Museum · Krakow
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official Auschwitz-Birkenau website. Official links are under Sources.
Auschwitz-Birkenau is free today, 16:00–17:00.
- Personalised free entry pass must be reserved online at visit.auschwitz.org; none are issued at the entrance. Numbers limited - book early.
Calendar
Free days at Auschwitz-Birkenau
- SAT24OCTSaturday, 24 October 2026 · today · 16:00–17:00
- SUN25OCTSunday, 25 October 2026 · tomorrow · 16:00–17:00
- MON26OCTMonday, 26 October 2026 · in 2 days · 16:00–17:00
- TUE27OCTTuesday, 27 October 2026 · in 3 days · 16:00–17:00
- WED28OCTWednesday, 28 October 2026 · in 4 days · 16:00–17:00
- THU29OCTThursday, 29 October 2026 · in 5 days · 16:00–17:00
271 free days for everyone in the next 12 months. Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Free entry without a guide in November and January: entry from 14:00 (last entry 15:00): Personalised free entry pass must be reserved online at visit.auschwitz.org; none are issued at the entrance. Numbers limited - book early.
- Free entry without a guide in December: entry from 13:00 (last entry 14:00): Reserve a free personalised entry pass at visit.auschwitz.org; none at the entrance.
- Free entry without a guide in February: entry from 15:00 (last entry 16:00): Reserve a free personalised entry pass at visit.auschwitz.org; none at the entrance.
- Free entry without a guide in March and October: entry from 16:00 (last entry 17:00): Reserve a free personalised entry pass at visit.auschwitz.org; none at the entrance.
- Free entry without a guide in April, May and September: entry from 17:00 (last entry 18:00): Reserve a free personalised entry pass at visit.auschwitz.org; none at the entrance.
- Free entry without a guide in June-August: entry from 17:00 (last entry 19:00): Reserve a free personalised entry pass at visit.auschwitz.org; none at the entrance.
- Free unguided entry exists only in the late-afternoon slot - book the free pass online well ahead; nothing is issued at the gate.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early for security checks; bags may not exceed 35x25x15 cm.
- Plan at least 90 minutes for each of Auschwitz I and Birkenau.
- Visits are not recommended for children under 14.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free hoursFree entry without a guide in November and January: entry from 14:00 (last entry 15:00) · 14:00–15:00 | everyone | Before 14:00 entry is only with a paid guide-educator. You may stay 90 min after the last entry. Free entry pass covers Auschwitz I and Birkenau. | Yes |
| Free hoursFree entry without a guide in December: entry from 13:00 (last entry 14:00) · 13:00–14:00 | everyone | Before 13:00 entry only with a paid guide-educator. Closed 25 Dec. | Yes |
| Free hoursFree entry without a guide in February: entry from 15:00 (last entry 16:00) · 15:00–16:00 | everyone | Before 15:00 entry only with a paid guide-educator. | Yes |
| Free hoursFree entry without a guide in March and October: entry from 16:00 (last entry 17:00) · 16:00–17:00 | everyone | Before 16:00 entry only with a paid guide-educator. Closed on Easter Sunday. | Yes |
| Free hoursFree entry without a guide in April, May and September: entry from 17:00 (last entry 18:00) · 17:00–18:00 | everyone | Before 17:00 entry only with a paid guide-educator. | Yes |
| Free hoursFree entry without a guide in June-August: entry from 17:00 (last entry 19:00) · 17:00–19:00 | everyone | Before 17:00 entry only with a paid guide-educator. Last entry 19:00 in Jun-Aug per the opening-hours list. | Yes |
Official prices
Auschwitz-Birkenau ticket prices
| Guided tour with a Memorial guide-educator (~3.5 h, Auschwitz I + Birkenau, headset and shuttle included; price shown at booking) | — |
Prices from the official website. Free options are listed above.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Auschwitz-Birkenau
Guided tourFrom Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour & Hotel Pickup★★★★★ 4.5 · 42k reviews7 - 8 hoursfrom zł 76
Guided tourAuschwitz-Birkenau Tour with Official Guide & Hotel Pickup★★★★★ 4.6 · 34k reviews7 - 7.5 hoursfrom zł 76
Guided tourKrakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Live Guided Tour & Hotel Pickup★★★★★ 4.6 · 6.6k reviews7 hoursfrom zł 76
Guided tour From Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau & Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour
★★★★★ 4.6 · 567 reviewsfrom zł 449
Guided tourAuschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour★★★★☆ 4.0 · 449 reviewsfrom zł 35.97
Guided tourAuschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour + Transport★★★★☆ 4.2 · 282 reviews7 hoursfrom zł 206.43
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
Open daily except 1 Jan, 25 Dec and Easter Sunday. Entry from 7:30; last entry 14:00 (Dec), 15:00 (Jan, Nov), 16:00 (Feb), 17:00 (Mar, Oct), 18:00 (Apr, May, Sep), 19:00 (Jun-Aug). Visitors may stay 90 minutes after the last entry time.
ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, 32-603 Oświęcim, Poland (about 65 km from Kraków)
FAQ
Auschwitz-Birkenau: common questions
Is Auschwitz-Birkenau free?
Auschwitz-Birkenau is free for everyone without a guide in November and January: entry from 14:00 (last entry 15:00), without a guide in December: entry from 13:00 (last entry 14:00), without a guide in February: entry from 15:00 (last entry 16:00), without a guide in March and October: entry from 16:00 (last entry 17:00), without a guide in April, May and September: entry from 17:00 (last entry 18:00) and without a guide in June-August: entry from 17:00 (last entry 19:00).
When is Auschwitz-Birkenau free?
Free entry without a guide in November and January: entry from 14:00 (last entry 15:00), Free entry without a guide in December: entry from 13:00 (last entry 14:00), Free entry without a guide in February: entry from 15:00 (last entry 16:00), Free entry without a guide in March and October: entry from 16:00 (last entry 17:00), Free entry without a guide in April, May and September: entry from 17:00 (last entry 18:00) and Free entry without a guide in June-August: entry from 17:00 (last entry 19:00). The next free date is Saturday, 24 October 2026.
Do I need to book for free entry to Auschwitz-Birkenau?
Personalised free entry pass must be reserved online at visit.auschwitz.org; none are issued at the entrance. Numbers limited - book early.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Auschwitz-Birkenau
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
Write a review
Sources
Where this comes from
- auschwitz.org/en/visiting/guided-tours-for-individual-visitors/ · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- auschwitz.org/en/visiting/
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.