Visiting Auschwitz is one of those things that, sooner or later, everyone should do. Because it represents a very important historical period. But also – and especially – because visiting Auschwitz can help us to realize what the human being cruelty can do.
Auschwitz is the symbol of Jewish genocide, is the largest concentration camp, a place imbued with history and with atrocities. Too many people died in Auschwitz: Russian war prisoners, Jewish and Polish intellectuals lost their lives because of hunger, fatigue, bad conditions of life, crematoriums or gas chambers.
[Be sure to read my post about Krakow to fully enjoy this amazing city!]
After have been in this place I realized a thing: you can’t visit Auschwitz at any time. You have to feel ready. Because, one way or another, once you get out of there you will not be the same.
Here are 5 things you should know before visiting Auschwitz.
How to get there
Auschwitz (Oświęcim in Polish) is a town about 60 kilometres from Krakow. From the city, as well as by car, you can reach Auschwitz-Birkenau by train or bus. You can take the train in the Krakow central station, and you will arrive in the Oświęcim train station, more than 3 kilometres away from the concentration camp. For this reason I recommend to choose the bus: the trip lasts a bit longer (about 1 hour and a half), the ticket costs 12 zloty one way (3 euros) and it leaves you directly in the Auschwitz-Birkenau parking. You can check schedules on the Krakow Bus Station website.
The entry is free
Auschwitz-Birkenau is a memorial site, so you can visit it without a guide for free (anyway it’s necessary to book on the official website). Also to reach Birkenau camp (3.5 km from Auschwitz) there is a free shuttle bus. But if you want a guide for such an important and historical place, well…
The museum offers guided tours in many languages
You can choose a tourist agency, or you can visit Auschwitz-Birkenau with an official guide offered by the museum. On the website you will find all the information: you can select the day of your visit, choosing between a 3-hour, 6-hour or a group tour. Once you select the language of the guided tour, you can choose between different the time options and, of course, you can buy your ticket online. Buying your ticket online you will avoid the “sold-out risk” and the queue at the entrance. Prices for guided tours can vary according to the language and the duration of the tour. They are all available on this page.
[Be sure to read my post about Krakow to fully enjoy this amazing city!]
Auschwitz is not a tourist attraction
During some periods of the year, you could find it particularly crowded. You will surely read endless articles explaining the “marketing” process of this place, or how much “touristy” it became. But no, Auschwitz is not a tourist attraction. Probably you will meet teenagers getting a selfie in front of the entrance gate. But, looking around, you will notice – above all – people deep in their reflections, respecting the silence and the “sacredness” of the place. In many areas it’s also forbidden to take pictures, for respect.
You will not be the same
The first consideration, the bigger one, came from my visit to Auschwitz, is that this story is STILL too close to us. The conditions that led to the Auschwitz-Birkenau creation are STILL current. The human freedom is STILL killed in many parts of the world, too many would say.
Walking through the corridors of the dark and cold buildings of the concentration camp, facing the concrete wall where millions of people were shot without a reason, knowing what was their regular meal and finding out that, before being killed, they were undressed to use those clothes on other people, because clothes had a cost for the reich; entering the only gas chamber still untouched, the only one that the Germans couldn’t destroy before escaping (after erasing so many signs of the abomination they had done); looking around and see only barbed wire, find yourself in front of tons of glasses, dresses, shoes, women’s hair… It’s an experience that moves you inside.
Visiting Auschwitz leaves a thrill in your heart and in your mind. A thrill that continues resounding over time and that, for sure, makes an impact.
[Be sure to read my post about Krakow to fully enjoy this amazing city!]
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