Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum preserves the site of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp near Oświęcim, west of Kraków. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The visit is emotionally heavy, so plan it as its own day, not as a sightseeing stop between other things.

The memorial says entry to the grounds is free, but individual visitors need a personal entry pass, and numbers are limited. Passes are reserved online, with none sold at the entrance, so book well ahead in the summer months. Guided tours are paid and last around three and a half hours. Allow at least 90 minutes for each of the two sites, arrive early for security checks and keep to the size limits on bags. Dress quietly and respectfully, and expect to be silent in many areas.