Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour from Krakow: Guided with Hotel Pickup

See both camps and understand what happened, with a guide who knows the history

This is a guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex near Krakow, Poland, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. A professional English-speaking guide provided by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum leads groups of up to 30 people through both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau over a full day. Museum entry, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle and the guide are all arranged before you arrive. You provide the names of all participants when you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow

• Hotel pick up in Krakow
• Transfer to Auschwitz-Birkenau museum
• Guided tour of Auschwitz I and II
• Explore gas chambers and barracks
• Return transfer to Krakow hotel

The experience

If you're arriving in Krakow without a rental car or local knowledge, this tour removes the logistics. The driver picks you up from your hotel one day before the tour and confirms the exact pickup time by evening, usually between 4 and 7 p.m. You then travel roughly 65 kilometers to Auschwitz, where the guide takes over. The tour itself runs 6.5 to 7 hours and covers both the main camp (Auschwitz I) and the larger killing center at Birkenau (Auschwitz II), including the gas chambers, crematoria ruins, prisoners' barracks and the railway platform where deportations arrived.

The guide is a licensed professional employed by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum itself, not a freelancer, which shapes what you hear. You walk through the actual buildings and grounds where the Nazi genocide took place, and the guide contextualizes what you're standing in front of: the scale of the camp, the conditions prisoners endured, the machinery of mass murder. Groups stay under 30 people, which keeps the experience from becoming a crowd moving through a crowd. After the tour ends, the driver returns you to your hotel.

Backpacks and bags cannot exceed 30x20x10 centimeters, so pack light. You'll need to provide the full name of every participant (matching a passport or ID) when you book, as the museum requires this for all tickets issued in 2023 and 2024. Arrive on time for pickup. If you miss it and arrive late to the museum, the ticket becomes invalid and entry is refused. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infant car seats are available if you need one.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entry to both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
• transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a professional English-speaking guide provided by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard guided tour that includes hotelGuide in English · No fixed timeincludes pickup

Tour with a private vehicleGuide in English · No fixed timeLasts 7 hours: You will meet the rest of the group at Auschwitz-Birkenau and walk through it together with the other participants. English-language guided tour of Aus-Bir: A shared guided tour conducted in English. Your guide will use a microphone, so he is easy to hear. Private transport: The distinction lies in the vehicle. You have a private car with a private driver, so the car is entirely at your disposal. 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 day

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (5 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 4 years) · Infant (under 2)

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 due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Auschwitz-Krakow Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the regular guided tour if you're traveling without a car and want the camps explained by someone who works for the museum itself. The private transport option suits travelers who prefer to travel alone or with their own group and want more flexibility around timing, though the guide and museum entry remain the same either way.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 17 years); Child (2 to 4 years); Infant (under 2).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Auschwitz from Krakow, and how much of the day does travel take?

Auschwitz is roughly 65 kilometers from Krakow. The tour itself lasts 6.5 to 7 hours at the camps, and the drive adds time on either end, so plan for a full day away from the city.

What exactly is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, entry to both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional English-speaking guide employed by the State Museum are all included. Lunch and bottled water are not.

Do I need to know anything before I book?

You must provide the full name of every participant (as it appears in a passport or ID) when you book, since the museum requires this for ticket issuance. Backpacks and bags cannot exceed 30x20x10 centimeters. Arrive on time for your pickup. If you miss it and arrive late to the museum, your ticket becomes invalid.

What is Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and how does it differ from Auschwitz I?

Auschwitz II-Birkenau is the larger killing center built later in the war, located about three kilometers from the main camp. It held the gas chambers, crematoria and the railway platform where deportations arrived. Auschwitz I, the original camp, served as a concentration camp and administrative center. The tour covers both sites.

Is the tour suitable if I have mobility concerns?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. Service animals are allowed. If you have specific mobility needs, mention them when you book so the operator can confirm what is feasible at both camp sites.