Auschwitz Tickets

Visiting Auschwitz is one of the great attractions that brings thousands of travellers to Poland every year. This concentration camp opened by the Nazis in 1940 is made up of several areas, of which Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II can be visited.

To visit, you will need to buy your tickets and it is best to do so online and in advance.

It is possible to buy tickets for Auschwitz at the ticket office, although it is not the most recommended option. Especially in the early hours of the morning there is usually quite a long queue at the entrance, as large groups usually arrive at this time as well.

If you'd still prefer to get your tickets there, you'll have to pay around €23 per adult. Tickets include free access to an audio guide with headphones that will take you around the camp with an expert voice explaining everything you see.

For my taste, a tour with skip-the-line tickets is much more complete, as it allows you to connect with the guide, the explanations are usually closer and more dynamic and always include some anecdote. You can also take the opportunity to ask questions or ask for recommendations. And all without having to wait in line once you get to the entrance.

I recommend that you check my article on excursions to Auschwitz from Krakow to see what they consist of, what they include, how much they cost...etc.

As I mentioned, an adult ticket costs €23, so for very little more, it's worth booking a tour that includes transport and a guided tour. Here is a comparison of the prices of the tours and tickets to Auschwitz:

• Standard ticket (adult rate): €23
• Entrance with guided tour and private transfer to/from Krakow: 25€.
• Transfer to/from Krakow and entrance fee (without guided tour): 23€.
• Excursion with entrance and guided tour to Auschwitz and Salt Mines: approx. 100€.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is open from Monday to Sunday all year round except on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.

Auschwitz is always open from 8am, but the closing time depends on the winter or summer season. While in the winter months it closes between 14:00 and 16:00, in the summer it may close as early as 7:00 PM.

No. To enter the concentration camp you must have purchased your tickets in advance. There is no part of the camp that is free or can be visited without tickets.

However, there are reduced rates for groups, senior citizens and under-21s, so if you are a member of one of these groups and can prove it (you will need an identity document to enter Auschwitz in any case), you can benefit from a discounted rate.

As two of Poland's most popular attractions, there are options that combine a guided tour of both sites in one day, so you can get the most out of your day trip to Krakow.

In this case, the package usually costs around 100 euros and includes skip-the-line tickets to both attractions, the two guided tours and the transfer between the city, Auschwitz and the Salt Mines. Of course, the return transfer is also included.