Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau

Was a somber experience being in a place of death and torture, especially for my family members who endured this egregiously harsh and inhumane reality during WWII. We were never told to purchase tickets in advance so the museum was booked solid when we drove 3.5 hours from Warsaw to visit. The new Israeli owners, as crazy as it seems, have made it more difficult to gain entry with a walk in. We are able to observe the outskirts which was just as surreal and contained some valuable informative sights to see.

It's worth going here to get some understanding of the scale and suffering that Jews and others had handed out by the Nazis during their time in power. Walking around the camp just shows what man can do to fellow man. The suffering and death on an industrial scale. The museum does well to preserve the past so we don't forget. There is a lot of walking involved so plan ahead especially if you take a guided tour as they move quickly but do give you lots of information about the camp and the people who went through the gates, many for the last time.

Incredibly somber and emotional experience. Seeing the scale of what happened here is overwhelming. We visited on a nice sunny day, but I couldn’t help but feel what the conditions must have felt like for those held within the camp during the harsh polish winters. A must see for anyone to remind us of what happened and try to ensure it can never happen again.

A huge museum, which is being restored to this day and is still being preserved. Book the tour in advance because you can get alone and for free only after 15:00. We got a very nice girl guide, it was very interesting and pleasant to listen to. We visited both camps, the total tour took about 4 hours. This place is very atmospheric, creepy. It is obligatory for everyone to visit, you need to know and not forget the history so that there are no more such things.

Powerful to say the least! This was part of my bucket list of places to visit and WOW it did not disappoint. Moving does not do this place justice, understanding what the Jews, gypsies and other minorities went through during the Second World War, you can watch as many documentaries as you like but actually walking in their footsteps really does bring it home…..Unforgettable

Probably one of the most badly organised tourist destinations in the world ! Always wanted to visit but was very disappointed, the complete cluster fxxk of the main entry, the inability to secure private tickets in advance via a official site, this resulted in almost 45 min to wait in a outdoor line until we could get to the ticket office and then another 2 hour wait until our time slot to actually get through the gate. I'd gladly pay €5-10 for advance tickets if I could get a guaranteed time to get in when I arrive. Once in there was no real flow or direction of what to see or what order to see it in. The official map was about as much use as sand in a desert, honestly a 5 year old could have drawn a better plan. Inside large tour groups dominated all the various things to see and we were often barged out of the way or unable to pass them while they blocked doors or things to see. My impression of the place has been ruined by visiting it and then when coming out, they don't even have clear signage where to get public transport back or a covered bus stop. The urban planner / architect who designed the new entrance and coach part obviously never tried visiting as a tourist.

One of the must see place if you are nearby. A piece of the most terrible european history, which shouldn't be forgotten. Very impressive. Get your ticket in advance on the web, as you can get guider in your language.

This is a very sad experience. But I do recommend everyone to visit once in a lifetime. I learnt about it in a history lesson, but seeing it for real was just something else. The scale of it is just mad. There was 2 camps, second camp had more than 300 buildings. They were killing almost 5k people a day, in a gas chamber they fit 700 people at a time 😮 Its just crazy to see all the shoes of people who died there. And crazy to see the gas chamber. We all need to see the scale of it and learn from it so the history wont repeat itself... In the second camp, last building we entered was the barrack of ill women, it was called the death barrack, all of them were ill or unable to work, they were getting no food or water and if the barrack was full they were made to stay outside in a yard and wait to be taken to the gas chamber. Most of them died there in a barrack. It's so cruel. The free car park not in use. All car parks around is approx 30zloty. There is massive queue to get it, takes forever due to amount of people visiting. To get in need to go thru security like in the airport. Then there is audio tour. Our guide was not great, was hard to hear her as she didnt hold microphone properly. Was way too many people and very long backlog so we skipped quite few barracks. Once we got to second camp by bus our tour guide didnt wait for everyone so we got lost. Not very well organised tbh. After 1pm most days can visit camps without tour guides and it is free. This place would give chills to everyone.

Such an unbelievable place to visit. Somber feeling when you are walking through this place. An area of beautiful trees and fields then in the middle of it, is a place of misery death and brutality. Just a surreal feeling as you walk this hallowed ground. It's a busy place with thousands of visitors going through every day. Stairways are warm down due to the volume of people walking through.

DO NOT COME HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED AS AN INSUBORDINATE. You can take pictures in most places, as I saw other people do and didn't see any signs saying otherwise (just the outsides of buildings and doors really fascinate me as I've studied WW2 and the holocaust for the past decade). There are large tour groups all over, during this incident, they were blocking the small 5x3 sign hidden away amongst the group of a camera with an X through it. I didn't see the sign at all, I took a picture, was asked to delete it, and I did so immediately. This is a sacred place, my intention was never to be disrespectful. I wanted to bring pictures back home to show my grandma who isn't able to make the trip anymore. I asked the lady who told me to delete the pictures if this whole building was a "no picture area" and the female tour guide in a bright blue jacket told me to, "shut up and stop talking." To which I said, "oh, I'm sorry, I was just trying to ask you a question about -" to which I was cut off. The blue jacket tour guide pulled in a large, over 6 foot tall bald man who looked me dead in the eyes flexing his muscles with his arms crossed across his chest, he moved within an inch of me and told me to "shut the "you know what" (got flagged for using his profanity towards me) up or get out." I am concerned about the level of control and disrespect these tour guides have walking around a concentration camp. They were heard mocking Jewish tourists in German (my mom speaks fluent German) and seen touching and pushing people in and around exhibits. I understand and respect the fact of preserving artifacts and not taking pictures of whichever display is not to be photographed, but what is going on here? Is there no checks and balances system? I deleted the picture, and wanted to make sure I was following the rules, but was treated in an unfair way, especially because I'm American. No other tourist was spoken to this way (unless you're Jewish, they will demean you in German), even after seeing people take pictures (selfies for that matter, the ultimate sign of disrespect) of the same artifact I had just taken a picture of and deleted. To fix this problem, first, I wish there were bigger signs, it's hard to see the little 5x3 post it's of a camera with a cross through it amongst the large groups of tour guides, especially when placed outside the room of the artifacts. If you're not in the tour groups, you skip ahead and move through the exhibits yourself, but there are not signs like this on the glass of the display cases. That would help. I don't think anyone wants to be disrespectful at this site. I also wish the tour guides would speak to paying customers in a respectable manner. I have never been spoken like this by two grown adults, one being an intimidating white male flexing his muscles at me. This completely ruined the once in a lifetime experience of coming to visit this site. I felt belittled, the two tour guides continued to follow me for the rest of my visit as if I were a prisoner myself. I'm a professional, I'm a registered nurse, I'm a rule follower, I don't think asking a follow up question should have resulted in public humiliation from the staff. Where are you getting these people and what is the background screening like? Do you know the hate they're spewing at Jewish patrons? How will you prevent this harassment from happening to other HUMAN BEINGS in the future? This is not the 1940's anymore. Do not come here if you are American, or Jewish for that matter in a small group. Do not. They will hear your accent or note that you may be Jewish, and they immediately pounce on you. You will leave crying and feeling like you are the scum of the earth the way these people looked and spoke at me. Not to mention the ones who were shoved. One of the most disappointing days of my entire life. Ruined the one site I've been reading about, listening to podcasts about, studying with every cell in me. It also was disrespectful to my ancestors who were in the camp that I came to pay honor to. This was what was said by the 6ft tall bald man towards a Jewish patron:

This was on my bucket list to visit before end of last year as part of dedicated journey with diving deep into WWII history. It's what you should expect and prepare for visiting the exact site of such evil atrocities: the walk-through experience is a dark, bone-chilling, harrowing step back into history in the most tragic annals of humankind. The experience is broken into two parts- Auschwitz followed by Birkeneau. I signed up via a 3rd party tour that offered transportation to the museum and including between the two sites otherwise I believe you're on your own with that. Our particular guide was very hard to understand (couldn't even catch his name) and had no inflection in his tone, so it was only at the conclusion of the day where the raw emotion set in, reflecting on all we had seen, and revisiting some of the photos we took (of sites, signs with writing/description, etc.) Also note: unsure if this guide was with the museum, or our company. Bottom line is, who you get as a guide makes a difference. First, even as we were united with our guide, it took us awhile to get through the queue just to start the tour. You're herded around in groups of 20-25 I want to say...and are provided headsets in Part 1. Everyone has to keep it moving in order for other groups to get in so it does feel like a process but perhaps for the better to keep things moving (as there are disturbing things that if wandering alone may make you freeze up), and also part of the experience of walking through the camp/stations. Part 2 there are no headsets but there is a good walk with the group following the train tracks likely to devote the deserved solemn respect the site is truly owed. All said and done, every minute (in both parts of the tour) was well worth it even if at the moment there were several moments where I felt rushed when I wish I had some time to personally process sone things I saw/read. Regardless, I won't ever forget my visit.

If this is your first visit to a Nazi Concentration Camp, be mentally prepared for a lot of emotions. Years ago I visited the Dachau Concentration Camp, softening the emotional impact of visiting Auschwitz. Words can't describe it, you just have go and experience it. Here are some tips: -The guided tours are supposed to be 3.5 hours, almost all walking and standing. My tour went over 4 hours because we had a couple of elderly people in wheel chairs...this is not a wheelchair friendly environment. -Wear very comfortable shoes! -Bring a water bottle! Maybe some snacks. -There is a short break after the first 90 minutes, but be sure to use the toilet before your tour and during this break.

Really a world class museum and site. Very dark history. Parking is difficult, so I recommend groups tours, etc. Expect crowds. Expect airport level security and your ticket reservation matching your ID. You will scan your ticket right before security, and after security before you head into the tunnel at AW1. Birkenau is about a 7 min drive away. My photos are a mix of the 2. Sites are pretty well preserved. Recommended if you appreciate history and have considerable time to spend. About 1.5 hours away from Krakow.

George Santayana's quote found at the Auschwitz site is why everyone who is able should visit this site- "THOSE WHO DO NOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT." Traveling to Poland as a family with a six-year-old daughter, my wife and I decided to take turns visiting Auschwitz as the museum doesn't recommend it for kids under twelve. Here's our experience and what we wish we knew before. 1) Things to do before visiting: -Book tickets online early. Slots fill up especially during August when we went. Three-hour tours in many languages are offered throughout the day for 90 PLN. My wife's tour was at 10 a.m. and mine at 2:15 p.m. so we could hand off our daughter. -Plan how you'll get to the museum. There are frequent trains from Kraków's main station. I recommend buying your train ticket there online. Don't book a return trip. You won't know how long you want to stay after the tour. It's easier to get to the train station in Oświęcim when you do and buy a ticket from the machine. -Wear walking shoes. It's a three-hour tour that's mainly walking except for watching a video for eight minutes. -Bring a giant jug of water. Most of the tour is outside and involves lots of walking. You'll get thirst. You can buy water in the waiting area for 8 PLN but it's better to bring it yourself. -Apply sunscreen. Again, it's mainly outdoor and there's no shade in the Birkenau part. Also, bring an umbrella if you're that type of person. -Bring a valid form of I.D. You'll need it at security to verify the name matches the ticket you purchased online. 2) Arrival: If you're taking the train, it's a brisk 15-minute walk from the Oświęcim train station or you can grab one of three buses from the station. Google Maps lists multiple sites to the museum, but you want this one: 55 Więźniów Oświęcimia. (GPS Coordinates: 50°01'47.2"N 19°12'17.3"E, 50.029763, 19.204816.) There will be a long line at the entrance, but if you purchased your ticket online, confidently skip the line. Head straight to security. Scan the barcode on your ticket, show ID, go through security, and find the info table to get your tour sticker. (My sticker was grey for the 14.15 English tour.) Wait for your tour to begin. Your guide will hold a sign with the language of your tour at the listed time. Before that, there are restrooms, a cafe, coffee machines, bookstores with books in many languages, and an area that gives a history of Auschwitz, the archives, etc. 3) Tour: It's a three-hour tour almost on the dot. It's divided into two parts- Auschwitz and the ruins of Birkenau. The first part is where you go inside many buildings, including a gas chamber and rooms that display shoes, luggage, hair, and other remains of victims. For that part, you'll wear headphones and a device so you can hear your guide. Afterwards, you'll have a 10-minute break to use the restroom, get water/food, rest before boarding a crowded shuttle to Birkenau. Birkenau is where the big gas chambers were, barracks, etc. Most of it was destroyed by the Nazis days before liberation so be prepared to see the ruins. It's not shaded and you'll walk a lot. Your tour will end here. Afterwards, you're free to explore and then take the shuttle back to Auschwitz every eight minutes. The entire tour is very journalistic in nature. The guides lead with facts so you can process them on your own. There's NOT an opportunity to tip your guide. 3) Photography: You're free to photograph most of the museum except for the rooms with victims hair, etc. Flash is asked to be turned off. It's a well-done tour that's very powerful. It allows you to process on your own. Everyone is asked to respect the site, often in silence, to honor the lives lost here.

What can I say. What a moving place. How can people be so cruel to each other? We took a guided tour in English, which I would highly recommend rather than wandering around on your own. However, they were lots of tours, running very close together, and at times we did not really get enough time to look at the exhibits. It felt a bit rushed, which is my only negative comment on visiting this place.

Yelp Review 2023 #120: How do you even begin a review for a place where the most horrible things imaginable were done to fellow humans back in the day? I was in Krakow right after Christmas and just before New Years. Picking the right time was tricky. I've been to Dachau, a smaller concentration camp near Munich in Germany and I remember how emotionally and mentally heavy I felt while I was there. I was crying uncontrollably and I don't like that feeling. I don't want to be sad during the holidays especially while I'm traveling solo. I was afraid to come to Auschwitz because it's a bigger place - the biggest concentration camp. The probability of me crying the whole time was very high. I went anyway. You grab a ticket at the entrance or you can join a tour group that can pick you up from your hotel and provide a ticket and packed lunch which I did for convenience. You go through security screening and you have to present your passport. No sharp objects, no weapons allowed. Grab a headset with a transponder if you're part of a tour group so you can hear your tour guide. If you're visiting on your own, just read signs. We get to the main entrance is Auschwitz with a sign that reads "ARBEIT MACHT FREI" (work sets you free) - a propaganda the Nazis wanted prisoners to believe: if you work hard, you can be set free. Which we know wasn't true. Seeing visitors holding Israel flags right under the sign, the waterworks started. Good thing I also had a cold so I could pretend I was wiping my face and my nose for that reason. We visited a few buildings where each "apartment" had about 700-1200 people. Personal space and privacy were nonexistent. Some had no windows. Hard bunk beds. Very poor heating system. The sick and disabled were killed first. Women, children, and men lived in separate apartments. They had to fit their entire life in a suitcase limited to 20kg per person only for valuable contents to be stolen by Nazis and the rest were discarded. Women and children were experimented on. Everyone was forced to work in terrible conditions. If you're slow, weak or sick - you're dead. If you're unlucky, you're dead. You'll see cans of Zyklon-B (the pesticide used at gas chambers), the crematorium, uniforms worn by prisoners (Jews, homosexuals, Roma, Polish, Soviet prisoners of war). The second part is Birkenau which is the extension of Auschwitz so the Nazis can be more efficient in eradicating the people they don't want. You'll see a train track where prisoners from different parts of Europe can be dropped off here. The apartments here are dismantled because after the war, Poland needed materials to rebuild houses so they materials from here. There's a visitor's center where you can buy drinks and snacks, buy souvenirs at the bookshop, or use the paid toilets.

Auschwitz is an extremely powerful concentration camp/museum to visit. I visited here on a guided tour leaving from Krakow and it was extremely moving. I have learned of the atrocities here, but being here in person was an entirely different, unique experience. I definitely think you should visit with a tour guide otherwise it is difficult to learn the deep and dark history of this former camp. This place is somber and serious, and it is very important to be respectful. I definitely recommend that everyone visits a death camp at least once in their life.

If you're in Poland it's worth a day trip to view this sad piece of history- something that should never be forgotten. The guided tour is full of information (offered in several languages) while wearing headsets so there is no interference from other tour groups. You'll visit several buildings on both sites, see lots of historical photos and items from those years. There is a small cafe and restaurant on site. The lines can be long but they move fairly quickly. I was worried there wouldn't be food on site- and with the hours spent walking (& the travel time to get there) I was very pleased this was added in the main building. There's also a couple gift shops with books and photos. As mentioned, plan on hours of walking and wear comfortable shoes. Check the weather first as there will be lots of time spent outside.

The museum did a great job on all aspects highlighting the torture that went on at these camps. So sad thinking about how people were killed here. Would recommend coming to pay respects and be greatful.

We didn't join a third party tour. And it's easy to get the ticket on the spot. Every 15 min, there is a difference language speaking tour which last 3.5 hr ( there r 6 hr tours as well as 2 days tours if you like to deep dive in). Well but for me, it's too much emotion for 3.5 hr and I wouldn't be able to continue for longer tour. It felt still horrible and so much pain and feelings. Although I would not be able to do that again because of too painful, I'm glad I decided to visit the museum. It is well organized and Well informed tour.

I honestly don't even know where to begin. Most elite Yelpers always try to write elaborate and amazing reviews. I will attempt to do no such thing here. I've been to museums and exhibits all over the world and this one is by far the heaviest, hardest to get through and emotionally heart piercing. We all know the stories of the Holocaust because of movies and what we learned in school but nothing can prepare you for actually being here on the grounds of Auschwitz where so much evil took place. The stories you read about and the pictures of all the victims just rips a hole in your chest and stomach. I think what really broke me on this was seeing the pictures of the children that died, their small little clothes and shoes and how they were shown no mercy. I just couldn't take it. Seeing all their faces just did me in. There's so many exhibits, placards to read and rooms to visit, and buildings to see I cannot put it all in this one review. You have to come see it for yourself. It will definitely change your life and make you think twice about the things we complain about and get worked up over. I will say this. They do a great job in trying to give equal honor and recognition to all the Jews that suffered and not just Polish: Slavic, Dutch, Belgium, Hungarian, etc... I must have taken 200 photos. I definitely want to take some time to read up on some of the people and events that took place during the war. For example the Warsaw Uprising. Here are some tips if you decide to come visit: 1. Read a book on the Holocaust. It will definitely prep your mind and heart to soak in what you will see and experience. I recommend Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning". Very short and easy read and very powerful. It's a global best seller. Viktor shares how he survived in the camp and what life was like. Sold 16 million copies. 2. Bring good warm walking shoes. 3. Bring a snack or small lunch to eat in the middle of your tour. I personally would just rather eat dinner after the tour is over and not waste time eating since there is so much to see. That's why I ate a big breakfast and recommend you do the same if you want to get the most out of your tour. 4. You need a minimum of three hours to see everything. Four is preferred for me. If you are like me and want to read every placard then four hours is a minimum. If you're just going to browse quickly (not sure why anyone would do that and be disrespectful to the victims and this place) then two hours would be suffice. 5. Dress warm!!! I'm here at end of November and it's COLD. The cold here hits you like a freight train. Especially if there is a wind chill. The temperature will hit 20 degrees if there's wind. I wore 4 layers and that was suffice. Thank God I brought that fourth layer to put on because three was not enough. I highly recommend wind proof clothing like Under Armor and Northface where they are made to keep you warm. Hat, gloves and scarf are a must to. 6. You can book a tour through the museum itself or through a tour guide. I did mine through Airbnb. I chose this route because the ride from Krakow is included and I don't need to deal with the hassle of getting on a train or bus to get there. But if I could do it again I would probably pay the extra money (it's a lot more) and book a full 6 hour tour with a guide from the museum itself and take a taxi here super early in the morning. Overall I think everyone should come and visit this place at least once in their life. It's probably one of the most humbling and insightful experiences in my life. Really puts things into perspective. I will post a few photos that hit me the hardest.

This was incredible to walk under the iron gates with the words "arbeit macht frei", work will make you free. What mocking words for the people that were dumped off here where the train ended to starve and die needlessly. It was horrifying to see the gas chambers, pictures of the children and adults that passed through the gates, numbers tattooed on their person. It was ghastly to see the bunks where the prisoners slept, sometimes more than one per bunk. I think the moment it really hit home what all had happened here was seeing the piles of hair, shoes, glasses, dentures and so many belongings of all of the people that had met their untimely demise here behind a glass walled.

In order to keep history alive in our memories, it must be attended to, stirring it's emotions however good, bad, or extremely bad. Welcome to extremely horrific Auschwitz Concentration Camp, now a memorial, a museum, and a reminder of a history not to be repeated. As a visitor, be patient with the hordes of people. See one of the photos. That's only the entrance. The inside is both the worst and the truth of all the movies and books you may have seen or read about the Holocaust and the mass exterminations. It's so real and raw that it's hard to stomach. The lies told to the pending prisoners, the systematic killings, the profiting off of Jews in every way possible, even the selling of the shaved hair to make products. I didn't even know that's a thing! There are several sites to visit, geographically separated. The Auschwitz I is the main site with museum. The nearby Birkenau is a larger scale where the railcars entered, and prisoner barracks, guard towers, latrine are located. Both sites are not to be missed!

Went here years ago and it was a horrible experience. The staff was very rude during my stay, and I was separated from my family as soon as I got off the train. By the way the train ride was not ideal as it smelled of human droppings and was very cramped. The place was dirty. So dirty in fact that the whole place was covered in mud and dirt. Also, the place looked like it was run by homeless people and rats because everyone there looked homeless and the ratio of rats to people was probably 4 to 1 at best. Showers were a big issue as there were many gas leaks. The staff was so rude in fact, that they regularly mocked me, and downright bullied me and there was lots of unwanted touching. I don't know what it was when I was there, but everywhere it smelled like charcoal and they had the fireplaces lit in almost every building. Furthermore, during my stay, the staff did not allow me to celebrate any of my holidays, and as somebody of the Jewish religion, I find this to be very offensive, anti-Semitic, and discriminative. One person on the staff that I would like to call out by name is Josef but i dont remember his last name. Out of all the staff there, he was the rudest to me and he would regularly abused me (mentally and physically) and called me a, "Du stehst am Ende der Gesellschaft, du jüdischer Abschaum" don't know what that meant, but I didn't like his tone when he said it, and it made me feel offended even though I don't know what he was saying. 1 star will never return.

Your experience at the camp and museum is based on your tour guide. Reading the pamphlets with additional background from a guide is really helpful if you're seeking to gain more insight on how the camp was used pre and post World War II. Overall, I learned so much and was able to make connections with other camps as well as communist and Nazi history in the region.

Needs to be taught, so we never repeat these atrocities in the future anywhere on the planet

This is a must see for everyone. Ww2 was a tragic time in our history that really wasn't even that long ago if you think about it. When you leave here you will probably feel sad and want to have some time to reflect on the human race. At least that is how I felt when I left. Note that Auschwitz has been preserved as much as possible so we can retell the story and not let the victims die in vain. The history should be retold for generations and generations so we never let this horror happen again.

I don't think you can rate a place like this, so I'll limit my comments to practical tips for those visiting: *Wear very good shoes, as terrain can be uneven and muddy if it's been raining. There is a lot of walking, so again be prepared for that. *Buy tickets ahead in high season, as the site is busy almost every day of the year. During high season you will be required to join a tour of Auschwitz I but Birkenau is always accessible. *You'll have to go through security before you enter the site. It's not an efficient process so be patient and do not bring bags or packs larger than 8x12". *The site is broken into 2 camps a few km. away from one another - you start at Auschwitz I and then are shuttled to Auschwitz-Birkenau, or you can walk too. *There are limited facilities - a small snack bar, WC's at both sites and a bookshop. *Visitors are encouraged to take photos but for the love of god please be respectful. My punching fist was itching HARD seeing people take selfies in some pretty grim places. For me, it was an overwhelming experience - we've all seen the photos and the documentaries but I can tell you that 30 seconds in one of the Birkenau barracks taught me more than any history show ever could. Even though it was a hard day, I believe every person, everywhere should visit this place - especially before voting. Because this is where hate speech leads us - we cannot and should not forget that.

A touching, nearly unbelievable tribute to a very dark- sad time in our history. Nearly unbelievable. Like everyone else says, comfortable shoes are a must. Lots of walking, stairs , very uneven cobblestone roads. Tour guide I had was quite nasty- I was running? A few steps behind because of a bad back - never held the group up, yet she suggested I forgo second half of tour. I had a few choice words for her - that I won't type here- lol.

I visited last year and was so overwhelmed by indescribable thoughts that penning a useful or comprehensible review seemed difficult and out of the question at the time. Scrolling through old photos and watching The Boy in the Striped Pajamas brought back me back so I thought I'd revisit the experience. It's hard to wrap your head around the atrocities that were committed here. Despite extensive reading and watching many movies/documentaries on the Holocaust, walking the grounds of Auschwitz will still hit you really hard. Frozen in time, all the suitcases, shoes, hair, and other remnants of this human tragedy serve as a chilling reminder of the innocent millions who lost their lives. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, professional and spoke in a somber tone befitting the enormity of the events that transpired. You will not visit or leave this place with a smile, but it is a must do if you're in or around Poland. Respect, reflect, and remember, because those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Seeing Auschwitz was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had in my life. I signed up for the educators tour, four months in advance, a six hour guided tour in English of both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II (Birkenau). Do yourself a favor and reserve your tickets well in advance so you don't have to wait in the lines, especially if like me, make a visit in late December. It is cold. I took an Uber from Kraków to Auschwitz, and took the bus on the return. Get in line early for the return bus or you may have to stand the entire one hour ride. The best way to see Auschwitz is to immerse yourself in the experience for as long as possible. Do not try to merely pop in and pop out and definitely don't schedule it on the same day as the salt mines. There simply isn't enough time. The Auschwitz museum is excellent and presents the material in a historically accurate way.

Words alone can not begin to express how emotional it was to visit Auschwitz. The number of people who passed away here, regular people, men, women and children who did nothing wrong, they did not deserve the fate that was brought onto them. Today was an emotional day for sure and one I promise to never forget. You can read all you want about places like these in history books but to stand shivering in mud behind barbed wire fences when you are dressed for the weather makes you realize just how human you really are. Never Again.

Yes 5 stars, but not "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" Those words just aren't appropriate to describe this place. More like "Holy Holy Holy crap...it really did happen." :-( :-O Being in this place transforms an abstract albeit horrible historical fact into a visceral realization that a "civilized" nation (like mine) made up of ordinary people (like me) really did follow a leader in implementing the mass extermination of human beings. And then efficiently exploiting the remains for economic use. Was worth it alone to stand in the same spot where (mainly) European Jews disembarked from trains, and were triaged by Nazi doctors. Seeing the layout of everything really gave a sense of the industrial scale of the unfathomable endeavor. We joined one of the English groups with a museum tour guide. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and patient, with excellent English. Better than the English guides from package tours that I heard speaking near us. The organization of the museum's tour was impressive given the huge number of visitors present while we were there. Total time from start of tour to finish was just over 3 hours. TIP: It costs 1.5 zlotys to use the bathroom. Bring some change. CAREFUL! There is a 15 minute break between the tour of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II. The tour guide told us to meet at the Museum shuttle bus. Directions were imprecise, and several people missed the bus. If this happens to you, just catch the next shuttle bus -- you can walk right into Auschwitz II and either find your group or tour yourself.

Do not be intimidated by the unknown. Instead follow my travel tip to museum and you will be a-OK. Don't get pressured into buying the guided tour and end up paying 3x the price for the same exact thing. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because you're going to walk the whole concentration camp and more. Wheelchairs kid trolleys are not suited for this trip. So here you go. Travel tip: 1. Eat a healthy breakfast.. I mean ALOT. Also bring snacks. Although you won't be able to eat during the tour, you can once you're able to take a break. 2. Bring your ID for your ticket. 3. DO NOT BRING A BACKPACK OR A HUGE BACK or you'd have to check it in (only for 4zlt) 4. Take an early bus to Auschwitz for 12-15zlt (depending on bus size). We took the 9am bus and got there an hour and a half later. We got there early enough to get in the 1115 English tour. 5. Reserve your tour for 50zlt 6. Be prepared for a lengthy tour which will take about 6-7 hours. 7. Please don't be stingy and tip your tour guide. The exchange rate is pretty high, so $5 will be much appreciated. 8. Take the bus back. You can buy your ticket from the bus driver. Just follow this guide and you'll save time and money. You're welcome :)

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We did this tour with Tours by Locals-we went to the Wieliczka Salt Mines in the late morning, had lunch and then arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in the early afternoon. it is an extremely moving and intense day-These served as camps that initially imprisoned Polish people but later became the annihilation site for Jews all across Europe. Inhumane living conditions, mass murders in gas chambers and slave labor lead to the demise of 1.2 million Jews. The most jarring thing to see are the personal effects of the victims on display-suitcases, shoes, prosthetic legs, human hair, etc. It is an unsettling experience and something that must be experienced.

I only have a few words regarding my visit here. Everyone should and needs to go visit. See. Remember. That the atrocities and horrors committed here is to never ever be repeated in the history of mankind.

Wow, this was a sobering tour. How anyone can deny that the Holocaust took place, is beyond me. I imagined & was prepared for tears but that's not what happened. It's just a quiet place of reflection. There are no photos allowed inside the evidence exhibits but you will never forget what you see here. When we went down into one of the buildings to see the standing isolation cells, I could smell a faint hint of death on the bricks there. As you walk through the buildings, there are pictures of the prisoners on the walls. Our tour guide pointed some out to us, which really brings the individual experience into account as you contemplate their fate. What a record in mankind's history, which sadly is still being repeated.

4/5 solid stars It was a bit confusing on how we would get an American guided tour. The entrance is free, but if you bring a backpack, you would need to check it in and pay a locker fee ($1-3..can't remember the exact amount). A guided tour comes with a fee. We were prepared to pay the fee, BUT it was sold out. Tip: Do your research and figure out how to get in the guided audio tour. It would make all the difference. There is a shuttle that takes you to the second Auschwitz camp, where the train tracks are, and I highly recommend you leave your backpack at the first place b/c the second place does not have any lockers and they won't let you in with a backpack. Being here, and any other camps throughout Europe, makes me very heavy-hearted. Humanity can be so cruel when there is so much fear and authority in leadership. I will not spoil your visit if you haven't been, but this experience makes you hopeful that history will not repeat itself. 3+ million innocent victims' lives were taken away...

The Auschwitz Museum was probably the most influential things I have seen in my life. Everyone who has the ability to visit should come and pay their respects. I 100% recommend getting a tour guide- otherwise it you will miss pieces of the history and stories. There are loads of private tour groups if the ones online are sold out, and they offer several languages. It is very much worth visiting Birkenau. This is where the majority of prisoners stayed. You will get to do the same walk the prisoners did as they exited the trains, lined up and were executed. You will get to see the barns they were kept in, which make Auschwitz I look luxorious. The experience is chilling and something I will remember the rest of my life.

Ambivalent to visit, but happy I did. It's important to remember what happened here. Numerous tour groups worked their way in and out of preserved spaces--the headphones made it easy to keep up. Some complained the tour is rushed, however I personally think too much stillness here can be overburdening. . . I was happy to move on. Certainly worth a visit once in your life, but I would never want to return.

I had gone to Auschwitz (but not Birkenau) way back in July of 1982 - with a friend from Norway - in the midst of Martial Law in Poland. Understandably, hardly *anyone* was visiting Auschwitz at that time (or anywhere *else* in Poland, for that matter) and we wandered around the grounds by ourselves (that's certainly no longer an option). When we left Krakow that night and took a train bound for Budapest, we were forcibly removed from the train by four Czech border guards and we were then held hostage for several hours. There's much more to the story and it was like something out of a spy movie - including the manner in which I'd obtained a visa for Poland, not to mention what happened during a visit to Poland with my husband four years later which was connected with the border incident from 1982 - but suffice it to say my memories of visiting Auschwitz during that long-ago era were connected with what transpired later. My husband hadn't ever been to Auschwitz and I'd been wanting to return - especially because I hadn't been to Birkenau - so today was finally the day. We'd visited Buchenwald & Sachsenhausen seven months ago and we'd visited Dachau long ago, but those evil places don't even come close to the overwhelming evil perpetuated at Auschwitz & Birkenau. It's almost impossible to comprehend until you see it in person, no matter how much reading you've done or how many documentary films you've watched. The one place where I fell apart today was the glass wall behind which were objects brought to Auschwitz by young children. To say that the evil was incomprehensible at that point is to seriously understate the situation. I'd arranged for a private tour guide (someone who's employed as a guide at Auschwitz-Birkenau) via the Auschwitz Jewish Center (part of the Museum of Jewish Heritage) in NYC, since we didn't want to be part of a large tour - and we didn't see anyone else with a private guide, but meanwhile there were *hordes* of large tours; even on a weekday at the beginning of May. Summer is even (much) more insane, so you really need to plan accordingly - and if in fact you want to hire a private guide, you need to arrange it 2-3 months in advance (the cost for the two of us was equivalent to $65 [payable when you make the reservation] and the tour lasted for three hours). Our guide was very pleasant and extremely informative. There's a huge amount of walking involved and it's often filled with uneven stones/etc. As an aside, there are bookstores at the entrances to both Auschwitz & Birkenau and many of the books are sold in several different languages. The employees at both bookstores were very helpful and friendly.

I fully expected to be sobbing the entire tour of Auschwitz, but the shock and horror of the atrocities that occurred in the same place where I was standing prevented any waterworks. The guides were sensitive to the topics being discussed,yet very to the point and informative. You'll battle many emotions as you walk through the buildings, as you see the piles of hair from the victims, as you see personal belongings, and even as you see their pictures hung on the walls. It was a very sobering experience. The Birkenau camp was very eerie, to say the least. To stand in the same spot by the train tracks were "the selection" occurred left me speechless. That place has got to be haunted. No matter what part of the globe you reside in, you must make the trip to Poland to see Auschwitz. We shall never, ever forget what happened behind those walls.

I was there years ago, when we (my schoolmates and I) visited Poland for the dance festival. We received tickets to the museum / memorial as free gift to our dance team (that was international festival) Whoa! What a crazy idea someone have had to give to a teen age girls a tickets to such place! Since my early school time, I heard about professor Joseph Mengele and I agreed to visit Poland and participate in that dance competition only because wished to see Mengele's laboratory. Ii was a long trip from Caucasus, Russian Federation to Auschwitz, I hoped to see Mengele's lab and make photos there, also in gas rooms, and in uniform, to tell and show my friends in what historical place I was. But museum employees were terribly rude, as I understand, they hate Russians probably more than Nazis! (even if I'm not Russian by nationality) There, in very rude tone, employees told that it is forbidden for teens to visit gas rooms, make pics, etc. Also, there no Mengele's lab at all! Nothing kept. He worked there for more than 20 months, have done lots of experiments and finally invented a ways to to stop cancer and recover damaged parts of body. He never did any experiments with Russians because most of them have blue or light color eyes and there no needs to change color of skin or eyes. He was sure that only gypsy people have in-born paranormal abilities. He was searching for a complete set of ways to grow genius children by selecting a parents, based on their genetic facts. Everything he did is described in his literary projects. I have read his texts, written in same language that scientists saw on my artworks. Museum employees told us a lot of stupid propaganda, lies regarding 6 million Jews and other historical facts. Actually there were less than million civilians. Employees ignored a fact of 200K Russians (POWs and civilians) and falsified history as if there only Jews were sent to Auschwitz! So-called historians who volunteered there, yelled at us when we asked about proof. According their idea, people are obligated to trust in anything that museum employees say, nobody should try to ask for a proof! For example, there told us a story about doctor who killed boys by injection, and that man was able to kill 15-20 guys within a minute! Whoa! Robots in 1940's. Also, there said about placing up to 900 people into 1 building. Lie! Maximum 150, there no space for more. About lots of photos on a special walls - it is not allowed to bring a chair to look at pics on top. Exposition designed so you cannot see details of pics in upper rows. The main idea is to show many pics, not actual quality! And, some pics are doubled or represent same person from left right and on front. When My friend asked about that, museum employees forced us to leave the museum! Yelling and kicking young visitors out is a wrong action which was made only to continue lies, making money and hiding the truth. And, as employees said, crematorium interior is replica! And making photos isn't allowed. So customer service was terrible, employees rude, unprofessional and toilets are dirty, and there was also problem with bus parking

A horrifying reminder of the terror people endured during World War II and one of the most difficult places I've ever visited in my life. The fact that people were killed on this kind of scale is truly mind boggling. It's literally miles upon miles of all kinds of camps, cells, barracks, torture chambers, etc. If you happen to be in this region of Poland I wholeheartedly recommend taking some time to come here and honor those who died.

To visit Auschwitz, outside Krakow, should be obligatory for everyone. It looks like a Hollywood movie set, yet this is one real hell on earth. The guided tour took about 3 hours and I cried constantly behind my sunglasses. The horror happened here over 60 years ago yet mankind has sadly learnt very little since. Both in the way we treat fellow earthlings as well as other humans. Compassion and common sense certainly and sadly aren't mankind's strongest features. Just like when I visited Robben Island, outside Cape Town, the visit to Auschwitz will be a life long memory.

Forever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity. Where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women and children, mainly Jews, from various countries of Europe. Most people already know something of the horrors which took place here but somehow seeing the place first hand really brings it home to you. When you stare at the collection of 80,000 shoes which all belonged to people who died here or take the walk from the platform at Birkenau down to the ruins of the gas chambers, a walk which for over a million people was their last, you start to get a sense of the enormity of what happened here. A very worthwhile visit, the guided tour lasts around 3.5 hours in total. The temperature was -12C (10F) when we went, if you are coming in the winter months then dress very warmly.

Not sure how to rate this since Woohoo! As good as it gets! Doesn't fit, yet Eek! Me thinks not. Doesn't work either. Truth be told, it tears at your heart and you feel like you are stepping back through the pages of history. Some people believe this place should be demolished and forgotten. I disagree, I think it's important for us to remember how inhumane and cruel humanity can be. In the hopes, that we won't repeat this misery. I think, or at least hope, that anyone in the Krakow area would take the time to visit these concentration camps at least once in their lifetime. No matter how you get here, cab or tour bus....Once you reach the camp, you are put into a large group, given a guide, headphones in your language of choice, and marched through the barracks, torture chambers, living quarters, medical buildings etc. It's packed and groups move quickly. Ironically, that's probably something that hasn't changed. So feel it.

I've been wanting to come here since I was in tenth grade in high school, and I finally go around to coming here. It was definitely not what I was expecting, but it was a good experience nonetheless. The museum is split into two parts: Auschwitz and Birkenau. The Auschwitz side was basically just a museum with all the blocks showing different aspects of the Holocaust, and actually, Auschwitz was originally a camp for criminals, but then it became a concentration camp for the Jews in 1943-1944. Anyway, the Auschwitz side was mostly just a museum, giving out facts about what the Jews had to go through in the Holocaust and in the concentration camps. Birkenau had the barracks and is the place with the famous picture of the railway leading up to the camp. The barracks no longer had the beds but the outlines on the floor were there. There's also crematories that the Nazis tried to destroy when they learned they lost the war. In general, the museum was a good experience; I think it was void of emotions though. There was nothing about remembering and preventing from happening again, and it was all just factual. Another perspective I think they should have prevented is how the Holocaust didn't just suddenly happen - the Jews were first forced to wear the star of David, and then they weren't allowed to go to public places, and then they had to go live in the ghetto, and then they had to go to the concentration camp, and by that time they were just following orders and didn't feel like humans anymore. If the Nazis were stopped in the beginning, if the Jews and everyone else around them tried to stop the Nazis and started protesting in the beginning, this may have been prevented. There wasn't really much about prevention or understanding of how the entire horror started.

I actually didn't find the trip to Auschwitz as depressing as I expected it to be. I'd even been warned to time my visit carefully to avoid spoiling my vacation. I am not in any way trying to play down the enormity of the evil that happened here but when you are wading through hundreds of noisy schoolkids to try to actually see anything it just feels so far removed from dark past it is hard to imagine. I found my previous visit to a former concentration camp in Germany more emotional because of the bleak and empty feel to the place (and the fact that I could hear myself think). It is also likely that my visit to the other camp, although it was less well preserved, protected me against some of the shock that I would feel visiting here. The speed at which we tried to move around (school trips permitting) on the organized tour left little time for reflection too. Some of it sunk in only on the quiet bus journey back to Krakow (I don't think anyone spoke on the bus during the whole journey!). Apparently it would take over a day to see everything properly, which I can well believe. I still think that a visit here is essential if you are in the region. I just wish I knew when is quieter

I visited nearby Krakow specifically to go here and although I was quite familiar with the history of the Holocaust still learned a great deal from visiting the camp. The older Auschwitz I, home of the infamous gate, is a complex of brick buildings and houses the main exhibits. These are both shocking and moving. Walking inside a gas chamber and seeing a reconstructed oven inside a crematorium was quite chilling. The nearby Auschwitz II camp (Birkenau) was home to several gas chambers and crematoria and witnessed most of the murders carried out here. The Nazis attempted to destroy the evidence of their crimes so the crematoria are piles of rubble and the mostly wooden huts are falling into disrepair. I noticed a lot of Israeli tourists walking around when I was there. A moving testament to the ultimate failure of this crime against humanity. A lot of people want you to believe that the Holocaust never happened or that reports of it are greatly exaggerated. Visit Auschwitz or other murder camps and help to preserve and pass on the truth.

A moving historical tribute. The energy here is palpable and somber. The museum is incredible. There are a ton of artifacts that are organized in an interesting way. I learned a great deal here.

This is a truly humbling experience. Especially seeing the conditions in Birkenau, which are horrifying. It should be made compulsory for everybody to visit this camp to ensure that nobody in the future is treated in such a manner. The museum itself is very 'interesting' if you can call it that. There is lots of stuff to see and I would advise a tour guide if it is your first visit as otherwise you won't know where to start. Auschwitz itself isn't as horrible as you may expect on a lovely summers day, however when you look into the museums and see the exhibits then you realise how horrible it actually is. Birkenau on the other hand is just absolute hell and you will be distraught at how human beings were forced to live. A must visit.

Seeing is believing and the realization this truly occurred is mind numbing. I hope every person who visits Poland takes time to visit and remember the masses that suffered here, as well as their loved ones, in prayer and in reverence.

It is a place where I can not be longer than required and not only so depressing place of remembrance but also is so sad to be there and scary too...long lasting feeling of rejection, pain and suffering later... It is important to know the history but I really did not like it...nothing at all.... It is said that we all should be there once in a lifetime but I would not like to come back ever, as a tourist or in any other way...is something in there that made me feel so cold...

Visiting Kraków with a main purpose of visiting this site was something I wanted to do at the beginning of my European adventure, however I saved it for the end. Having heard from multiple friends that the experience of it would leave me in a state of disbelief because of the scale of it along with the emotions that come from seeing what occurred at the site. For me, there were definite moments of emotion when seeing the belongings of the victims along with the room of hair. When you head to the second site, which definitely do not skip this portion, you really understand the scale of what happened.

A few years ago, I took a tour of Eastern Europe through a school trip. It was a history-themed trip with the primary focus being the Holocaust, so naturally, Auschwitz was the focal point of our trip around Europe. I had been well informed of the atrocities that took place there through my high school curriculum as well as numerous documentaries, but visiting in person was an unforgettable experience. To start, the size of the camp was simply mind-boggling. It is a very walking-intensive tour, so be sure to bring a proper pair of shoes. The camp itself is divided between the older Auschwitz I as well as Auschwitz II/Birkenau, which is a decent walk away. The tour itself was several hours long (it is definitely a day's trip) but well worth it, bringing us around to all of the significant parts of the camp. Some of the most memorable moments for me were visiting the execution wall at Block 11, the barracks at Birkenau, but most of all the solely standing gas chamber. For me, this was the most chilling part of the experience, you can even make out etchings in the wall of those who desperately tried to escape the tragic fate that lay ahead of them. It was incredibly moving to be standing in it for myself. Throughout the tour, one would think, myself included, that everyone would be in tears and emotionally overwhelmed by the magnitude of the atrocities that took place here, but I found that instead I was emotionally paralyzed. I was simply struggling to wrap my head around how such events could unfold, and was left emotionless standing on the same ground that many took their final steps on. Before leaving, we paid our final respects at the infamous gate/watch tower building that holds entrance into Birkenau. Standing on the train tracks and looking through the gate at what remained of the camp was absolutely surreal, I could not believe that I was actually there to see it with my own eyes. It took quite a while to process all of it afterwards, but visiting Auschwitz was an incredibly humbling and powerful experience, something that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I traveled alone on train and bus from Warsaw in order to see Auschwiz-Birkenau during my trip to Poland because it was that important to me. This is an experience that I will never forget and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. Walking along the same roads that millions of others walked along 70 years ago in completely different circumstances is humbling and eye opening. To see the belongings and the faces of those who perished due to inhumane acts brought tears to my eyes over and over again. I was astonished to see some visitors let their kids run wild, climb on things and take pictures as it they are standing in front of a ride at Disneyland. If I was running the place, they would be immediately escorted out and asked not to return but then again I don't have those powers. If you are every in the area, Auschwitz and Birkenau are not to be missed.