10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING AUSCHWITZ

1

This is a busy, sometimes too busy, tourist attraction. Auschwitz I hosts the main museum, while the enormous site area of Auschwitz II-Birkenau is mostly in ruins.

2

Allow yourself at least three hours to visit. Auschwitz I holds numerous exhibits but Auschwitz II-Birkenau, where most of the genocide was committed, is truly haunting.

3

Auschwitz I has a restored gas chambers/ovens section, while Auschwitz-Birkenau has the ruins of the two the Nazis blew up before fleeing from the advancing Allies.

4

A free shuttle bus runs between the two camps, or you can choose to walk the three kilometres to get an idea of how hard it was for the inmates during the harsh winters. 5 Some exhibits are not for photographing and you may be asked to leave if you do so.

6

Entry is free to both camps, but you do need to book in advance for entry as only a certain number of visitors are admitted at any time.

7

Group guides and audio guides are available if wish (and want to pay for them) or, alternatively, buy the guidebook with map and walk the grounds yourself.

8

Umbrellas, ponchos and candles are all available to buy at the entrance. If you visit between October-March expect cold weather and dress accordingly. Bring gloves.

9

At the entry point to Auschwitz there are snack bars, restaurants, toilets and bookshops. Next to the car park for Auschwitz II-Birkenau is a café and bookstore.

10

The gay victims of the death camps are only mentioned briefly in one of the exhibit rooms in Auschwitz 1 pointing out the various colour codes on uniforms for inmates.