Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum

The single most sobering place most people will ever visit. The visit covers two sites: Auschwitz I (the original concentration camp) and Birkenau (Auschwitz II, the much larger extermination camp). Many of the exhibits — including the rooms of personal possessions — are extraordinarily difficult.

Practicalities:

• All entry now requires an online reservation — on-site ticket sales were discontinued in 2026. Book several weeks ahead through the official site.
• Guided tours are mandatory for adults during peak visitor hours; an English-language adult tour runs ~PLN 150 per person.
• The two sites are 3 km apart; a free shuttle runs between them.
• Allow 3.5–4 hours on-site, plus travel time from Kraków (~1.5 hr each way).
• Children under 14 are not recommended to attend.
• No large bags. Photography is allowed in most outdoor areas; not in certain interior exhibits.
• It will be a hard day. We'll plan a quiet evening after.

Watch: Schindler's List, Spielberg's 1993 film, is in the library. Much of it was shot on location in Kraków, and its final chapters reach this place. Sober, essential preparation for a visit here.