To answer briefly up front: no, you do not ride a Segway around Auschwitz. The Memorial is a place that requires silence, focus and respect — and it also requires security checks and pedestrian movement between exhibits. Rideable devices that require “driving” inside the exhibition areas are inappropriate and practically never used. If you were thinking about a Segway for touring — leave it in Krakow and choose a walking tour or check the accessibility options if you have reduced mobility.
As a guide, I can add that many visitors think about “speeding up the program at all costs.” From a logistics and respect perspective, a Segway or similar device is absolutely not the right solution. It’s better to plan the visit so you can genuinely understand and honour the history of the place.
If you have questions about accessibility for people with disabilities — the Museum provides dedicated solutions and it’s worth arranging details in advance by contacting the Museum staff. In such cases, mobility aids are handled differently than recreational Segways. In other words: a recreational Segway is not the same as a wheelchair. Explain your situation before you arrive.
If you’re short on time and need a condensed option, the Museum also offers online guided tours of about 2 hours — a different kind of experience, but useful when an in-person visit would be too brief.
Finally — bring empathy and a willingness to listen: Auschwitz is not an attraction in the traditional sense. It is a Memorial that calls for solemnity and attentiveness.
Short answer: on site — no. A standard visit to the exhibitions in the former camps Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II–Birkenau usually takes about 3.5 hours. That is the recommended time to see the most important sites, follow the route and have a moment for reflection.
Why so long? The grounds are split into two parts located some distance from each other, connected by a free shuttle bus. Exhibitions in the blocks, monuments and the vast area of Birkenau require walking and time to absorb the content. Two hours is only a fleeting, superficial encounter — you can see fragments but not the whole, and without guarantee of deeper understanding.
If you truly only have two hours, plan priorities before you go — in practice that may mean choosing one part of the site and focusing on specific memorial points. Remember, the Museum itself recommends planning at least 3.5 hours for a visit.
Alternative: a 2-hour online guided tour with an educator is a good option for those who want a substantive introduction when travelling to the site is impossible or time is extremely limited.
If you’d like, I can help build a realistic but modest two-hour plan so that when you leave you’ll know what to focus on.
Getting from Krakow to Oświęcim is straightforward, but plan ahead. You can travel by train, bus or car. There are special coach services from Krakow as well. Because entry cards are limited, plan for a full-day trip — returning the same day is possible but requires careful timing of departures.
If you drive, there is parking at the Visitor Services Centre. From Oświęcim train station to the Museum it’s about a 1.5 km walk or you can use local transport. A shuttle bus runs between Auschwitz I and Birkenau, which helps with logistics.
I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before your scheduled entry time. This lets you complete formalities, go through security and start your visit calmly.
If you plan to use a guide, check availability well in advance. The Museum limits the number of entry cards each hour, so spontaneous trips can be risky.
Also factor in travel time and possible queues — especially during high season and on memorial anniversary dates.
Admission to the Memorial grounds is free, but entry requires a personalized entry card. The number of cards is limited and most time slots must be reserved in advance. In practice this means: book online before you travel.
From May 1, 2025, the Museum changed some entry rules — free entry cards for unguided visits are available only via the online reservation system. On-site cards may be limited to guided tours on certain days. For this reason, make your reservation ahead of time.
Visits with a Museum educator (guide) carry a fee — this is the fee for the guiding service, while admission to the grounds remains free. Prices and scheduled times for guided visits vary, so reserve early.
Security checks are in place at entry. Make sure you do not carry prohibited items and that your baggage fits the allowed dimensions. Large backpacks and suitcases must be left in your vehicle or in storage.
Appropriate dress and behaviour are required on the grounds — quiet, respectful conduct and avoiding loud conversations or unnecessary photography in sensitive areas.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket — the grounds are large and often windy. If you plan a longer walk around Birkenau, comfortable footwear and water are recommended. There is a restaurant and rest areas on site, but it’s wise to carry your own water bottle, especially on hot days.
Limit your baggage to the essentials — the Museum enforces size limits on bags and backpacks. Leave large suitcases or Segways in Krakow — they are not practical for visiting.
Take your phone or camera thoughtfully. Documentary photography is allowed in many places, but remember to be respectful of the exhibits and other visitors. In some areas recording or photographing is prohibited.
If you want to prepare intellectually, read a few historical outlines before your visit. This will make the walk more understandable and valuable.
Bring an ID — you may need to confirm personal details when reserving or entering.
The Museum provides solutions for visitors with reduced mobility. If you need assistance or special conditions (for example wheelchair access), contact the Museum staff before your visit to arrange details and confirm what accommodations are available that day.
Important distinction: wheelchairs and medical mobility devices are treated differently than tourist devices like Segways. If your mobility requires a support device, report it in advance and agree on access rules.
If you are visiting with someone who has difficulty walking, build in extra time and attention — Birkenau is extensive and some surfaces are uneven.
If you wish, I can help you contact the right people and plan a route adapted to the needs of your group.
Begin by setting priorities — what matters most to you: the documentary exhibitions inside the blocks or the memorial spaces in Birkenau? In two hours you will not see many things, but you can focus on a few key points.
Suggested, spare plan:
- Enter and quickly visit the key exhibition rooms in Auschwitz I — choose 1–2 blocks where you want to stop.
- Take the shuttle bus to Birkenau and walk to the victims’ monument and the railway tracks to grasp the scale of the memorial site.
- Brief reflection at the main points and return.
Remember: this plan is heavily reduced and does not replace a full visit. If this is your first encounter with the place, consider postponing until you can spend 3.5 hours or more.
Arrive rested and ready to listen. The visit can be emotionally heavy and it’s good to allow yourself time to process the impressions. Don’t plan busy activities right after the visit — give yourself space to reflect and rest.
Don’t treat the visit as a checklist — it’s better to focus on a few sites and observe them carefully than to rush through without stopping.
If you’d like, I will gladly guide you around the Memorial (offer from Małgorzata Kasprowicz, guide). I can adapt the pace and content to your expectations so the visit is respectful and informative.
Finally — remember that visiting Auschwitz is an experience that leaves a mark. Plan a calm return to Krakow and give yourself time to reflect.
If you have logistical questions or want me to plan the visit step by step, write to me — I’ll be happy to help.
