Weather in Auschwitz-Birkenau

About Auschwitz-Birkenau

Auschwitz-Birkenau is the Holocaust's most visible scar, a concentration and extermination camp where Nazi Germany murdered 1.1 million people, mostly Polish Jews. The site is now a UNESCO memorial and museum, preserved as a warning and a requiem. Barracks, gas chambers, crematoria, and endless rows of barbed wire create an overwhelming landscape of absence and industrial killing. This is a place of deep, necessary pain.

Country

Poland

Best months to visit

June, August

Currency

PLN

Language

Polish

Things to do in Auschwitz-Birkenau

Guided memorial tour and historical learning Barracks and gas chamber exploration Photography of memorial sites Museum and documentation center visits Educational workshops and seminars Reflective quiet time and personal contemplation

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

Cold, with some rainy days.

February

Cold, with some rainy days.

March

Cold, with some rainy days.

April

14C

Cool, with some rainy days.

May

18C

Mild and comfortable, with regular rainfall.

Recommended

June

23C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

July

24C

Mild and comfortable, with regular rainfall.

Recommended

August

25C

Warm and pleasant, with some rainy days.

September

20C

Mild and comfortable, with some rainy days.

October

15C

Cool, with some rainy days.

November

Cold, with some rainy days.

December

Cold, with some rainy days.

Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp near the town of Oświęcim, is preserved as a memorial and museum to the more than a million people murdered there during the Holocaust. Walking through the camp's gates, barracks, and the vast remains of Birkenau is an unflinching, deeply sobering experience that visitors widely describe as essential rather than easy.

Best areas to stay in Auschwitz-Birkenau

Auschwitz I

The original camp, including the infamous gate, barracks now housing exhibitions, and the site of the first gas chamber.

Auschwitz II-Birkenau

The much larger extermination camp 3km away, with the remains of barracks, railway tracks, and crematoria.

Oświęcim town

The local town, with a Jewish history centre and modest accommodation for those staying overnight.

Kraków

The most common base, about an hour away, from which most day trips depart.

Getting to Auschwitz-Birkenau

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Flights

Fly into Kraków John Paul II Airport, then take a tour, train, or bus to Oświęcim.

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From London

~2.5 hours by air from London to Kraków, plus about 1-1.5 hours to Oświęcim.

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Getting around

A free shuttle bus connects Oświęcim town and the Auschwitz I and Birkenau sites; organised tours include all transport.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes — entry is by timed slot, free for individuals but limited in number, and guided tours in particular sell out well ahead in peak season.

How long does a visit take?

A full visit to both Auschwitz I and Birkenau, including a guided tour, typically takes 3.5-4 hours.

How do I get there from Kraków?

Most visitors take an organised tour with transport included, or a direct bus or train to Oświęcim followed by a short local shuttle to the site.

Is the site appropriate for children?

The museum recommends the visit primarily for those aged 14 and over, given the graphic and emotionally difficult subject matter.

What should I know before visiting?

Dress respectfully, allow time to process the experience afterward, and be aware that some exhibits include photographs and personal belongings of victims.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

An incredibly difficult but important visit — our guide's calm, factual delivery let the scale of what happened speak for itself, without ever feeling exploitative.

David L. · May 2024

★★★★★

We took the early morning slot to avoid the largest crowds, which gave a little more space to process Birkenau's vastness in particular.

Anna G. · October 2023

★★★★★

Booked a guided tour from Kraków with transport included — practical and well organised, though emotionally it stayed with us for the rest of the trip.

Michael R. · September 2024