Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau: Guided Tour & Hotel Pickup

A driver arrives at your hotel at dawn to take you to Poland's most difficult history

You're picked up from your hotel early, driven to Auschwitz-Birkenau with a licensed English-speaking guide, given headphones for the 3.5-hour tour of both camps, and returned to Krakow by afternoon. The whole experience takes seven hours and removes the transport, entry, and navigation from your hands.

Step-by-step itinerary

Auschwitz Birkenau Guided Tour from Krakow

• Hotel pickup between 07:30 and 09:30
• Travel to Auschwitz (about 1 hour 15 minutes)
• English guided tour of Auschwitz and Birkenau
• Return to Krakow accommodation or city destination

The experience

The minivan pulls up between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning. Your hotel front desk or the building entrance, depending on where you're staying. Within an hour and fifteen minutes of leaving Krakow, you're at Auschwitz. The whole day runs about seven hours, and most of that time is spent on the ground with a licensed museum guide who speaks English and provides headphones so you can hear clearly even in a large group. The guide takes you through both Auschwitz and Birkenau, the two Nazi camps that operated here, and the tour itself lasts around three and a half hours.

What strikes people most is the scale of it: the barracks, the fences, the records. A licensed museum guide leads the tour, not a general travel guide, which means the information is precise and the pace is respectful. You'll need your ID or passport to enter. The museum enforces this at the gate. Backpacks and bags can't be larger than 30 by 20 by 10 centimeters, so pack light. Comfortable walking shoes matter. There's a lot of ground to cover, and the paths are uneven in places.

After the tour ends, the same driver takes you back to Krakow, either to your hotel or anywhere else in the city you'd rather be dropped. The transport is air-conditioned, and the cars are disinfected before each service. You don't arrange tickets separately, don't navigate the logistics yourself, and don't have to figure out how to get there and back. It's all included in the price.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off (or drop-off at another Krakow location), round-trip transport by air-conditioned minivan, entry to both Auschwitz and Birkenau camps, a licensed English-speaking museum guide, and headphones for the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Krakow Auschwitz - Tours

Is this one for you?Right for anyone traveling from Krakow who wants to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau without arranging transport, entry tickets, or a guide separately: the pickup from your hotel and the fixed seven-hour schedule mean you show up ready to go, and the licensed guide handles the rest.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup happens between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., with the exact time confirmed when you book. You reach Auschwitz about 1 hour 15 minutes after pickup.

How long is the tour?

The entire day is about 7 hours. The guided tour of both camps takes around 3.5 hours.

Do I need to bring ID?

Yes. You must bring your ID or passport: the museum requires it at the gate and won't allow entry without it.

What size bag can I bring?

Backpacks and handbags cannot exceed 30 by 20 by 10 centimeters. Plan accordingly.

Is the guide in English?

Yes. The tour is conducted in English by a licensed museum guide, and headphones are provided.

What's included in the price?

Transport by air-conditioned minivan, the licensed guide, headphones, hotel pickup and drop-off, and entry to both camps.

Can I be dropped off somewhere other than my hotel?

Yes. After the tour, you can be returned to your hotel or any other location within Krakow.

What's the minimum group size?

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required.