Visitors to Poland have many reasons not to visit the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp but if you want your travel to be filled up with unique experiences you should bump into Oswiecim- a small industrial town where the concentration camp is presently situated. It’s a hard decision to visit a site with such immense emotional resonance and witness the most horrifying acts in human history where over 1.1 million Jews were killed.
Still, if you have decided to visit Auschwitz- the largest German-Nazi concentration camp, here are a few things you need to know before heading and we’re sure these tips will help in making your trip a smooth one.
What is there to visit?
There are two sites in Auschwitz Concentration Camp namely: Auschwitz (related to camp I) and Birkenau (related to camp II). Both are the museums on the site of Auschwitz Concentration Camp at a distance of 3.5 km from each other. The former consists of the remains and artifacts related to Auschwitz I (i.e. the first camp). However, the remains and artifacts related to the second camp are placed in Birkenau.
After having a long tour at the Auschwitz camp and witnessing the live experience of brutality visitors refuse to go to Birkenau. Still, if you’re bold enough you should go to the Birkenau site.
Timings-
Before you decide to visit the camp do check the timings and schedule. Another thing to know is that if you’re visiting the place during a peak season i.e. March to October it’s obligatory to buy a ticket of a 3.5 hour guided tour. Still, if you managed to reach over there before 10:00 and after 16:00 you need not buy the tickets. The general timings are as follows:
- June to August: 7:30 To 19:00
- 1 September to 30 September: 7:30 to 18:00
- 1 October To 31 October: 7:30 To 17:00
- 1 November to 30 November: 7:30 To 15:00
- 1 December to 31 December: 7:30 To 14:00
(The timings are as per the year 2019)
Closed on January 1, Easter Sunday, and Christmas.
How To Reach There?
If you’re thinking about how to reach the concentration camp you can avail either mode of transportation. The closest town to Auschwitz Concentration Camp is Oswiecim to which the closet is Krakow. So, if you’re in Krakow and want to reach Oswiecim you can avail:
Bus Service: the cheapest mode of transportation but a little time-consuming. You can spot several buses leaving from the bus station that is adjacent to the Krakow train station.
Train: there are many direct trains available from Krakow to Oswiecim. Most people who are in Krakow consider visiting the concentration camp as a day trip. The concentration camp is about 75 km to the west of Krakow.
Private Car: if you have your private car it will take you about 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach the concentration camp from Krakow.
Always Take a Guided Tour
If you need a better understanding we would recommend you to take a guided tour. An educator will provide you the correct and detailed insight into the concentration camp. If you’re willing to go to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp do book in advance from the official website. So, that you don’t have to wait in long queues.
Entry to the camp is free but if you opt for a guided tour you have to pay.
Charges For The Guided Tour: 60 PLN for Polish, 70PLN for other languages, counting English.
Dress Accordingly
The visit to Auschwitz Concentration Camp is a day tour so dress comfortably, as you have to roam from one end to the other.
