People have many ways and reasons to visit Auschwitz which was the concentration and extermination camp of Nazi Germany. It enables the visitors to honor the dead through offerings and learn some of the terrible incidences of the holocaust. However, as the visitor organizing a trip, you might think twice and ask a quite logical question: ‘Do I have to pay to visit Auschwitz?’ To allow you plan your visit at Auschwitz, in this article, we will unveil all that you ought to know including the price of visiting the site.
Entrance Fee
The entry to the Auschwitz Camp itself is free, but because of large number of visitors has risen the option to purchase a ticket beforehand only. Following the incline in tourist traffic to the camp site, the administration at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum has had to adopt a measures of limiting the number of tourists allowed in at a given time through the adoption of time slots. This event is free, however there is a reservation fee that you have to pay to save your spot.
Reservation Fee
The price for entering the territory of Auschwitz is a reservation fee for the tour, which is compulsory for everyone. This basically depends on the type of tour you wish to go for and the time you want to tour. The reservation fee is also conditional on one paying in full when making a reservation as it is non-refundable. Taking a reservation fee will minimize the number of people coming in at a given time thus ensure that the environment is dignifying and educative for all the visitors.
Types of Tours
There are several types of tours available at Auschwitz, catering to different interests and preferences:
Regular Guided Tour
The most common service offered to the visitors is the standard service that is the guided tour. It covers all aspects of Auschwitz I including museum installations under the roofs of reconstructed and original historical buildings, and the infamous ‘work makes you free’ gateway. The tour takes approximately 3,5 hours and the guide explains the tour in different languages. This tour is best taken in advance, especially when the number of tourists is high in this region.
Study Visit
A study visit is, therefore, meant to be an exploratory and learning exercise. Which means it targets students, scholars, as well as everyone else who wishes to gain further knowledge about Auschwitz history and importance. These visits need to be planned in advance and are accompanied by educators-guides who further explain and offer more information about the holocaust.
Self-Guided Tour
However, during the visit, the attendees have to follow a guided tour; they have a freedom to tour the Auschwitz II Birkenau. After walking through the camp and seeing everything there is to see in the camp during the general tour in Oświęcim, you can go to Birkenau by bus and wander around when you wish to. The self-tour means that the visitor is free to ponder over numerous issues and get a closer look at the given place.
Other Considerations
Here are a few additional things to keep in mind when planning your visit to Auschwitz:
Transportation
Auschwitz is found in the town of Oświęcim in Lesser Poland region of southwestern Poland, 50 kilometers west of Krakow. That is why tourists can use various means of transport such as trains, buses and organized trips from Krakow. When it comes to transportation one needs to plan in advance to avoid inconveniences that are associated with many delays.
Visitor Restrictions
The Auschwitz museum invites people from all over the world for veneration; however, it is necessary to remember that there are certain restrictions. They allow taking pictures and recording videos, but their employment of selfie sticks and drones is prohibited. Further, any IDs and other personal effects are prohibited in the tomb except for water bottles other than these guidelines; visitors are required to dress appropriately and refrain from performing any act that would interfere with the sacredness of the memorial.
Booking in Advance
Auschwitz can be entered only in a guided manner and for this reason an advance reservation is necessary, and it costs money. It is also possible to book tickets through the website of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. To arrange a perfect visit, book in advance to ensure that you do not get a raw deal when you visit the park.
Conclusion
Although it sounds like visiting Auschwitz is free of charge, you actually have to pay for a reservation fee for a mandatory guided tour in the camp. This fee goes directly towards paying for the tour or the costs of maintaining visitor numbers in order to avoid overly invasive intrusion on the remains. Considering the different possibilities and types of tours and taking into consideration a few more aspects one will be able for an organized visit in Auschwitz and be aware that one contributes in memorizing the victims and in giving an important history a chance to be narrated.
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