Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Auschwitz II-Birkenau in Brzezinka (pronounced bzheh-ZHEEN-kah), near Oświęcim in southern Poland, is the largest part of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau and the place where most of its victims were murdered. The vast site – barracks, the railway ramp and the ruins of gas chambers – is part of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most people see it as the second part of a visit that begins at Auschwitz I; it is, in effect, a cemetery without graves.

History

Construction began in October 1941 in the village of Brzezinka (German: Birkenau), about 3 km from the main camp; the villagers were expelled and their houses torn down. Planned as a prisoner-of-war camp, Birkenau became from 1942 the main killing center for Jews deported from all over occupied Europe. According to the Museum, about 90% of all Auschwitz victims died here – close to a million people, the vast majority of them Jews. Around 20,000 Roma and Sinti were also murdered at Birkenau, as were many Poles and prisoners of other nationalities.

The first gas chambers were set up in 1942 in two converted farmhouses. By mid-1943 four crematoria with gas chambers (II–V) were operating. Most deportees were sent to the gas chambers straight after the selection, without ever being registered. In May 1944 a railway spur and ramp were completed inside the camp; between mid-May and early July 1944 about 437,000 Jews from Hungary were deported here. On October 7, 1944 members of the Sonderkommando revolted and set Crematorium IV on fire. In January 1945 the SS blew up Crematoria II, III and V to hide the evidence. Soviet troops reached Auschwitz on January 27, 1945.

What you will see

• The gatehouse and tower – the "Gate of Death" through which trains entered; the tower offers a view over the whole site.
• The unloading ramp and railway spur where selections took place in 1944.
• Brick and wooden barracks, including those of the former women's camp, and fields of chimneys that remain from demolished barracks – the clearest sense of the camp's scale.
• The ruins of Crematoria II and III and, between them, the International Monument to the Victims of the Camp, with plaques in the victims' languages. Candles may be lit here and at the Execution Wall in Auschwitz I.
• The "Sauna" (the central bathhouse) and the remains of Crematoria IV and V in the western part of the site.

Some areas of Birkenau are temporarily closed for conservation work.

How long does it take and how to visit

Allow at least 90 minutes for Birkenau; the standard guided tour of both sites takes about 3.5 hours. The walk around the main points covers several kilometers on uneven ground.

You use the same personal entry pass as for Auschwitz I. Entry is free, but passes are issued online only at visit.auschwitz.org (since March 1, 2026 there are no passes at the gate). Booking opens daily at noon for up to 90 days ahead; individual passes cannot be changed or refunded. During peak hours you can enter only with a Museum educator – in October 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., in November and January 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m., in December 7:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. An individual guided-tour pass in English costs PLN 150 (reduced PLN 140; price list from January 2, 2026).

Getting between Auschwitz I and Birkenau. The Museum provides transport for visitors on guided tours, on a bus with a wheelchair platform. If you visit independently, check transport when booking. The 3 km (about 2 miles) can also be walked, or covered by taxi or car; there is a paid municipal car park at Birkenau.

Opening hours and visiting in winter

The Memorial is open daily except January 1, December 25 and Easter Sunday. Winter entry times (as of October 2026): November and January 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m., December 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m., February 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; you may stay 90 minutes after the last entry. In December the site closes at 3:30 p.m., around dusk, so plan Birkenau for the morning.

Birkenau is completely exposed to wind, rain and snow. In winter you must stay on designated paths. Bring warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes; in spring and fall the paths can be muddy. Eating and smoking are not allowed, and bags may not exceed 35 × 25 × 15 cm (about 14 × 10 × 6 in).

Is it suitable for children and wheelchair users?

The Museum recommends the visit for people aged 14 and over. Wheelchair users should expect long distances and rough surfaces; only ground floors of buildings are accessible. Pets are not allowed (assistance dogs excepted). Dress and behave respectfully.

Getting there

Brzezinka belongs to the municipality of Oświęcim, roughly 60 km (40 miles) west of Kraków; Kraków and Katowice airports are each about 50 km away. Visits normally start at Auschwitz I (Visitor Service Center, Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, free parking), from where you continue to Birkenau. Direct buses connect Kraków with the Museum car park.