Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow: Guided Tour with Tickets & Transfer

Summary

Walk the grounds of Auschwitz & Birkenau with a guide from Krakow, hear stories that stay with you, hotel pickup and entry included

You’ll travel from Krakow with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide provided by the Auschwitz Museum. Walk through Auschwitz’s barracks and Birkenau’s vast grounds while hearing personal stories from your guide. There’s a short break between camps before returning to Krakow in an air-conditioned van. This day will stay with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

How do you even prepare for a day like this? The van picked us up in Krakow just after sunrise — I remember the city was still half asleep, mist curling off the river. Our driver barely spoke but nodded politely; everyone was quiet. I kept thinking about what we were about to see. It’s not a long drive, but it felt longer than usual, maybe because nobody really knew what to say.

At Auschwitz, our guide met us at the entrance — she introduced herself as Marta and spoke in this steady voice that somehow made it easier to listen. She pointed out the “Arbeit Macht Frei” gate and explained things I’d read about but never really understood until standing there. The gravel crunched under our shoes as we walked between barracks; there was this faint scent of damp stone and old wood. Sometimes Marta would pause so long you could hear birds outside the fence. I caught myself holding my breath more than once.

There’s a break between Auschwitz and Birkenau — just enough time to sit on a bench and look at your shoes or talk quietly if you need to. Birkenau felt even more vast, almost empty except for the watchtowers and those endless railway tracks. Marta told us stories about families arriving here; one detail stuck with me — she said some locals still leave flowers by the tracks every year. I didn’t expect that part.

The whole tour takes around 6-7 hours round trip from Krakow, including all transfers and museum tickets (they check passports at the entrance — don’t forget yours). By the time we got back to the city, it was late afternoon and we were all just sort of looking out the window, thinking our own thoughts. Even now, I still think about that silence inside Birkenau.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow

• Pick up from Krakow hotel
• Travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp
• Guided tour of Auschwitz camp
• Short break after Auschwitz visit
• Guided tour of Birkenau camp
• Return to Krakow

Top questions

How long is the Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow?

The full tour lasts about 6.5–7 hours round trip from Krakow, including transfers.

Is hotel pickup included for this day trip?

Yes, hotel or apartment pickup in Krakow is included in your booking.

Do I need to buy tickets separately for Auschwitz?

No, entry/admission fees are included in your tour package.

How much time do we spend at each camp?

The guided visit is about 1.5 hours at Auschwitz and 1 hour at Birkenau.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The tour is led by an English-speaking guide provided by the museum.

Is there a break during the tour?

Yes, there’s a short 10–15 minute break after visiting Auschwitz before heading to Birkenau.

Do I need to bring ID or passport?

Yes, you must bring your ID or passport for entry into Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Krakow, entry fees for both Auschwitz and Birkenau (so no ticket lines), round-trip transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle, plus a licensed English-speaking guide provided by the museum itself—just remember your passport for entry checks.