A visit to the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Poland can be a powerful and moving experience. If you’re an absolute beginner to this topic, and you’re wondering exactly how much it would cost to visit Auschwitz and what it entails. In this blog post, we will discuss everything regarding visiting Auschwitz, and what it costs, what tour options are available, and some practical tips to make your trip to Auschwitz valuable and memorable.

Understanding the Cost

One thing to mention about visiting Auschwitz : it’s not expensive by historical or educational standards.

Free Admission

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is free of admission. It includes access to the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau sites.

Admission is free but highly recommended is to book a guided tour — especially if you are visiting for the first time — to learn more about the Holocaust and the camp itself. Guided tours helps to give context, interpret the exhibits, and make for more positive experience.

Guided Tour Costs

There are various types of guided tours available, that depending on your preferences will vary on the costs.

The favourite option is the standard guided tour lasting about three and half hours. The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum conducts this tour, and it tours both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau. A guided tour is about $12-15 per person.

If you’d like to delve deeper into some smaller parts of the history of Auschwitz, there are also specialized tours. The activities include educational programmes, themed tours and even tours conducted by former prisoners. The don’t come cheap, so for some between $15 and $25 per person.

Booking Your Visit

Auschwitz being as a World Heritage site of UNESCO and as historical place, has a lot of visitors. In order to make for a smooth and well organized visit, it’s advisable to book in advance.

Online Reservations

You can check with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum official site by their online reservation system for guided tours. You can get your spot, and pick a timeslot that works for your schedule. On the website you’ll also find details of any temporary closures or special events that may impact your visit.

Just make a note that since it’s a guided tour, and many of them have a lot of tourist seasons going on, once they fill up they fill up quickly. If you can, though, it’s wise to book a couple of weeks ahead.

Independent Visits

Independent visits are also possible if you would rather explore the memorial at your own pace and don’t want to join a guided tour. But remember although you’ll have access to some areas, they may be closed to other people at busy times, and you may not have the same level of interpretation and information as a guide.

No matter what choice you make you are in for a solemn, emotional experience. It is a hugely important place of historical importance and requires people to approach it with the respect and sensitivity it deserves.

Tips for a Meaningful Visit

Here are some practical tips to help you navigate your visit to Auschwitz and make it a meaningful and respectful experience:

Plan Sufficient Time

Allow for plenty of time to visit: make everything from getting there to getting back for travel time. Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is about 50 kilometers (approx. 30 miles) west of Krakow and will take between an hour and one or more hours depending upon your method of transportation to get there. Allow at least half a day to take it all in.

Dress Appropriately

Auschwitz is a solemn place and a respect rightfully due befitting a solemn place, which should be indicated by dressing properly. You do not want to be wearing revealing or offensive clothes and you certainly don’t want uncomfortable shoes as there will be a large amount of walking involved.

Bring Essentials

That’s why you need to be mentally prepared going into a trip to Auschwitz. Stay hydrated, so bring a small bottle of water with you. Additionally, bring a small snack if you need it. Also, tissues or handkerchiefs can be carried for moments when we reflection.

Engage with the Exhibits

He advised people visiting him to take their time through the exhibitions, to absorb the information and to interact with the exhibits. Read the sign posts, look over the artifacts, and think back on the stories they tell. You can learn more about the Holocaust and its impact.

Respectful Behavior

Show courtesy during your visit. Do not consume food or drink or speak on the phone, if it is not allowed. But, it is allowed photography, with care not to disturb other visitors.

Visiting Auschwitz is a step you should take to understanding one of the darkest periods in history. The experience isn’t cheap, but it’s worth what it costs to get in. But by booking a guided tour, you observe proper etiquette, which will allow you to pay the respects of the victims and remember what atrocities were committed.