Individual visit or guided tour

[shaneyward]

If you are well aware of what happened under the Nazi regime in the countries invaded by Germany you might opt for an individual visit
Just buy a small booklet with the maps of the blocks-barracks to visit in Auschwitz I and in Birkenau. The summary description of this 24 pages guide is sufficient and is completed by a large number of signs explaining the most important places, objects, and events. All the signs are in Polish and English.

On my two visits to Auschwitz and Birkenau I made the choice of an individual visit because as a child I "saw" WW II with the occupation of my country. After the war I had for neighbour a woman whose arm was tattooed with her concentration camp number. There was an uncle of mine I never met because as member of the Belgian Resistance he had been shot by the Gestapo.

For me it was essential to be alone with my thoughts during my visit. For many visitors having lost members of their family during WW II, Auschwitz-Birkenau is first of all a place of remembrance and not a museum.
To commune with the millions of victims becoming individuals when you see their photos or their abandoned suitcase with their name is in my opinion only possible after 15.00 h at Auschwitz I (museum) when the groups are gone. At Birkenau the camp is so large that groups can easily be avoided.Best is to start your visit around 13 h first with Birkenau and after 15.00 h enter Auschwitz I. (Stays open till 17 h, 18 h and 19 h in June, July and August). Doing so you will avoid the bumping of groups of visitors in blocks 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11.