Opening Hours
The Memorial opens at 7:30 all year; last entry runs from 14:00 in December to 19:00 in June, July and August. The month-by-month table, and why the first hours of the day are the ones to book.
Last entry by month
The grounds open at 7:30 throughout the year. Closing — that is, the last entry — moves with the season:
| Month | Last entry |
|---|---|
| December | 14:00 |
| January, November | 15:00 |
| February | 16:00 |
| March, October | 17:00 |
| April, May, September | 18:00 |
| June, July, August | 19:00 |
Because the Museum advises a minimum of about 90 minutes for each of Auschwitz I and Birkenau, a late entry in a winter month does not leave enough daylight or opening time to see both properly. In December in particular, an early start is not a preference — it is the only way the visit works.
The best time to go
Early. The first entries of the day are quieter, and quiet matters here more than at any other site. Coach groups from Kraków build through the late morning.
Out of season if you can. November to March is markedly less crowded, free passes are far easier to reserve, and the site in cold weather is — many visitors say — closer to the truth of the place. Dress for it: Birkenau is open ground with almost no shelter.
Allow for the security check, which queues at busy hours.
Closures
The Museum closes on a small number of days across the year, and individual parts of the site can close at short notice. One Kraków operator lists 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 November and 24–25 December among its unavailable dates. Confirm on the Museum’s own site before fixing travel around a date.
Options for reaching the Memorial from Kraków
| Option | Rating · reviews | From | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Tour & Hotel Pickup | 4.6 · 32,648 | $20.41 | Coach, reserved pass, licensed guide at both parts |
| #1 selling day trip | 4.5 · 39,604 | $20.41 | The most-reviewed option on the platform |
| Several options | 4.6 · 4,378 | $26.57 | Choice of pickup and group formats |
| Certified, skip-the-line + transport | 4.5 · 9,084 | $80.30 | GYG-certified operator; both camps; lunchbox option |
| Limited to 15 visitors | 4.7 · 401 | $85.87 | The smallest group of the set |
| Self-guided + transfer | 5.0 · 7 | $32.23 | Transport only — you must hold your own free pass |
Related
The free entry pass · What tours cost · Rules for visiting · How long to allow · Going independently · Opening hours · Combining the visit · all options
Guided Visits From Kraków
From Kraków: Auschwitz-Birkenau Official Tour — pickup, coach for the 70-kilometre journey, a reserved entry pass and a licensed guide at both Auschwitz I and Birkenau. Rated 4.6/5 by 32,648 verified visitors. Admission itself is free of charge; this covers transport, the reservation and the educator.
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