some buses stop next to the museum, so that’s convenient. You can check all the connections on this website , where you can also find the location of the bus stop in Oświęcim (there can be three different ones).

The train station in Oświęcim is located at Powstańców Śląskich Street, some 20 minutes walking from the Auschwitz museum. It’s a straightforward way; you can check the map with the directions here . I recommend catching the train that gives you at least an hour between arriving at Oświęcim and when your tour starts.

Auschwitz tour from Krakow

Numerous Auschwitz tours depart from Krakow, so you will easily find the one that suits your itinerary and needs. Here are some recommended ones:

• Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial Guided Tour from Krakow
• Auschwitz & Birkenau – Fully Guided Tour from Krakow
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour with Private Transport from Kraków
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour by Private Transport from Krakow

You can also combine visiting Auschwitz with Wieliczka Salt Mine , another UNESCO-listed site near Krakow and a must-visit place in Poland. Here are the tours that go to both places in one day:

• Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow including Lunch
• Full-Day Tour of Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow
• Auschwitz-Birkenau and Salt Mine Tour with private transport from Krakow
• Combined: Auschwitz Birkenau and Salt Mine private chauffeur from Krakow

If you decide to go to Auschwitz from Krakow on your own, you can take the train from the main train station to Oświęcim. They are rather frequent, more or less every hour, and the journey takes a bit over an hour (depending on the connection, the longest one is 1h20min).

If you want to take the bus, they depart from the MDA bus station, next to the main train station. The price for trains and buses is similar, between 15 and 20 PLN, although trains tend to be cheaper and faster. You can check all the connections and buy a ticket here .

Auschwitz tour from Warsaw

Even if Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is located over 300 km away from Oświęcim, it is possible to go for a one-day Auschwitz tour. However, you can expect a long day, and a large part of it will be spent traveling. But if you are visiting Warsaw only, Auschwitz can be a good addition to your Poland itinerary, so you can better understand the country’s complex history.

Here are some of the recommended Auschwitz tours from Warsaw:

• From Warsaw Auschwitz and Krakow one day tour by train with pick up and drop off
• One day tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Warsaw with private transport

Going for the day trip from Warsaw to Auschwitz independently is also possible using trains. You can take the 6 am train to Katowice and then change for the train to Oświęcim, arriving in the town around 10:30. If you decide to do that, you can book your Auschwitz tour for 11:30 or 12:00. On the way back, you can catch the train after 16:00 from Oświęcim to Katowice, and after changing for the train to Warsaw, you will be in the capital after 20:00.

Auschwitz tour from Katowice

Since Katowice is less than 40 km from Auschwitz, it’s easy to go for a day trip. You need to take the local train to Oświęcim, it takes less than 50 minutes, and the connections are more or less every hour.

Or you can go for a tour, here are the Auschwitz tours from Katowice:

• Auschwitz – Birkenau from Katowice
• Auschwitz & Birkenau English guided tour by private transport from Katowice
• Auschwitz tour from Wroclaw

Wroclaw is another popular place to visit in Poland, and since it’s located around 230 km from Oświęcim, you can go for an Auschwitz tour from Wroclaw too. If you decide to do it independently, you can take the train to Katowice and then change for the local train to Oświęcim. A one-way trip should take you less than 4 hours.

Or you can go for a tour; here are the recommended ones from Wroclaw:

• Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour from Wrocław
• Private Full-Day Tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Wroclaw

Auschwitz Museum Tour

As for the museum itself, here is what you can expect.

You will start in the oldest part of the concentration camp – Auschwitz I, where the infamous gate with the sign “Arbeit macht frei” (meaning “Work Sets You Free”) is located. Here, you will visit numerous barracks where inmates were kept – now you can see different exhibitions there, showing the reality of Auschwitz and halls with personal belongings taken from arriving prisoners – luggage, shoes, glasses, etc., or hair of Victims. You will learn all about cruel practices here, including medical experiments or torture.

Visiting this part of Auschwitz museum is a very somber experience, and it’s really difficult to comprehend the tragedy that happened in this very place.

Besides the barracks in Auschwitz I, you will also see where the camp commander lived or the first crematorium where Nazis started their experiments with killing using gas. In this part of the Auschwitz tour, you can take pictures everywhere except the two places in Blocks 4 and 11 – they will be clearly marked, and your educator will remind you about this restriction.

The visit to Auschwitz I takes around 1,5 hours. Afterward, together with your group and educator, you will take the shuttle bus to Auschwitz II-Birkenau, located some 3 km away.

Auschwitz II-Birkenau is where around 90% of victims died. It is a huge area that worked kind of like the killing factory, with four gas chambers and crematoriums. This is also where most prisoners arrived – you most likely know the view of the railway tracks and brick gate – that’s Auschwitz II-Birkenau. This part of the visit is mostly outdoors.

You will walk around the area, see the remnants of the camp, visit some barracks inside, and learn all about the horrific tragedy that happened here. When Auschwitz I has a more intimate, even claustrophobic feeling, Auschwitz II-Birkenau can overwhelm you with its scale and enormity.

You will spend around 1,5 hours here, too; afterward, you can take the shuttle bus back to the visitors center when you started your tour.

Final thoughts on visiting Auschwitz

Even though I’ve lived in Poland almost my whole life, and Auschwitz has been a familiar topic since I remember, it took me nearly 37 years to finally visit the place. Before I was in different Nazi Germany sites in Poland, mostly in Majdanek in Lublin, so I didn’t feel the need to visit Auschwitz too. But I don’t regret the decision to go there eventually.

You can read and learn about the place, but nothing can prepare you for visiting Auschwitz. Some areas look familiar (after all, pictures of the “Arbeit macht frei” sign or Birkenau gate are present everywhere), but you will still be overwhelmed by the place and seeing it in real life. It’s hard to comprehend the cruelty and tragedy that happened here, and dealing with all the thoughts invading your mind afterward can take a while. It can be one of the most difficult-to-understand places you will ever visit.

Still, despite it all, I think everyone should go to Auschwitz to see where fanaticism and totalitarianism can lead and why we should avoid them at all costs.

Further reading

I published many articles about Poland that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 37 Amazing Things to Do in Krakow, Poland
• 20 Great Places to Visit As Day Trips from Warsaw, Poland
• 17 Amazing Things to Do in Lublin, Poland
• The Complete Guide to Visiting Slownski National Park, Poland
• Visit Grudziadz – One of the Hidden Gems of Poland
• 19 Amazing Things to Do in Gdansk, Poland
• Visit Sandomierz, Poland – One of the Prettiest Towns in the Country
• Visiting Malbork Castle, Poland – the Largest Castle in the World
• 25 Amazing Things to do in Wroclaw, Poland
• and many more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Poland

Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Poland here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here .

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Poland too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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