Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum Tours and Tickets

Technically, yes, you can walk around Auschwitz without a tour guide or group—at least from November to March. From April to October (the high season), you can only explore the former WWII concentration camp via a guided tour. Entrance is always free, but you will need to book timed-entry tickets, regardless of season.

Technically, entrance to Auschwitz is free. But during the high season—April to October—you’ll need to book a guided tour; these typically cost around $10 per adult. In the off-season (November to March), you can explore the grounds without a guide. That being said, exploring with a guide will greatly deepen your experience.

Guided tours of Auschwitz are absolutely worth it—the docents are highly knowledgeable and will be able to answer all your questions. Beyond that, they’ll tell stories that give the experience new dimension, and they’ll leave you with an understanding of this dark era of world history that you might not get on your own.

There are two main categories of Auschwitz tours: 2.5-hour tours and 3.5-hour tours. The 2.5-hour option includes the permanent exhibitions, buildings at the Auschwitz I-Main Camp, and the prisoner barracks and unloading platform at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. The 3.5-hour tour includes all of the above plus access to the gas chamber ruins and crematoria II or III.

There’s no official dress policy at Auschwitz, but visitors are expected to dress respectfully. Keep the significance of where you are in mind—nothing profane, nothing inappropriate—and you’ll be fine. Most visitors dress casually, for the weather, and for plenty of walking and standing. Dark colors are welcome but not necessary.

The best time of year to visit Auschwitz depends on several factors. If you’d like to visit for free, you’ll need to time your arrival between November and March (outside this window, guided tours are mandatory). For the best weather, look to May to September, with June–August being the warmest months.