Felt way too rushed by the driver to get from place to place—got yelled at when trying to go use the restroom once during the 5 hour experience. Driver was a bit rude to our group as well. Very rough drive, would not recommend for car sick-prone individuals. Seats in the van were very wobbly and driver would constantly slam on brakes.
Tour itself was nice and the Auschwitz guides are very knowledgeable. Tour did not end late afternoon like stated, ended closer to 1. Worth it for the low price I guess.
The day went very smoothly. I was picked up at 6 AM (even though booking was for 7 AM) and arrived at 7:30. By 8:00 I entered and joined the group tour. It was so much easier and well worth the money not having to stop at everyone’s hotel on the way there and back. It meant that the day was not nearly as long and tiring as it could have been. After a day at Auschwitz the last thing you want to do is be stuck on the bus for hours. I would highly recommend paying the extra money for the private shuttle service. The first part of the tour was very good and the guide gave a lot of information. The second part went much quicker and she said very little which was a bit disappointing because I feel like we missed a lot. But overall it was well done.
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.