Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau: A First-Time Visitor's Guide

2026-09-22 · 7 min read

Auschwitz-Birkenau is the most visited memorial site in Poland, and for many travellers it's the reason a trip to Kraków includes a day trip to Oświęcim. If it's your first time, a little preparation makes the day easier to take in.

Two sites, one memorial

The memorial covers two separate camps a short drive apart: Auschwitz I, the original camp with brick barrack buildings and the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” gate, and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the much larger site built later, with the iconic guard tower and railway line running through its main gate. Most visits cover both, moving between them by shuttle bus or private vehicle.

How long to allow

Plan for the visit itself to take three to four hours, plus travel time from Kraków, which runs about ninety minutes each way. With a private transfer, a full day trip typically runs six to seven hours door to door, including the drive there and back.

What the day feels like

This isn't a sightseeing stop in the usual sense. Guides and visitors alike move through the site quietly, and the exhibitions inside the Auschwitz I barrack buildings are detailed and, at times, difficult. Give yourself permission to walk at your own pace and to step outside if you need a moment.

Practical tips

• Wear comfortable shoes — the Birkenau site alone covers a huge, largely outdoor area.
• Check the weather. Birkenau has very little shade or shelter.
• Large bags are restricted inside the buildings; travel light.
• Photography is generally permitted outdoors, with some restrictions inside specific rooms.

Getting there from Kraków

Public buses and trains run to Oświęcim, but a private transfer removes the guesswork: no changing platforms, no walking the last stretch from the station, and a driver who waits with the vehicle while you visit. It also makes it easy to combine the memorial with a second stop, such as the Wieliczka Salt Mine, in a single day.