Krakow to Auschwitz | The Ultimate Guide To Your Auschwitz Trip
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Auschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup from Krakow Center
- Immerse yourself in a historical experience with a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp complex, delving into the sobering events of World War II.
- Enjoy the convenience of hotel pick-up, from central Krakow, and exclusive skip-the-line access, ensuring a seamless journey to the memorial site.
- Travel to the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex aboard an air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking driver, while your expert guide brings history to life.
- Gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust through a guided tour of the outdoor museum, exhibits, and the camp's harrowing past.
- Choose from five language options for your guided tour, catering to your preferences and ensuring an informative experience.
Inclusions
- An expert licensed English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German-speaking guide
- Pick-up from the hotel or from the nearest possible pick-up point
- Transport by an air-conditioned minivan or minibus
- Service of an experienced driver/English-speaking tour manager
- Entry tickets
- Audio equipment rental
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Toilets located near the museum are paid
- Pick-up from the hotels located far from the center of Krakow
- Note that last-minute tour timing changes may occasionally occur due to the nature of the venue. In rare cases, tours may be rescheduled to the following day, ensuring you still get the full experience.
- Note: The tour includes pick-up services from the hotels located in the center of Krakow. If your hotel location is in an area beyond this or in an area with limited traffic/accessibility, then you will be picked up from the nearest possible pickup place. The exact location and pickup time will be provided to you by the tour operator at least a day before your scheduled tour.
- This tour takes place in English, Italian, French, German, or Spanish.
- It is not recommended that children under 14 visit the memorial.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Auschwitz-Birkenau: Fast-Track Tickets & Official Guided Tour (Without Transfers)
- Take a profound journey through history with an official guide at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, a powerful testament to the human spirit amidst tragedy.
- This ticket has fast-track entry privileges and allows you to pass through the security line and start your tour as quickly as possible.
- Join an authorized tour group, with up to 30 people, led by an expert Auschwitz-Birkenau guide, ensuring an informative and immersive experience.
- Learn about the tragic history and treatment of the Jews and other prisoners of the Holocaust and see the stark ruins of their everyday living conditions.
- Explore the cabins and crematoriums in Birkenau, the watchtowers, railway ramps, and a former gas chamber of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The tour lasts approximately 3.5 hours, with 1.5-2 hours at Auschwitz and 1-1.5 hours at Birkenau, providing ample time to explore both locations thoroughly.
Inclusions
- Fast-track entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Pre-booked ticket for Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II–Birkenau
- Local host who will meet you close to Auschwitz I
- Guided tour by an official Auschwitz-Birkenau guide (English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian-speaking)
- Headsets
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Transportation to/from Krakow or other cities
- Parking fees
- Transportation beetwen Auschwitz & Birkenau
- Note that last-minute tour timing changes may occasionally occur due to the nature of the venue. In rare cases, tours may be rescheduled to the following day, ensuring you still get the full experience.
- It is not recommended that children under 14 visit the memorial.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Auschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour with Transfers from Meeting Point & Optional Lunch
- Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, located inside the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim.
- With an expert guide by your side, understand the consequences of World War II and the Holocaust. Walk through the camp and see the real places and barracks that prisoners lived in.
- Discover the grueling lives that inmates here were forced to lead as you come across the various exhibits.
- Your guide will also take you to the camp at Birkenau, to see the living conditions the prisoners were subjected to, and the gas chambers where they were executed en masse.
- Choose the preferred language for your tour guide from 6 available options. Upgrade to include lunch in your ticket and pick-up service from Przystanek, Turystyczny, Kiss, and Ride.
Inclusions
- Expert tour guide available in 6 languages.
- Round-trip transportation from Krakow with pick-up from the meeting point
- Lunch (optional)
- Pick-up from Przystanek, Turystyczny, Kiss, and Ride (optional)
- Transportation in an air-conditioned minivan
- Skip-the-line access
- Entrance fees
- Tip: Don't miss out on visiting the blocks in the camp that are open to the public as these contain important or interesting historical information panels in Polish and English.
- Note that last-minute tour timing changes may occasionally occur due to the nature of the venue. In rare cases, tours may be rescheduled to the following day, ensuring you still get the full experience.
- Please note that eating, smoking, and acting in a loud manner are not allowed at the site.
- Also, bear in mind that Auschwitz is a memorial and therefore, appropriate attire is expected.
- Your bigger belongings will have to be left in a car. They will be locked and supervised by the driver.
- You are allowed to take photos only in selected parts of the Museum. Flash photography is forbidden.
- Note: As per the requirements of Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, all participants are required to provide their full names and contact details as part of the booking.
- Entry may be refused if the name provided on the booking is not identical to the name on the ID provided when entering.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Auschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour and Lunch with Hotel Pickup from Krakow Center
- Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp complex on this guided tour with lunch and hotel pickup from Krakow Center included in your ticket.
- The ticket provides exclusive skip-the-line access that will allow you to enter the museum almost immediately after getting picked up from your hotel or the nearest possible pick-up point.
- Journey to the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex in an air-conditioned minibus with an English-speaking driver.
- Follow an expert guide to explore this solemn reminder of one of history’s darkest periods. Pick one of five languages (English, Italian, French, German, or Spanish) for your guided tour of the concentration camp.
- See the exhibits at the outdoor museum and learn more about the camp and its history from your guide.
- Your ticket also includes a lunch box, offering both vegetarian and meat options. You can inform the operator of your choice during the time of booking.
Inclusions
- Expert licensed guide (English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German)
- Pick-up from the hotel or from the nearest possible pick-up point
- Transport by an air-conditioned minivan or minibus
- Service of an experienced driver/English-speaking tour manager
- Entry tickets
- Audio equipment rental
- Food: Lunchbox with ham or Cheese Sandwich or Hummus Sandwich Fruits, Chocolate
- Drinks: Water
Exclusions
- Toilets located near the museum are paid
- Pick-up from the hotels located far from the center of Krakow
- Note that last-minute tour timing changes may occasionally occur due to the nature of the venue. In rare cases, tours may be rescheduled to the following day, ensuring you still get the full experience.
- Note: The tour includes pick-up services from the hotels located in the center of Krakow. If your hotel location is in an area beyond this or in an area with limited traffic/accessibility, then you will be picked up from the nearest possible pickup place. The exact location and pickup time will be provided to you by the tour operator at least a day before your scheduled tour.
- Make sure that you provide the tour operator with your hotel room number for the pick-up.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Auschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup in Minivan from Krakow
- Visit one of the most important places in the history of World War II, Auschwitz-Birkenau.
- A local driver will pick you up and drop you back at your accommodation for a convenient experience.
- Learn all about the holocaust and genocide from an expert local guide.
- Take a walk around the camp and look at all the rooms and areas where millions were tortured.
- See the original buildings and personal artifacts left behind by inmates and prison guards.
- Pay your respects to the victims of the concentration camps as you hear stories of their survival from your guide.
- Choose from an English, German, French, Italian, or Spanish guided tour.
Inclusions
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation
- Transportation in an air-conditioned minivan
- Expert driver
- Entrance fees
- Expert local guide (available in multiple languages)
- Headset
Exclusions
- Personal expenses
- Note that last-minute tour timing changes may occasionally occur due to the nature of the venue. In rare cases, tours may be rescheduled to the following day, ensuring you still get the full experience.
- Large bags and luggage are not allowed to be carried inside.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Combo: Auschwitz-Birkenau & Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow with Optional Lunch
- This experience offers a guided tour of two concentration camps and a historic mine with an English-speaking guide.
- Hotel pickups and drop-offs from your hotel/hostel/accommodation in Krakow add to the convenience of this tour.
- You'll begin at the Nazi Holocaust's largest concentration camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau, a 2-part tour that begins at Auschwitz.
- At the second camp of Birkenau, you'll see the original barracks and locations where prisoners were held. As you walk through the camp, your guide will tell facts and stories about the prisoners.
- Visit Wieliczka Salt Mine, an attraction that speaks to Poland's mineral and religious culture.
- Descend 135 meters below ground level and follow the tourist route past multiple chambers, original sculptures, and authentic miner workplaces.
- Upgrade to include a lunchbox with veg and non-veg options in your ticket.
Inclusions
- Pick-up from the hotel or from the meeting point
- Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Service of an experienced driver/English-speaking tour manager
- Lunchbox with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options (optional)
- Entry tickets
- Tour with a professional guide
- Audio equipment rental
- Note that last-minute tour timing changes may occasionally occur due to the nature of the venue. In rare cases, tours may be rescheduled to the following day, ensuring you still get the full experience.
- The pace and duration of the tours are determined by the memorial’s visitor service.
- Note: As per the requirements of Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, all participants must provide their full name as part of the booking. Entry may be refused if the name provided on the booking is not identical to the name on the ID provided when entering.
- Pick-up is possible from the hotels located in the center of Cracow. If your hotel location is in an area beyond this or in an area with limited traffic/accessibility, then you will be picked up from the nearest possible pickup place. The tour operator will provide the exact location and pickup time at least a day before your scheduled tour.
- Sightseeing in the salt mine takes place 135 m under the surface where the temperature is between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius. We recommend wearing appropriate clothes.
- The maximum dimensions of a bag: Auschwitz-Birkenau – 30 x 20 x 10 cm, Wieliczka Salt Mine – 35 x 20 x 20 cm.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Guided Tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine from Kraków
- Experience Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine in a single day with comfortable transportation on this guided tour from Krakow.
- Learn about Nazi concentration camps from your guide and respect the memory of the atrocities committed against victims.
- Walk through the camp and see the prisons and barracks that prisoners lived in with exhibits of their personal belongings such as shoes, hats, photographs, and documents.
- On the 2-hour walk out of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, you will see numerous rock salt statues, chandeliers and a magnificent cathedral.
- See how salt was extracted, and learn about the space's history and the health properties of the salt mine from your guide as you tour its multiple chambers.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau & Wieliczka Salt Mine
- English-speaking guide
- Entry fees to Auschwitz, Birkenau & the Salt Mine
- Transfers from the meeting point (optional)
- Transfers from your hotel (optional)
Exclusions
- Food & drinks
- Tip: Should you get hungry, then there’s a cafeteria inside the mine with a menu offering various dishes, desserts, and beverages to choose from.
- Bring your passport or ID card; for entrance to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, the name provided on the booking must be identical to the name on the ID.
- This site is not wheelchair accessible.
- Dress modestly (out of respect for the deceased) and wear weather-appropriate clothing; the salt mine temperature is around 14–15 degrees Celsius.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Auschwitz & Birkenau: Tour with Individual Entrance
- Explore Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, at your own pace, on this self-guided tour.
- Your ticket includes transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle after you get picked up from Krakow.
- Get an intimate look into the life of the unfortunate victims who lived here through photographs, letters, and more.
- See the ruins of gas chambers and crematoria buildings.
- Due to changes in time owing to operational restrictions at the venue, the start time of the tour may vary. However, the exact time will be provided to you by your local operator the day before the tour.
- Important: As visitors will be visiting a former extermination camp, all visitors are expected to commemorate the dead and adjust their clothing and behavior to reflect the solemnness of the site.
Inclusions
- Experienced English-speaking driver
- Round trip transfer in air-conditioned vehicles
- Pick up from select locations
- Entrance fees
Exclusions
- Guide
- Audio guide
- Food and drinks
The pick-up points available on this tour include:
- Hotel Warszawski, Pawia 4-6 street
- Wielopole 2 street
- Lwowska 1 street
- Sheraton Grand Kraków, Powiśle 7 street
- Radisson Blu Hotel
- Dielta 97
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Full-Day Tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine with Transfers from Krakow & Lunch
- On this tour, get a chance to pay your respect to the many victims of the Holocaust as you visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial.
- You will be able to witness the lives lived by these victims as you explore the two concentration camps and a historic salt mine on this tour.
- Your tour will begin at the Nazi Holocaust's largest concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where your guide will let you in on the stories of the lives lived by the Holocaust victims held here.
- You will then head to Birkenau, where you will witness the original barracks and locations where prisoners were held.
- You will then get to unwind as you indulge in a wholesome lunch, available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
- After this relaxing lunch break, your tour guide will lead you to Wieliczka Salt Mine 135 meters below ground level, to get a closer look into Poland's mineral and religious culture.
- Please note: The name in your booking should match the full name in your photo ID, as per Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum requirements.
Inclusions
- Entry tickets
- Pick-up from the hotel or from the meeting point
- Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Lunchbox - vegetarian & non-vegetarian options available (optional)
- Service of an experienced driver/English-speaking tour manager
- Tour with a professional guide
- Audio rental equipment
This ticket has the following options that you can choose from:
- English Guided Tour
- Italian Guided Tour
- Spanish Guided Tour
- Small Group English Guided Tour
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Day Tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum from Krakow
- Go on a day tour from Krakow to Auschwitz Museum and Birkenau Camp, one of the most historically significant places in Europe.
- Listen to your English-speaking guide provide insights into the ghastly stories behind each exhibit and the struggles faced by the inmates under the Nazi regime.
- Get comfy round-trip transfers by an air-conditioned vehicle. Immerse yourself in the history of the Holocaust with an introductory documentary in the car.
Inclusions
- 3.5-hr group tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Hotel pick-up & drop-off from Krakow
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Documentary movie
- Transfers by A/C vehicle
Exclusions
- Food & drinks
- Tip: The tour can be draining physically, mentally, and emotionally. Feel free to take a short break during the experience.
- Please bring your photo ID or passport and a jacket.
- Please note that pick-up from Balice Airport or hotels near the airport has an additional fee of 99 PLN per booking.
- This tour can accommodate a maximum of 30 people in 1 group.
- The maximum baggage size allowed on this tour is 30 x 20 x 10 cm.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
The Auschwitz Concentration Camp, also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, is an important historic landmark in Poland. Established during World War II as part of the Nazi regime’s Final Solution Policy, which sought for the genocide of Jewish people, the extermination camp, was the site for the murder of over 1.3 million people. Today, it stands as a symbol of the Holocaust.
For those traveling through Krakow, the historical capital of Poland city, Auschwitz is a must-visit. Below you can find all the information you need to plan a trip from Krakow to Auschwitz.
Getting to Auschwitz from Krakow
By Bus
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cost: € 2.5 - € 4
Buses ply frequently Krakow MDA, the main bus station at Oswiecim. Most stop at Oswiecim Muzeum stop. From here, a short 10-minute walk will take you to the museum entrance.
By Train
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Cost: € 3
Get on at the Krakow Główny station, near Krakow Old Town. Alight at Oświęcim central station. From the station, you will have to either walk, which will take you about 25 minutes, or take a local bus. Numbers 24-29 stop at Auschwitz I. Tickets will cost you less than € 1.
By Car
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cost: € 61
Those who don't wish to spend a lot of time on the road, can hire a taxi. If you have your own car, both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau have paid car parks for visitors. You can enter them from Stanislawa Leszczynska 16 street.
Guided Tour
Duration: 7 - 11 hours
Cost: Starts at €23.56
Enjoy a hassle-free trip by opting for a guided tour from Krakow to Auschwitz. You will be taken to and from Krakow in an air-conditioned minibus. You will be picked up from a common meeting point and will be accompanied by an expert guide.
Verdict: Which Method Should You Choose?
If on a budget, choose the bus. While you will have to get hold of the entry tickets for Auschwitz on your own, you can travel from Krakow to Auschwitz and back for less than € 8. It is also the quickest mode of public transport.
For a hassle-free trip, opt for a guided tour: While a slightly more costly option, this method allows you to enjoy the trip without having to worry about the logistics.
Plan Your Day Trip from Krakow to Auschwitz
Where to eat
Budget
Rules and regulations
Facilities
Weather
Things to do nearby
- Auschwitz I camp has a restaurant and a fast-food counter to get food and drinks but there is no food available at Auschwitz II camp. Eating or drinking inside the camp is not allowed.
- Bistro Bilard: Enjoy some pizza and cold beer at this no-frills joint across the street.
- Kebab Pizza Burger Allis: A 12-minute walk away, the restaurant offers Italian, American, and Turkish cuisine. Their burgers come highly recommended.
- A La Carte: Enjoy an authentic Polish meal at this restaurant only 1 km away.
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- Day trips can cost anywhere from €23.56 to €65.45.
- Guided tour tickets include travel.
- Set aside some money for food, which could cost around €5 to €10, depending on your preference.
- There's no dress code in place at Auschwitz. However, visitors are expected to dress respectfully, keeping the historical significance of the place in mind.
- Ensure your backpack or handbag does not exceed dimensions: 30x20x10 cm.
- Photography is allowed inside the Auschwitz concentration camp.
- It is recommended that children under the age of 14 not visit the camp.
- Carrying and consuming food or alcohol is not allowed.
- Smoke cigarettes and e-cigarettes is not allowed.
- Toilets: Washrooms are available at both camps. A small fee is applicable.
- Storage Room: There is a luggage storage facility available near the main entrance. The fee for using one luggage locker is PLN 5 and is non-refundable.
- Bookshop: Choose from a wide variety of books, films, memoirs. You can also purchase them from the online book shop.
- Wheelchair access: Due to safety reasons, access for wheelchairs is restricted to the ground floor of buildings included in the tour.
- March-May: Mid-40°F to high-60°F. Thanks to the post-winter lull, crowds are lesser at this time. Expect rain showers, so carry an umbrella with you.
- June-August: Low 50°F to mid-70°F. While the warm temperature draws a larger crowd, if you are a sun-chaser, August is the ideal month for you.
- September-November: Mid-60°F to mid-40°F temperatures. Expect a slight nip in the bud. November sees the least amount of rain.
- December-February: Pack some extra layers if you will be traveling during the winters. Temperatures can drop down from mid-40°F to low-20°F.
- Centrum Żydowskie: Also called the Auschwitz Synagogue, this is the only active synagogue in the town of Oświęcim.
- Muzeum Zamek w Oświęcimiu: This medieval castle museum houses local Catholic and Jewish artifacts and archeological finds.
- Jakob Haberfeld Story: Learn how vodka is made and the history of the Haberfield family, whose fate was dramatically interrupted by World War II.
- Sola: The river flows within meters of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. It is believed that human ashes and ground bones of those murdered there were often dumped into the river.
All you need to know about Krakow to Auschwitz tours
Q. Where do I get my ticket from?
A. Tickets for Krakow to Auschwitz tours are available online. A copy will be emailed to you right after your purchase.
Q. Do I need to bring my passport with me for the Krakow to Auschwitz tour?
A. No, you are not required to carry your passport with you. Your e-ticket is sufficient.
Q. How long does the Krakow to Auschwitz tour take?
A. The Auschwitz to Krakow tours can take between 7 to 8 hours.
Q. Is food included in the tour?
A. No, food is not part of the tour package. However, you are allowed to bring your own food. There is also an eatery at Auschwitz.
Q. Are tickets for Auschwitz to Krakow tours expensive?
A. Tickets start from €23.56. Check our website for more information.
Q. Are tours available in different languages?
A. Yes, Auschwitz to Krakow tours are available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and German.
Q. Are tickets refundable?
A. The cancellation policy varies for each tour. Some tickets can be canceled up to 24 hours before the tour. Check our website for more information.
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About Auschwitz Concentration Camp
Visiting Auschwitz
