Auschwitz Birkenau guided tour from Krakow with hotel pickup

You travel in a small group but tour with a larger one, which changes how the day unfolds.

A guided tour of Auschwitz and Birkenau departing from Krakow with hotel pickup, professional transportation, entrance tickets and a licensed local guide included. The drive from Krakow takes 1.5 hours in a minivan with up to 8 travelers. The museum tour itself takes place in a 30-person group with headphones so you can hear the guide clearly across both sites. Hotel pickups run between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, and the whole day lasts about 6.5 hours from pickup to drop-off. A 15-minute break separates the Auschwitz 1 tour (roughly 2 hours) from the Birkenau section.

Step-by-step itinerary

Auschwitz Birkenau guided tour from Krakow

• Hotel pickup in Krakow
• Travel to Auschwitz (1.5 hours)
• Security and ID check
• Auschwitz 1 guided tour (2 hours)
• 15-minute break
• Transfer to Birkenau museum
• Birkenau guided tour (90 minutes)
• Return to hotel in Krakow

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup 1.5 hours before your scheduled tour time. You travel in a comfortable minivan with an English or French-speaking driver and up to 7 other travelers: small enough that the ride itself feels manageable, not like a bus full of strangers. The route to Auschwitz takes 1.5 hours. Once you arrive, the driver hands you your entrance tickets and walks you through the security check (similar to airport screening, with ID verification). Then you join a 30-person group with a licensed local guide and receive headphones so you can hear clearly throughout the museum.

The first part, Auschwitz 1, lasts about 2 hours. After a 15-minute break, a short transfer takes you to Birkenau, the second part of the museum. The headphones stay with you for both sections, which matters because the guide's voice carries across the outdoor grounds and crowded spaces where you'd otherwise struggle to hear. When the tour ends, the driver takes you back to your hotel.

The structure (small group transport, then a larger guided group at the museum itself) means you skip the ticket queue entirely and avoid the confusion of finding your guide among hundreds of arrivals. Your driver stays with you through the security process and hands off to the museum guide, so there's no moment where you're standing alone trying to figure out what comes next. For last-minute bookings, pickup times are confirmed one day before the tour after 3:00 pm.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a comfortable minivan.
• transportation to and from the museum sites.
• entrance tickets to both Auschwitz and Birkenau.
• headsets for the guided tour.
• a licensed local guide in English or French.
• all fees and taxes.
• professional assistance throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

English-language guided tour with hotel pickup5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 13:00Skip-the-line entrance tickets: the exact pickup time will be confirmed closer to the tour date. Driver's assistance is included, and pickup is included.

Italian-language guided tour with hotel pickupGuide in English · Only on 5 Dec · 09:00Italian-language tour, 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 day6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 13:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by 4Travellers

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to skip the ticket queue and travel with a small group from your hotel, but prefer the structure and expertise of a larger guided group once you arrive at the museum. The minivan keeps the ride intimate while the professional guide and headphones ensure you hear everything clearly across both sprawling sites.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Krakow to Auschwitz?

The drive takes 1.5 hours each way. Hotel pickup happens 1.5 hours before your scheduled tour time, so if your tour starts at 9:00 am, pickup would be around 7:30 am.

What's included in the ticket price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation in the minivan, entrance tickets to both Auschwitz and Birkenau, a licensed local guide, headsets for the museum tour, and all fees and taxes are included. Professional assistance is available if any issue arises during the day.

How many people are in the tour group?

The minivan holds up to 8 travelers total, including you. Once at the museum, you join a 30-person guided group with a professional guide and headphones.

What languages is the guide available in?

The tour is available in English or French. You choose your language preference when you book, and the driver speaks English or French as well.

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

Yes, the minimum age is 13 years old.

What happens if I book last-minute?

For last-minute bookings, your pickup time is confirmed one day before the tour after 3:00 pm. Hotel pickups typically run between 6:00 am and 8:00 am.