Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum

Auschwitz-Birkenau is comprised of Auschwitz I—the site of a visitor center, museum exhibitions, artifacts, and multimedia displays—and Birkenau (or Auschwitz II), the buildings left almost exactly as they were when the Nazis abandoned them at the end of the war. Group and private tours with round-trip transportation from Krakow Old Town typically visit both sites and are available in several languages. A visit to Auschwitz can also be combined with the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine.

• Plan to spend roughly 90 minutes at each of the sites, Auschwitz and Birkenau.

• An official visitor center can be found at the entrance to Auschwitz I.

• Although you can arrive independently, guided Auschwitz tours can allow for better understanding, with insight from a tour guide.

• Cell phones are not allowed in the permanent exhibition buildings and photos are not permitted in Room 5 of Block 4 or the cellars of Block 11.

• The museum discourages visits from children under the age of 14.

• While wheelchairs are available at the visitor center, strollers are only permitted outside of the blocks and other structures in Auschwitz I.

Auschwitz-Birkenau is in Oswiecim, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Krakow, from where most tours with round-trip transportation depart. A few tours are offered from Warsaw 196 miles (315 kilometers) away, although the trip takes roughly 4 hours. Both memorial sites have paid parking lots, and shuttles run between the two.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is open year-round from morning until between mid-afternoon and evening, depending on the month. The memorial is closed on January 1, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day (December 25). Arrive early for a quieter experience or visit midweek, outside of school holidays.

After a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, you can learn more about Polish history at the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow. Headquartered at the Krzysztofory Palace, the museum actually has 14 outposts across the city, including the Oskar Schindler Factory and the Old Synagogue in Ulica Szeroka. Guided walking or bike tours often combine stops at these sights.

Technically, yes, you can walk around Auschwitz without a tour guide or group—at least from November to March. From April to October (the high season), you can only explore the former WWII concentration camp via a guided tour. Entrance is always free, but you will need to book timed-entry tickets, regardless of season.

Technically, entrance to Auschwitz is free. But during the high season—April to October—you’ll need to book a guided tour; these typically cost around $10 per adult. In the off-season (November to March), you can explore the grounds without a guide. That being said, exploring with a guide will greatly deepen your experience.

Guided tours of Auschwitz are absolutely worth it—the docents are highly knowledgeable and will be able to answer all your questions. Beyond that, they’ll tell stories that give the experience new dimension, and they’ll leave you with an understanding of this dark era of world history that you might not get on your own.

There are two main categories of Auschwitz tours: 2.5-hour tours and 3.5-hour tours. The 2.5-hour option includes the permanent exhibitions, buildings at the Auschwitz I-Main Camp, and the prisoner barracks and unloading platform at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. The 3.5-hour tour includes all of the above plus access to the gas chamber ruins and crematoria II or III.

There’s no official dress policy at Auschwitz, but visitors are expected to dress respectfully. Keep the significance of where you are in mind—nothing profane, nothing inappropriate—and you’ll be fine. Most visitors dress casually, for the weather, and for plenty of walking and standing. Dark colors are welcome but not necessary.

The best time of year to visit Auschwitz depends on several factors. If you’d like to visit for free, you’ll need to time your arrival between November and March (outside this window, guided tours are mandatory). For the best weather, look to May to September, with June–August being the warmest months.