From Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum & Camp Guided Tour

This approximately 3-and-a-half-hour tour will educate you about the Holocaust as it was carried out at this site, claiming over 1 million victims. The complex comprised of 3 main camps. Auschwitz I was the administrative center, Auschwitz II (also known as Birkenau) was the extermination site, and Auschwitz III (called Monowitz) was a labor camp.

The concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was built in 1940 and was the largest camp operated by the Nazis. Before the liberation of Auschwitz on 27 January 1945, the SS attempted to destroy the camp and burn the archives. Not everything was destroyed, however, and the Polish government restored Auschwitz–Birkenau as a moving memorial to the victims.

During your visit, after entering through the main entrance gate to the camp you see original camp buildings in the main part of the complex. You also visit the museum with its permanent exhibition, an opportunity to learn about the real stories of prisoners as you view their everyday objects and personal belongings. Finally visit the most important sites at Birkenau, the extermination camp, where you see gas chambers and crematories.

The duration of your visit to Auschwitz I is up to two hours and the visit to Auschwitz II is up to one hour. There are three breaks during the tour: the first being 10-20 minutes after arriving from Krakow, depending on traffic conditions. The second break comes before going to Auschwitz II, Birkenau Camp and is 10-15 minutes long. You'll have one more 10 to 20-minute break before heading back to Krakow.