Auschwitz Tickets 2026: Prices & How to Book
Since 1 March 2026, every entry pass to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial is booked online at visit.auschwitz.org, and there is no ticket desk at the entrance any more. Entering the Memorial grounds is free, but you still need a timed pass in your name, and those passes are limited. This guide explains which Auschwitz ticket to choose, what it costs in 2026, how to book it step by step and what to do if your date is already full.
Auschwitz tickets in short
- Where to book: only online, on the Museum's official site visit.auschwitz.org. No passes are sold at the gate.
- Free entry: visiting without a guide costs nothing, but you must reserve a free entry pass. Check availability for your date on visit.auschwitz.org, as free passes run out.
- With a Museum educator: PLN 150 per person for a 3.5-hour guided visit in English or another foreign language. Reduced PLN 140 for students under 26, visitors over 75 and holders of a disability ID.
- When to book: reservations open up to 90 days ahead. The Museum recommends booking a guided visit at least two months before your trip.
- Names and ID: passes are personal and can't be changed or refunded. Bring photo ID that matches the name on your pass.
- Coming from Kraków: it's about 1.5 hours each way. If passes for your date are gone, a guided tour from Kraków with entry included is often the simplest option.
Prices and rules checked against the Museum's official documents in October 2026.
Auschwitz Tickets at a Glance
There is no Auschwitz entrance fee in the usual sense: walking the Memorial grounds is free. What you pay for is the service of a Museum educator, the licensed guide who leads you through both parts of the site. Every option below is a timed, personal entry pass booked on the Museum's official website.
| Entry pass | What you get | Price 2026 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free entry pass (no educator) | A self-guided visit to Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau at a set entry time | Free | Visitors who have read up on the history and want to explore at their own pace |
| Guided visit with a Museum educator (3.5 h) | A group of up to 30 led by a Museum educator, headsets, and the Museum shuttle between Auschwitz I and Birkenau | PLN 150
reduced PLN 140 |
First-time visitors who want the full story explained on site |
| Study visit with a Museum educator (6 h) | A longer, in-depth guided visit covering more of both sites | PLN 190
reduced PLN 170 |
History enthusiasts and anyone who wants more time than the standard visit |
- Prices are per person for visits in English and other foreign languages. Visits in Polish cost PLN 10 less.
- Reduced price applies to students under 26, visitors over 75 and holders of a disability ID. Bring the document with you, as it's checked before the visit starts.
- Study visits must be booked at least 10 working days in advance.
- All passes are non-refundable and can't be moved to another date or time, so double-check your booking before you pay.
Coming from Kraków and short on time to plan? See your options from Kraków, including tours with the entry pass and transport already arranged.
Is Auschwitz Free? Entry Without a Guide
Yes, visiting Auschwitz is free if you go without a guide. You don't pay an entrance fee, but you do need a ticket: a free entry pass reserved online in your name for a specific entry time. Without one you won't get through the gate, even though nothing is charged.
How the Free Entry Pass Works
- Book it on visit.auschwitz.org, the same official site used for paid visits. Choose a visit without an educator, then pick your date and entry time.
- Availability is limited. The Museum caps how many people can enter each hour, and free passes for popular dates go first. Check what's open for your day on the booking site rather than relying on fixed hours you've read elsewhere.
- Your pass is personal. Each visitor needs their own pass, and the name must match the photo ID you bring.
- Plan the whole visit yourself. You explore Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau independently, so allow time to get between the two sites, about 3 km apart.
Free Visit or Guided Visit?
An Auschwitz visit without a guide gives you freedom and costs nothing. It also leaves you to piece together what you're looking at.
- No cost, and you set your own pace
- Good if you already know the history well or are returning for a second visit
- No one to explain what happened in each block, barrack and building
- Free passes for the date you want may already be taken
- You organise every step, from arrival time to getting between the two sites
For a first visit, most people find a Museum educator worth the fee: the context changes how you understand the place. If you'd rather go on your own, the free pass is a perfectly respectful way to visit.
Got your free pass? Our private transfer from Kraków picks you up at your accommodation, gets you to the Memorial in time for your entry slot and waits while you visit.
Tickets With a Museum Educator: 2026 Prices
A guided visit costs PLN 150 per person in English or another foreign language, or PLN 140 at the reduced rate. The fee pays for a Museum educator, the only kind of guide allowed to lead groups inside the Memorial, so these are the Auschwitz tickets with a guide that most first-time visitors book.
What the Guided Visit Includes
- About 3.5 hours covering both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, usually starting at Auschwitz I.
- A group of up to 30 with a headset for each visitor, so you can hear the educator clearly even in busy blocks.
- The Museum shuttle between the two sites, included for guided visitors.
- A choice of languages, with English offered most often. The available languages and start times for your date show up when you book.
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your start time. If you're late, the group leaves without you and the fee is not refunded.
Who Gets the Reduced Price
- Students under 26 with a valid student card
- Visitors over 75
- Holders of a disability ID, whose accompanying guardian can get a pass at no charge
The document is checked before the visit begins, so keep it with your photo ID. Visits in Polish cost PLN 10 less at both rates.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Auschwitz?
Entry itself is free, so the cost of visiting Auschwitz depends on two things: whether you book an educator, and how you get there. A self-guided visit costs only your transport. A guided visit adds PLN 150 per person on top of the journey from Kraków, about 1.5 hours each way.
You can book up to six passes per day under one account, which covers most families and small groups in a single booking.
Prefer one price for everything? Our guided Auschwitz tour from Kraków starts from €49 with the guided visit, entry pass and return transport included. Want a smaller group? The small-group tour takes up to 15 people and picks you up at your hotel.
How to Book Auschwitz Tickets Online
Booking takes about ten minutes on the Museum's official website, visit.auschwitz.org. It's the only place that issues entry passes, so make sure the address in your browser is exactly that before you enter any details. Here's how the Auschwitz booking works, step by step.
1 Open the Official Website
Go to visit.auschwitz.org and switch the language to English. You can book as a guest or create an account. An account fills in your details automatically next time, which helps if you're booking for several people.
2 Choose Your Type of Visit
As an individual visitor you pick between a visit with a Museum educator and a visit without an educator, which uses the free entry pass. Group reservations and online tours are separate options, so skip those unless they're what you need.
3 Pick a Date, Time and Language
The calendar shows only what's still available, up to 90 days ahead. For a guided visit you also choose the language. If your preferred day is full, try nearby dates or a different time before giving up. Places sometimes appear in other slots on the same day.
4 Enter Every Visitor's Name
Each pass carries the name of one visitor, written exactly as on the ID they'll bring. For a child without their own ID, the accompanying adult's details are used. Names can't be changed after booking, so check the spelling now.
5 Pay and Save Your Passes
Your reservation is held for 30 minutes while you pay, so have your card ready. Once payment goes through, print the entry passes or save them on your phone. You'll show them at the entrance together with your photo ID.
Avoid unofficial resellers. The Museum cancels free entry passes resold by third parties, and paid passes resold above the official price, without a refund. Book passes only on visit.auschwitz.org, or choose a tour whose organiser arranges the guided visit for you.
When to Book and What If Tickets Are Sold Out
Book as soon as your travel dates are fixed. Reservations open up to 90 days ahead, and the Museum recommends booking a guided visit at least two months before your trip. Spring, summer and holiday weeks are the busiest, when passes for the most convenient morning times can disappear weeks in advance.
Can You Buy Auschwitz Tickets on the Day?
Not at the gate: since 1 March 2026 there is no ticket sale at the entrance. You can still book online on the day itself if places are left. Guided visits stay open for booking until 15 minutes before they start. In high season, though, don't count on same-day availability.
Your Options When Passes Are Gone
- Try other times and dates. Check the whole day and the days either side of your plan, as one slot can be full while another still has room.
- Switch visit type. If free passes are gone, a guided visit may still have places, and the other way round.
- Join a tour from Kraków. Tour organisers arrange the guided visit for their groups in advance, so tours often have room when individual passes don't.
Guided Tour from Kraków
Licensed guide, entry pass and return transport from central meeting points.
From €49
See datesSmall-Group Tour with Hotel Pickup
Up to 15 people, picked up and dropped off at your Kraków hotel.
From €79
See datesAuschwitz and Salt Mine in One Day
Both sites with guides and entry included, plus all transport.
From €110
See dates
The main gate of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, about 3 km from Auschwitz I.
Auschwitz Tickets From Kraków: Your Options
Most visitors travel to the Memorial from Kraków, about 1.5 hours away by road. You can arrange the entry pass and the journey separately, or book them together as one tour. Which suits you depends on your budget, your group and how much planning you want to do.
| Option | What's arranged for you | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| On your own | Nothing: you book the entry pass and travel by bus or train to Oświęcim | Free entry
+ transport fare |
Confident travellers on a tight budget |
| Your own pass + private transfer | Pickup at your Kraków accommodation, arrival timed to your entry, driver waiting while you visit | From €159
per group |
Families and small groups who already hold passes |
| Guided tour from Kraków | Entry pass, licensed guide and return transport from central meeting points | From €49
per person |
First-time visitors who want everything sorted |
| Small-group tour | Entry pass and licensed guide for up to 15 people, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel | From €79
per person |
Travellers who prefer a quieter group and no meeting point |
| Auschwitz + Salt Mine tour | Guided visits and entry at both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine, plus all transport | From €110
per person |
Short stays with only one day for both sites |
Can You Buy Auschwitz Tickets in Kraków?
There's no ticket office for the Memorial in Kraków, and none at the Memorial's entrance either: individual passes are sold only online. What you can book in Kraków is a tour that includes the entry pass. That's why "Auschwitz tickets from Kraków" usually means a guided day trip with transport, not a ticket on its own.
Not sure which option fits? Compare every one side by side on our Auschwitz tours page.
Auschwitz Opening Hours 2026
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial is open every day of the year except 1 January, 25 December and Easter Sunday. Opening hours change with the seasons. The times below are entry hours, and you can stay on the grounds for up to 90 minutes after the last entry.
| Month | Entry hours | Grounds close at |
|---|---|---|
| June, July, August | 7:30 to 19:00 | 20:30 |
| April, May, September | 7:30 to 18:00 | 19:30 |
| March, October | 7:30 to 17:00 | 18:30 |
| February | 7:30 to 16:00 | 17:30 |
| January, November | 7:30 to 15:00 | 16:30 |
| December | 7:30 to 14:00 | 15:30 |
Is Auschwitz Open on Sundays?
Yes. The Memorial opens on Sundays and public holidays at the same hours as on weekdays. The only exceptions are the three closing days above. It can also close at short notice for state visits and official ceremonies, which the Museum announces on its website.
Visiting in winter? With last entry as early as 14:00 in December and the drive from Kraków taking about 1.5 hours each way, choose a morning entry time. A guided visit lasts about 3.5 hours, so starting late leaves little daylight.
Original brick barracks at Birkenau. Visitors walk most of this part of the site outdoors.
Before You Go: ID, Bags and Visiting Rules
Your entry pass is only half of what you need on the day. Every visitor goes through an airport-style security check at the entrance, and the rules are applied strictly, so a few minutes of preparation saves stress at the gate.
What to Bring
- Photo ID for every visitor, with the same name as on the entry pass. Passes are checked against IDs before you go in.
- Your entry pass, printed or saved on your phone, plus the document for any reduced price.
- A small bag only: no larger than 30 × 20 × 10 cm. Anything bigger has to go into the Museum's left-luggage service, which takes time you may not have before your entry slot.
- Water and a snack. There's no café or shop along the route, and a guided visit lasts around 3.5 hours.
- Comfortable shoes and clothes for the weather. Much of the visit is outdoors, especially at Birkenau, in sun, rain or cold.
- Some small change for the toilets, which are not free.
Visiting Rules to Know
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early to clear security in time for your entry or guided visit.
- Dress and behave respectfully. This is a place of remembrance: keep your voice low, and don't eat, smoke or sit on memorial structures.
- Photos are allowed for private use, but not with flash or tripods inside buildings. Photography is not allowed at all in Room 5 of Block 4 or in the basement of Block 11.
- Leave behind drones, weapons, large umbrellas and pets. Only certified assistance dogs are admitted, and prams can't be taken inside buildings.
- Think about age. The Museum recommends the visit for people aged 14 and over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Auschwitz tickets refundable?
No. Entry passes for individual visitors can't be refunded or moved to another date or time. If you arrive after your entry time, the pass is lost without a refund, so leave plenty of margin on the day.
Can I change the name on my Auschwitz ticket?
No. Each pass is issued in one visitor's name and the name can't be changed after booking. Check every spelling against the ID that person will bring before you pay.
Does one ticket cover both Auschwitz I and Birkenau?
Yes. Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau are two parts of the same Memorial, and one entry pass covers your visit to both. Guided visits include the Museum shuttle between them.
How many Auschwitz tickets can I book at once?
You can book up to six passes per day under one account, which is enough for most families and small groups. Larger groups book through the Museum's separate group reservation.
Do children need an Auschwitz ticket?
Yes, every visitor needs their own pass, including children. For a child without their own ID, the accompanying adult's details are used. The Museum recommends the visit for people aged 14 and over.
Is there a student discount for Auschwitz tickets?
Yes. Students under 26 pay the reduced price of PLN 140 instead of PLN 150 for a guided visit in a foreign language, as do visitors over 75 and holders of a disability ID. Bring the document, as it's checked before the visit.
Can I buy Auschwitz tickets on tour booking websites?
Individual entry passes are issued only on visit.auschwitz.org. Booking platforms and local operators sell tours whose organiser arranges the Museum visit for the group, not stand-alone passes. Avoid anyone selling free entry passes, as the Museum cancels them.
What happens if I miss my entry time?
Your entry time is fixed. If you're late, a guided group won't wait and the pass can't be refunded or rebooked. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes early to get through security.
How long does a visit to Auschwitz take?
A guided visit takes about 3.5 hours, and visitors on a free pass usually need a similar amount of time to see both sites. Coming from Kraków, plan around 7 hours door to door including the journey.
How far is Auschwitz from Kraków?
The Memorial is about 70 km from Kraków, around 1.5 hours each way by road. A private transfer from Kraków takes you from your accommodation straight to the entrance in time for your entry.
