Sadly there are companies/people who sell 'trips' to Auschwitz-Birkenau who just take people there and drop them off only for them to find they can't get in as they have no tickets! Yes this does happen! So be careful as there are so many options and companies who offer their services. 

So without sounding bad, this is how our 'self guided' trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau which I had pre-booked through Booking.com went.

Having been on a guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau before, I thought that a self guided tour would give more time to appreciate where you are and take in everything that is around you in you're own time, I was wrong!

 

8.45 we board a coach in Krakow,

9.20 We along with another 60ish people leave Krakow,

10.40 Arrive at Auschwitz to collect tickets and use the toilets, the toilet queues are ludicrously long!

11.30 Arrive at Birkenau, since last time I went there, there is a new coach park, cafe and souvenir shop, this to be honest isn't a place for a 'souvenir shop!!' 

We have to be back on the coach at 12.45, this gives 1h15mins to see everything, plus it's a good 5-10 min walk from the coach to the entrance and then you also have to navigate airport type security to get in. 

12.45 Back on coach as the tickets for Auschwitz are timed to 1pm, typically some people are 10+mins late!

13.05pm, Back at Auschwitz, we have to be back on the coach at 15.45!

It took 20mins to clear security and then walk to the main gate, this gives just over an hour to see everything and get back to the coach!

15.45, We are on the coach, and you guessed it, the same 2 people wandered back 20mins late! 

1h50mins later we arrive back in Krakow. 

Part of my reason for visiting again was to allow me more time to appreciate what people went through, to sit down, think and take in the surroundings, but sadly a 'self guided tour' gave me less time that a guided tour.

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You can now get into Auschwitz-Birkenau for free, I would advise that you book your own ticket via their website with your selected entry time and then make your own way there, either by public transport, Uber or a private transfer as you will definitely get more time in both areas. 

I understand the need to control visitor numbers and the security required but to me Auschwitz-Birkenau is a huge memorial site, not a 'must see' tourist attraction with restaurants, cafes and 'souvenir' shops.

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