Auschwitz (Oświęcim): Memorial, city history and nature

In Auschwitz (Oświęcim), visiting the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau camps and exploring the city’s history offer different ways to spend your time. There are also cultural sites, walking routes and nature-related attractions. When planning, you can set aside a dedicated block of time for the guided tour, then decide which other attractions interest you.

The memorial as a focus of its own

The grounds and buildings of the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau camps are open to visitors. The standard guided tour lasts about three and a half hours. Set aside this time as a fixed part of your stay. Visitor information may change, so check the details before your visit.

The remains of the two camps are inscribed on the World Heritage List. This historic site is a focus in its own right; Oświęcim’s other cultural attractions explore the city’s history, its Jewish community and its architecture.

City history, Jewish life and architecture

The Muzeum Zamek in Oświęcim presents the city’s history through a permanent exhibition, themed temporary exhibitions and events. This offers a distinct opportunity to explore the city’s history alongside a visit to the camp sites.

The Jewish Museum gives visitors access to the Chewra Lomdei Misznajot Synagogue and runs educational programs about Oświęcim’s Jewish community. For visitors interested in culture, it combines a specific place with an educational program about this community.

Oświęcim Castle also offers a historical point of interest: it has a Gothic tower dating from around the turn of the 14th century. Details like this complement exhibitions and the history of the community with an example of medieval architecture.

Riverside and city walk

Bulwary Park is a recreational area on the Soła, right next to Oświęcim’s market square and castle. The river, park and two nearby landmarks give this place a different character from the exhibitions and historic buildings.

The Szlak Murali takes visitors to a unique collection of monumental murals on buildings in various parts of the city. As a city walk, it draws attention to the murals and the urban landscape; individual motifs may change.

Nature and routes in the region

Żaki is a 17.52-hectare forest nature reserve near Stawy Monowskie in the Dwory Drugie district. This protected forest offers a different focus from the city’s cultural attractions and provides a nature-based perspective on the region.

The stated route lengths vary considerably: the 54-kilometre Szlak Zabytków Ziemi Oświęcimskiej runs through the Gmina Oświęcim; the Grojec Tarniówka–Grojec Bugaj cycling route is 4.9 kilometres long. Signage and conditions on the Szlak Zabytków may change, so check them before setting out on a specific trip.

At Dwory II on the Vistula (Wisła), the 15.5-kilometre lock and navigable canal are a tourist attraction. Together with the forest nature reserve and the routes, this place adds landscape and infrastructure to the picture of the region, without making another exhibition visit the focus.

Plan your journey

Oświęcim is an important railway hub with access to InterCity and EuroCity connections. If you plan to travel by train, check the current timetables separately.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Skidzin, Kęty, Brzeszcze, Jawiszowice, Bielany, Grojec, Zator, Nowa Wieś, Łęki

See the overview of the wider region: Lesser Poland.