I recently visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland, and unfortunately, my experience was deeply disappointing as a wheelchair user. I want to share my story in the hope it helps others and prompts improvement in accessibility.
Before visiting, I checked the website and saw that it was described as “kind of accessible.” This gave me hope. When I first arrived, it looked manageable — but that illusion quickly faded.
The nightmare began once the tour started. Many of the buildings are historical and understandably old, but accessibility has not been adequately addressed. Most entrances have stairs, and many exhibit areas were completely inaccessible to me. I was lucky to have supportive friends and family with me who offered help, even offering to carry me — which I declined, as it simply wouldn’t be fair to them.
The terrain was extremely rough. Even with an electric wheelchair, the uneven roads could cause damage. The pathways were in very poor condition, and navigating them was exhausting and frustrating.
Access to a toilet was also an issue. There’s one available, but you must complete the first part of the visit before you can reach it — and there are stairs, so it’s essentially off-limits for someone in a wheelchair.
I saw other wheelchair users as well, and many of them looked stranded or helpless, especially those who didn’t have support like I did. It was heartbreaking to witness.
The second part of the visit had similar issues — big steps, narrow entrances, and even worse pathways. Again, completely impractical for wheelchair users.
To make matters worse, the guide showed no understanding, support, or empathy. There was no effort to include me or assist in any way. It felt like people with mobility issues were an afterthought.
Honestly, if you are a wheelchair user who cannot walk, please don’t waste your money — even with the 10% discount. It is not worth it, as you’ll miss out on more than half of the experience.
I live in England and traveled all the way to visit this important historical site. I was truly looking forward to it, but left feeling disappointed, excluded, and deceived.
This is not just a complaint — it’s an important piece of advice to others like me, and a plea for the museum to take real steps toward inclusion and accessibility.
Picked up on time, lovely young gentleman Jakob, very friendly made sure we got through to the beginning of the tour then we met our very informative guide Michal Wróbel who took us through Austwitz in a very respectful tour. He was very helpful in helping me choose a book, and will look up again when I come back. I have booked saltmines for tomorrow and if my guides and drivers are like today I will enjoy it. Thanks so much Mr Shuttle and all staff, will definitely be recommending yous
DayTrip58781789528
28 May 2025
Very very emotional, but could not fault the tour. Picked up right on time by a very professional driver (he said his name was Mark for ease in English but I think he was called Maric)?? All very smooth. There is a cafe when you get to Auschwitz if you’re worried it’s a long day. Tour was very informative and heartbreaking, but glad I did it.