The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and Memorial has announced a significant change: starting from March 1, all visitors must secure their tickets through the museum's online reservation platform. This move comes after concerns regarding the unethical practices of certain private tour operators.
In a statement released on the museum's official site, officials highlighted that some tour companies sold packages that included transportation from Kraków but misled customers about departure times, often shifting them to the early hours or even late at night. Andrzej Kacorzyk, the museum's deputy director for visitor services, remarked, "Such misleading tactics have unfortunately become a business model for some entities, who then unfairly placed the blame on the museum."
With nearly 2 million visitors recorded last year, Auschwitz is one of Poland's most frequented sites, offering free admission. Previously, visitors would often arrive as early as 3 a.m. to queue for entry cards, leading to disputes among groups, sometimes requiring intervention from security personnel.
Under the new system, tickets can be booked exclusively through the museum's official website, allowing reservations up to three months in advance.
