Auschwitz concentration camp

A German Nazi camp in occupied Poland

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum stands on the site of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp established in 1940 on the outskirts of Oświęcim, a Polish town annexed by the Third Reich. The first transport of Polish political prisoners arrived from Tarnów on June 14, 1940. What began as a concentration camp remained one throughout its existence; from 1942, the Germans also made Auschwitz a major center for the systematic murder of European Jews. The historical record is precise about the perpetrators: Nazi Germany built and operated the camp in occupied Poland. Using that description matters because it does not confuse the location with responsibility for the crime.

The complex grew into a network that included Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, Auschwitz III-Monowitz and dozens of subcamps. The Museum estimates that about 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz and approximately 1.1 million were murdered. Around one million of the victims were Jews; the others included Poles, Roma and Sinti, Soviet prisoners of war and people of other nationalities. These are estimates based on historical research, not complete registration records: the SS did not register many victims murdered immediately after arrival and destroyed documents as the camp system collapsed. The Museum’s historical account explains both the scale of the crime and the limits of the surviving evidence.

Two former camps and a museum built around memory

A visit includes two separate parts: Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, approximately 3.5 kilometres apart. The Museum says both should be seen to understand the place and its history. Auschwitz I contains the main visitor entrance and exhibitions in surviving camp buildings; Birkenau’s enormous grounds make visible the geographic scale of the camp complex and the machinery of deportation and murder. Access to particular buildings can be restricted for conservation or other reasons, so not every interior is open at all times. The point is not to collect landmarks, but to encounter the sites with context and to recognize what remains authentic, what is interpreted and what is closed.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum was established in 1947 on the former camp grounds. Its stated mission is to preserve the remains, commemorate the victims, conduct research and educate future generations. In 1979 the site was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List under the name “Auschwitz-Birkenau. German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940–1945).” The Museum’s exhibitions and educational material place documents, objects, testimony and the physical landscape in conversation. A thoughtful visit begins with reading the official history, then allows time to absorb the difference between the two sites rather than approaching them as interchangeable stops.

Entry cards, hours and visitor rules

Every visitor needs a personalized entry card for both Auschwitz I and Birkenau, including people making a free self-guided visit. Since March 1, 2026, individual entry cards have been available exclusively through the official online reservation system, visit.auschwitz.org; they are not issued at the entrance. Reserve ahead because the number of places is limited, and arrive at least 30 minutes before the assigned start for security checks. The Museum offers self-guided access only during designated hours, while guided tours explain the site with an educator. A standard guided visit lasts about three and a half hours and begins at Auschwitz I; check the live system for available languages, times and any fee before booking.

The Museum is open every day except January 1, December 25 and Easter Sunday. Entry start times change by season: the last starts are listed at 2 p.m. in December, 3 p.m. in January and November, 4 p.m. in February, 5 p.m. in March and October, 6 p.m. in April, May and September, and 7 p.m. from June through August. Visitors may remain on the grounds for 90 minutes after the final start time. These are entry times, not closing times, and official ceremonies or state visits can cause temporary changes. Bags larger than 35 by 25 by 15 centimetres are not permitted; leave luggage in a vehicle or make another arrangement before reaching the entrance.

Getting there and allowing time to reflect

The Visitor Services Centre is at Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, on the edge of Oświęcim. The Museum says it is about 1,500 metres from the railway station, near a multilevel Park & Ride. Buses and minibuses connect the area with Kraków and Katowice, and some coach operators serve the Museum parking area directly. From Auschwitz I to Birkenau, visitors can use the Museum’s free shuttle bus; the walk between the former camps is also possible along the signed local streets. Check current transit times and the Museum’s directions, since a day trip from another city depends on the connection you choose.

Allow at least about 90 minutes for each former camp, as the Museum advises, and longer if you plan to read the exhibits or join a guided group. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear: much of Birkenau is outdoors, and the two sites require time on foot. The Museum asks visitors to behave with gravity and respect, to follow its regulations and to remember that the grounds are a cemetery and place of remembrance. A careful itinerary leaves room for quiet as well as travel. This is not a conventional sightseeing attraction; it is an authentic memorial whose purpose is to preserve evidence, honor victims and support historical understanding.