Rules of Conduct & Visitor Etiquette at Auschwitz-Birkenau

The rules of conduct at Auschwitz-Birkenau exist because of what the site is. This is not a museum in the conventional sense — it is the preserved grounds of a mass murder facility, where the remains of victims are still present in the earth. The expectations placed on visitors reflect that reality, and understanding them before you arrive is part of approaching the visit with the right spirit.

This guide covers every rule and expectation, clearly and completely.

Why These Rules Exist

Every rule at Auschwitz-Birkenau stems from a single principle: respect for the victims and for the site as their memorial. When you walk across the grounds of Birkenau, you are walking over ground that contains the ashes and remains of those who were murdered there. When you enter Block 11 at Auschwitz I, you are standing in the same cells where prisoners were tortured and starved. The physical proximity to what happened here is unlike any other museum experience.

The museum staff are trained to enforce the code of conduct firmly but respectfully. The vast majority of visitors arrive with the right understanding. Reading this guide in advance means you will too.

Dress Code

Visitors are required to dress in a manner that reflects the nature of the site. The museum describes this as dressing “befitting the place” — meaning clothing appropriate for a solemn occasion.

Not permitted:

• Very brightly coloured or festive clothing (e.g. carnival colours, neon, heavily decorated party wear)
• Revealing or beach-style clothing (e.g. crop tops, hotpants, swimwear)
• Clothing carrying offensive slogans, imagery, or symbols
• Clothing that would be considered disrespectful in a place of mourning

Practical guidance:

The dress code is not a formal uniform requirement. Jeans, dark trousers, plain t-shirts, and casual but modest clothing are entirely appropriate. The key test is whether you would wear the outfit to a funeral or a formal commemoration — if yes, it is appropriate for Auschwitz.

Museum staff may ask visitors to cover up if their clothing is considered inappropriate. In serious cases, entry may be refused.

Detailed guidance on what to wear, including seasonal packing advice, is in our full what to wear and bring guide.

Behaviour and Conduct on Site

Specific behavioural expectations include:

Speak quietly. Loud conversations — particularly in the exhibition blocks and in the gas chambers — are not appropriate. If you are on a guided tour, listen carefully to your educator-guide rather than talking over them.

Do not climb on or touch structures. The buildings, ruins, fences, and artefacts at Auschwitz-Birkenau are historically significant and often fragile. Do not climb on walls, ruins, or fencing. Do not touch artefacts behind glass or barriers.

Do not remove anything from the site. Taking gravel, soil, fragments of building material, or anything else from the grounds of the memorial is prohibited and deeply disrespectful. This rule is enforced.

Do not lean on structures. A specific and visible form of disrespect that the museum calls out — leaning casually against the walls of the buildings, the gas chamber ruins, or the barracks.

Switch your phone to silent. Phone calls should not be made on the museum grounds. Photography and navigation apps are acceptable — calls are not. If you need to take a call, step entirely outside the museum perimeter.

Move respectfully through the spaces. Rushing, pushing past other visitors, or treating the tour as a race to cover ground quickly is not appropriate. If you need more time in a particular space, tell your guide.

Eating, Drinking, and Smoking

Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the museum buildings or on the camp grounds. Food and drinks must be consumed only in the café areas near the site entrances — at Auschwitz I near the main entrance, and at Birkenau near the Birkenau gate.

Bringing food into the museum buildings is not allowed. Water bottles may be carried but not drunk while walking through the exhibitions or outdoor grounds — use the designated café and rest areas.

Smoking is prohibited throughout the museum grounds. There is no designated smoking area within the memorial site.

Photography Rules

Photography for personal purposes is permitted throughout most of both sites, without flash and without a tripod. Two specific areas prohibit photography entirely:

• The room displaying the hair of victims in Block 4 at Auschwitz I
• The basement cells of Block 11 at Auschwitz I

Signs at the entrances to both spaces make these restrictions clear. The prohibition on photographing victims’ hair is an act of dignity — the hair on display belonged to people, and photographing it for personal use is considered a violation of their memory.

Photography for commercial purposes, drone photography, and filming for broadcast or distribution all require prior written approval from the museum. Full details are in our photography rules guide.

Bag and Item Restrictions

Bags brought inside the museum must not exceed 35×25×15 cm. Larger bags must be stored in your vehicle or in the on-site luggage storage facility near the entrance (fee applies). There are no lockers inside the museum grounds.

Items not permitted inside the site:

• Large rucksacks or bags (exceeding 35×25×15 cm)
• Food and drinks (inside the buildings and grounds)
• Selfie sticks
• Tripods or monopods
• Drones

Always bring:

• Valid photo ID (name must match your entry pass exactly)
• Your entry pass (on your phone or printed)
• Water (to consume in designated areas only)

Children Under 14

The museum recommends that children under 14 do not visit, due to the graphic and emotionally intense nature of the exhibitions. This is guidance rather than a legal restriction — children under 14 are not turned away, but the decision rests with parents and guardians. A supervised childcare facility is available near the entrance for families with younger children. Full guidance is in our visiting with children guide.

Entry Pass and ID Requirements

All visitors must have a pre-booked personalised entry pass. The name on the pass must exactly match the name on the identity document presented at the security checkpoint. Discrepancies — including different name orderings, missing middle names, or abbreviations — can result in refusal of entry.

Acceptable identity documents include a passport, national identity card, or photo driver’s licence. Entry is refused to anyone unable to present a matching ID.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your entry slot to allow time for the security process.