Auschwitz was the site of unthinkable crimes against humanity. While many people are aware of this dark chapter in history, visiting the location firsthand makes it feel more real. Visitors are often surprised by the emotional impact of touring the remains of the concentration camp complex.
The bleak atmosphere of the camp and the knowledge of what occurred there can affect you in a way that you cannot achieve with history books or documentaries. It is often recommended that everyone should visit this site at least once in their lifetime.
What Is the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum?
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum was formally founded by the Polish parliament in 1947. It marks the location of the concentration and extermination camps at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
Auschwitz and Birkenau were the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps. Historians estimate that at least 1.1 million people died at the hands of the Nazis at these camps alone, out of the six million or more Jewish people killed during the period.
Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum gives you a chance to connect with history and learn more about the atrocities that occurred there. There are two options for visiting the site. You can take a self-guided tour or sign up for an inclusive guided tour.
To make the most out of the experience, consider signing up for a guided tour. Here are a few of the reasons to choose an inclusive Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum tour over a self-guided tour.
Round-Trip Transportation From Krakow
A guided tour includes transportation from Krakow. It is a 1.5-hour drive in a comfortable car, allowing you to sit back and focus on the experience.
The trip also provides a chance to reflect on everything that you learned and witnessed at the museum. Guests often use the trip back to Krakow to ask their guides more questions.
Informative Guides with Museum Licenses
A guided tour gives you more opportunity to visit the various rooms and explore the grounds at Auschwitz and Birkenau. Most of the tour is outdoors and the complex is large, making it easy for solo visitors to get lost or turned around.
By traveling with a group, you are guided through the sites and given detailed information about the history of the concentration and extermination camps. This provides more insight into the horrors of Auschwitz compared to touring the sites without a guide.
Multiple Tour Options and Private Guides
Along with the standard tour of the museum, you have additional options for visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau. The standard tour lasts 3.5 hours. For those wanting to take their time and spend the day visiting the museum, an enhanced six-hour tour is available.
Private tours are also available. A private tour can help make the trip more profound, as you are not part of a large group asking their own questions. However, the enhanced tour and private guides require booking well in advance.
All options are sure to provide a unique experience that you will never forget.
If you want to explore the remains of the concentration camps and gain a deeper connection to history, book an Auschwitz Birkenau Museum tour today.
