Top Things to Do in Auschwitz

Auschwitz was established by the Nazis in 1940, near the Polish town of Oswiecim, as a concentration camp for political prisoners. However, it soon became a center for the extermination of Jews in Auschwitz, Romani, disabled individuals, and others deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime. Auschwitz was the largest and deadliest of the Nazi concentration camps, with over 1.1 million people killed there during its five years of operation.


Visiting Auschwitz is crucial in keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive and honoring the victims. It provides a chance to learn about the horrors that occurred there and to understand the magnitude of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. It is a place where visitors can see the living conditions of the prisoners, the Auschwitz gas chambers, and the crematoria where thousands of people were murdered.


There are many things to do in Auschwitz, including guided tours of the camp and its various buildings. Visitors can also explore the exhibitions of historical artifacts and photographs that offer insight into the daily life of prisoners at the camp. Additionally, there are memorials and monuments dedicated to the victims that visitors can pay their respects to. Educational programs and conferences held at the site also help to promote understanding, tolerance, and human rights. 

Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum

One of the most important things to do in Auschwitz is to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. This site serves as a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and a reminder of the atrocities that occurred there. Visitors can explore the various exhibitions and displays, which include historical artifacts, photographs, and personal stories of the prisoners. Guided tours are available, providing insight into the daily life of the prisoners and the history of the site. The memorial also features memorials and monuments dedicated to the victims, providing a space for reflection and remembrance. Visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum is a powerful and emotional experience that can help promote understanding, tolerance, and human rights.

Tour the Auschwitz I Concentration Camp
Tour the Auschwitz I Concentration Camp

One of the key things to do in Auschwitz is to tour the Auschwitz concentration camp. This is where the administrative center of the camp was located, and where many of the prisoners were initially held. Guided tours are available, providing visitors with insight into the history of the camp, the living conditions of the prisoners, and the methods used to carry out the genocide. Visitors can see the barracks, the punishment cells, and the gas chamber, gaining a deeper understanding of the horrors that occurred there. Touring Auschwitz I is a powerful and emotional experience that can help visitors to understand the magnitude of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime.

Explore the Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp
Explore the Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp

Other important activities to do in Auschwitz is to explore the Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp. This is where the majority of the prisoners were held, and where the mass exterminations took place. Guided tours are available, allowing visitors to see the remains of the gas chambers and crematoria, as well as the barracks where prisoners were forced to live in appalling conditions. The site is vast, and visitors can walk along the railway tracks that brought prisoners to the camp, gaining a sense of the scale of the genocide. Exploring Auschwitz II-Birkenau is a somber and reflective experience that can help visitors to understand the enormity of the tragedy that occurred there.


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See The Former Gas Chambers And crematoria
See The Former Gas Chambers And crematoria

One of the most significant things to do in Auschwitz is to see the former gas chambers and crematoria. These structures were used to carry out the mass exterminations of prisoners during the Holocaust. Guided tours are available, allowing visitors to see the remains of the gas chambers and crematoria, gaining insight into the horrific methods used to carry out the genocide. Visitors can also see the ruins of the structures that were destroyed by the Nazis in an attempt to hide evidence of their crimes. Seeing the former gas chambers and crematoria is a powerful and emotional experience that can help visitors to understand the magnitude of the atrocities committed at Auschwitz.


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Visit the Prisoner barracks and blocks
Visit the Prisoner barracks and blocks

One of the most important Activities to do in Auschwitz is to visit the prisoner barracks and blocks. These structures housed the Auschwitz prisoners who were forced to live in inhumane conditions, with little food or water, and often subjected to brutal treatment by the guards. Touring these barracks and blocks gives visitors a sense of the harsh reality that the prisoners endured on a daily basis. The cramped quarters and lack of sanitation facilities are a stark reminder of the atrocities committed in the concentration camp. Seeing these conditions first-hand helps visitors to understand the importance of remembering and honoring the victims of the Holocaust, and to work towards a better future where such atrocities never happen again.

Walk along the "Death Wall"
Walk along the "Death Wall"

Another significant experience when visiting Auschwitz is to walk along the "Death Wall". This wall was used by the SS guards as a site for executions, where prisoners were lined up and shot. The wall is a haunting reminder of the brutality that occurred in the concentration camp, and visitors can pay their respects to the victims by leaving flowers or other tributes at the site. Walking along the Death Wall is a somber reminder of the many lives lost during the Holocaust, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of fighting against hate and prejudice in our world today. 


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Auschwitz Tours Deals

Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Tour with Transport from Kraków
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Auschwitz Birkenau Museum Tour With Transport From Krakow
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Highlights
  • Witness the Wall of Death, the gas chamber, and the crematorium - physical reminders of some of humanity's most heinous crimes.

  • Visit the two sections of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum & the Memorial Site with the official museum educator 

  • In the first section, witness the original camp dwellings, the railroad spur, the camp fence, wrecked gas chambers & mortuaries

  • Explore the second part of the museum to see some permanent exhibitions & conditions of people during World War II and the Holocaust.

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Must Know Before You Go
  • All foreign nationals must share their passport and visa details at the time of arrival.
  • ID proof is mandatory for each individual guest at the time of arrival.
  • For Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Tour with Transport from Kraków- Children under 4 can enter for free. Visiting the museum is not recommended for children under 14. Child tickets are applicable for individuals aged 5-17 years. Adult tickets are applicable for individuals aged 18+ years; For Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum Tour: Private Transport from Krakow- Adults and Children will be charged at the same rates.
  • There is no lunch break during the tour.
  • Luggage larger than 30x20x10cm cannot be brought into the museum.
  • Visitors should be dressed appropriately when visiting Auschwitz Birkenau.
  • Please remember to take your ID or passport.
  • Please remember to take your ID or passport that will be controlled by the museum staff before entering the grounds of the camp.
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FAQs

What are the main things to do in Auschwitz?

    The main things to do in Auschwitz include visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, touring the concentration and extermination camps, exploring the prisoner barracks and blocks, walking along the "Death Wall", viewing the Museum Archives and Collections, and attending guided tours or educational programs. Visitors can also pay their respects to the victims of the Holocaust.

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