The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial from Katowice: how to plan a visit to a place of remembrance

What this place is

The Memorial covers the grounds of the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, set up during the Second World War in occupied Poland. It consists of two parts: Auschwitz I, with its preserved blocks and exhibitions, and Birkenau, or Auschwitz II, a few kilometres away, with its vast grounds, the ruins of the barracks and the railway tracks. Today it is a memorial and a museum, inscribed on the World Heritage List. It is visited in silence and with respect for the victims.

Tickets and booking a time slot

Entry to the Memorial is free, but it requires an advance reservation of an entry time through the Memorial’s system. This is crucial: without a booked entry time you may not be let in, because the number of people in each time slot is limited. In season, slots go quickly, so book a few days ahead. If you want to tour with a guide, that is a Memorial educator, this involves an additional fee for the chosen type of educational visit. Touring with an educator gives the visit structure and helps you understand the history of the place.

How much time you need

For Auschwitz I alone, plan about two hours, and together with Birkenau realistically three to four hours. On top of that comes the journey there and back. In practice it is worth setting aside half a day for this visit and not squeezing other attractions in straight afterwards, because it is a heavy experience that calls for a moment of quiet. Dress comfortably and for the weather, because the Birkenau grounds are extensive and largely in the open air.

How to get there from Katowice

Oświęcim lies about 40 kilometres from Katowice. You can get there by rail or bus, but connections can be infrequent, and the walk from the station to the Memorial gate still takes a stretch. With a booked entry time, public transport can be risky, because being late means losing your slot. That is why many people choose a private transfer straight to the Memorial: from 450 PLN (about 113 EUR) per car, round trip, for 1 to 3 people. The driver gets you there on time, waits during the visit and takes you back, and child seats are included.

Auschwitz I and Birkenau: two parts

The visit covers two separate sites. Auschwitz I is the area with the preserved brick blocks, in which the exhibitions are arranged, showing the conditions in which prisoners were held and the evidence of the crimes. It is here that the gate stands with the inscription that became a symbol of the camp. Birkenau, or Auschwitz II, lies a few kilometres further and is overwhelming in its scale: vast grounds, wooden and brick barracks, the railway tracks running into the camp and the ruins of the chambers. In season a free Memorial shuttle runs between the two parts. It is worth seeing both, because only together do they convey the scale of what happened here. That is also why it is better not to plan the visit in a hurry.

Practical tips

You cannot bring larger backpacks or suitcases into the Memorial; there is a limit on the size of bags, so leave big bags in the car or in the cloakroom. Keep a solemn manner, do not take photographs where it is forbidden, and respect the silence. With children it is worth considering whether they are ready for such a visit, as the Memorial suggests a minimum age for visitors. Take water and comfortable shoes, because the Birkenau grounds are covered on foot. You will find all the regional transfer rates in the Katowice pricing, and the full list of connections in transfers from Katowice.

Frequently asked questions