We visited Auschwitz on a Saturday during a public holiday weekend, and didn't have pre-booked tickets. If you find yourself in the same boat, here’s what to expect and what I wish I knew before arriving.

Early Arrival is Crucial: We arrived at 6:30am and there were already about 200 people ahead of us. By 9:12am, we were finally at the front—but by then, all English-speaking tours were fully booked.

Language Options Run Out Fast: We ended up on a German tour starting at 9:45am, with Russian tours available immediately. We don't speak German, so we bought a handbook inside, which was a big help.

Tour Experience Without the Language: Without understanding the guide, parts of the tour felt boring and disconnected. I felt genuinely jealous of those on the English tours, as they seemed to be getting so much more out of it.

Still Worth Going: Despite the language barrier, the experience was still very moving and educational. The second part of the tour (Birkenau) is more open and less guided, so you can break away from the group and explore at your own pace—there are plenty of signs to guide you. The first part (Auschwitz I) is more controlled and you’ll need to stay with your group.

Tips for Future Visitors:

Arrive even earlier than we did if you want a chance at an English tour.

If English tours are available later in the day, wait for them—it’s worth it.

Don’t stop for coffee or breakfast—head straight there. There are options for breakfast once you're in line.

And most importantly: still go, even if you don’t have tickets. It’s absolutely worth the effort.

by Impressive_Ad7965

8 comments

  2. I really do not understand people who wish to view such sites go without any preparation.

    Why do you want to go? What is it that drives you to view upon such horrors of history?

    To just be there a gawk is a waste and disrespectful. Such sites are places of deep learning and reflection – you cannot be so careless with your approach.

  3. There’s also an option to visit without the tour guide for free, but they’ve changed so you need to book it online beforehand.

    If you want to see it at your own pace, it’s a good option, certainly much better than the tour guide if you don’t like those.

    Do not eat near the museum, pretty all the restaurants nearby are tourist traps that rely mostly on organized tours bookings. If you don’t mind kebab or burgers, Allis is a good local place like 5 minute walk from the entrance, otherwise your best shot is the town centre (which is absolutely worth visiting especially in the warmer months, but skipped by most).

  4. Mods, can we have a some kind of “buying Auschwitz tickets for dummies” guide pinned at the top? It’s a beginning of high tourists season and people are asking those questions every other day…

  6. i don’t plan on visiting a propaganda site thanks

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