Auschwitz-Birkenau tour from Krakow: Guaranteed entry with guide

1.5 million lives, two camps, one morning's reckoning

A guided tour from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with guaranteed entry tickets, hotel pickup and drop-off, and a 3.5-hour group tour led in English. Groups stay under 30 people. The tour runs seven to eight hours total. Pickup happens between 5:30 and 7:30 depending on your hotel and the entry time, confirmed by text and email the day before.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial

• Pickup from accommodation
• Watch documentary about Nazi camps
• Tour Auschwitz I camp
• Tour Birkenau camp
• Drop off at accommodation or city center

The experience

Pickup from your Krakow hotel starts between 5:30 and 7:30 in the morning, timed to your entry slot. The drive to Oświęcim takes roughly an hour. On the way, you watch a documentary about the Nazi concentration camps (when available), so the history arrives before you do. Groups stay under 30 people, and your guide speaks English throughout.

The tour splits between two sites. Auschwitz I was the original camp and administrative center: the barracks, the punishment blocks, the records of arrival. Birkenau, a kilometer away across fields, is where the genocide accelerated: the gas chambers, the crematoria, the women's camp. A guide walks you through both, pointing out what the industrial design of the place was built to do. The cold layout of it (the rails, the selection platform, the scale) stays with most visitors longer than any photograph could convey. Your entry is guaranteed. You don't queue at the gate.

After the tour ends, the driver returns you to your hotel or drops you in central Krakow. If you're staying in the Old Town or Jewish Quarter, you'll be left at the closest meeting point. Bags larger than 30 by 20 by 10 centimeters aren't allowed on the grounds, but you can leave them on the bus, which parks nearby.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Krakow.
• guaranteed entry tickets to Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.
• a 3.5-hour guided tour in English with a guide.
• a documentary film about Nazi concentration camps (subject to availability).
• insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum from KrakowGuide in English · 07:00Entry tickets are guaranteed: the entry tickets and the guided tour are booked in advance, so entry is assured and the tours are never cancelled. Pickup is included.

Private transportationGuide in English · 07:00Car or minivan: Travel in a comfortable Skoda Superb sedan or a Mercedes-Benz Vito minivan reserved exclusively for your booking. Shared guide: This option covers private transportation to and from the museum and a shared guide inside the museum, with tickets included. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (26 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (16 to 25 years) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Mr.Shuttle

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're visiting Krakow for the first time and want the logistics handled (pickup, entry, and a guide who knows the sites), so you can focus on what you came to understand. The early start and guaranteed entry mean you move through both camps without the delays that come with independent visits.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 25 years); Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4).

How early do I need to wake up for the Auschwitz tour from Krakow?

Pickup happens between 5:30 and 7:30 in the morning depending on your hotel location and your assigned entry time. The exact time is confirmed by text and email the day before the tour.

What's the difference between Auschwitz I and Birkenau?

Auschwitz I was the original concentration camp and served as the administrative headquarters for the whole complex. Birkenau, located a kilometer away, was initially designed as a concentration camp but quickly became the main site of the genocide, with the gas chambers, crematoria, and the women's camp.

Is the tour guide included, and what language do they speak?

Yes, a live guide in English leads the 3.5-hour tour of both sites. Groups are kept under 30 people.

What can I bring with me to the museum?

Bags and backpacks larger than 30 by 20 by 10 centimeters (roughly 12 by 8 by 4 inches) aren't allowed on the museum grounds. You can leave larger belongings on the bus, which is parked nearby during the tour.

How long is the full day, and when do I get back to my hotel?

The entire tour takes seven to eight hours from pickup to drop-off. After the 3.5-hour guided tour of the sites, you're driven back to your Krakow accommodation or the city center.

Is entry to the museum included?

Yes, guaranteed entry tickets to Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum are included. You don't wait in line at the gate. Your entry time is pre-arranged.