Auschwitz I was the first camp to be used (therefore called Stammlager). It consist of old Polish military barracks. Inside some of them you will find information material, boards, photos and personal belongings to illustrate the life and cruelties of this camp. The only remaining gas chamber is here but note that, as indicated in the chamber, it was reconstructed to its wartime layout after the war.
Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp
Main Building The entrance to Auschwitz I has a museum with a theater where a 15 minute film is shown, shot by Ukrainian troops the day after the camp was liberated. It's too graphic for children, and costs 3.5 zl (included in the price of a guided tour). Showings between 11 and 5 (in english at the hour and polish at the half hour). Highly recommended, but disturbing. Bookstores and bathrooms are here, consider buying a 5 zl guidebook or 5 zl map.
Auschwitz-Birkenau was the second camp and is around 3km from Auschwitz I. You can still see the entrance gate, the railway track and ramp and many old barracks. The site is huge. You can also see the buildings where incoming prisoners were shaved and given their "new" clothing, the ruins of the five gas chambers, ponds where the ashes of thousands of people were dumped without ceremony, and a memorial site. Note that walking through the whole site may take several hours. Some visitors find the experience harrowing.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Auschwitz
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Auschwitz - updated May 2024
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Auschwitz Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
