Auschwitz & Birkenau Guided Tour from Krakow with Pickup

Two camps, one guide, a full day of history you cannot absorb alone

A guided tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum from Krakow includes round-trip hotel pickup, a licensed English-speaking guide, entry to both camps, and a headset so you hear clearly in a group of up to 30 people. The tour runs in all weather and covers both Auschwitz I and Birkenau (Auschwitz II), about 65 kilometers from Krakow. Departure times may shift due to the museum's schedule, and you must bring your passport or ID: entry is not possible without it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow

• Pickup from Krakow hotel or address
• Travel to Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Oswiecim
• Short break and view outdoor exhibitions
• Meet licensed local guide
• Tour Auschwitz I camp with headset
• Short break after Auschwitz I visit
• Visit Birkenau (Auschwitz II) camp
• Return to Krakow and drop off at hotel or address

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Krakow hotel or address in an air-conditioned van or minibus, followed by a 1 hour 15 minute drive to Oswiecim. Once you arrive, there is a short break to grab coffee or look at outdoor exhibitions before meeting your local guide, who is licensed by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and speaks English. The guide stays with you for the entire visit, so you do not switch between different voices or lose the thread of what you are seeing.

Auschwitz I takes about 2 hours. You walk through the gate marked "Arbeit Macht Frei" (Work Makes You Free) and move through the original wooden buildings, fortified walls, barbed wire, gas chambers and crematoria. A headset lets you hear your guide clearly even in a group of up to 30 people. The museum's limit, which keeps the visit manageable. The scale of what you are standing in front of becomes impossible to ignore: the preserved ruins, the watchtowers, the railway line and ramp, the Death Wall strewn with flowers left by visitors. After a short break of up to 15 minutes, the driver takes you 3 minutes to Birkenau (Auschwitz II), the largest camp, built in 1941 to hold around 90,000 prisoners. Your same guide continues here, walking you through the barracks remains and explaining the camp's specific purpose and the conditions prisoners endured. The tour ends with the history of liberation on January 27, 1945, and the drive back to your hotel or address in Krakow.

Bring your passport or ID. It is mandatory and will be checked at an airport-style security screening before entry. The site is mostly outdoors, so dress for the weather and bring water on warm days. Photography is allowed except in marked areas, and flash is not permitted inside buildings. Respectful behavior and smart casual dress are required. Eating, smoking and loud behavior are not allowed. Lunch is not included, and there are no food facilities on-site, so bring a snack if you need one. Some Krakow hotels sit in traffic-restricted zones, and if yours does, pickup will be arranged from the nearest accessible point and you will be informed ahead of time.

What’s included

• Round-trip transportation from and to your Krakow hotel or address by air-conditioned vehicle.
• a licensed, English-speaking local guide for the entire visit.
• entry fees to both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau.
• a headset so you hear your guide clearly in the group.
• professional assistance if any issue arises.
• insurance and taxes.

Options for this experience

3 options

Estimated departure time, English tour5 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 11:30The selected time may vary, to be confirmed: the final departure time may change, will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date. English tour for up to 30 people, the official museum group size. Quick meet and go: convenient pickup and drop-off from most Krakow addresses. Pickup is included.

English tour, time guaranteed6 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00Departure time is guaranteed within ±30 minutes and will not change. Entry time has already been verified with the Auschwitz Museum English guide. Up to 30 people, the official group size at the museum. Quick meet and go: convenient pickup and drop-off from most Krakow addresses. Pickup is included.

English tour, limited to 15 people07:15, 09:15 and 11:15Small English tour for a maximum of 15 visitors, half the size of regular tours. The group is up to 15 people, not only the transport. Travel from your address in a cozy atmosphere by van with an English-speaking driver. This option was well-received by 98% of our customers (best of the best 2024). Includes pickup.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day14 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Hello Cracow

Is this one for you?Your schedule determines your start time: book the guaranteed departure if you need to leave at a specific hour, the small-group option for a more personal experience, or the flexible time slot to keep costs down.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

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 long is the drive from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau?

The drive is about 1 hour 15 minutes each way, covering roughly 65 kilometers. You travel by air-conditioned van or minibus with a driver who holds all EU permissions for passenger transport.

What exactly is inside Auschwitz I that I will see?

Auschwitz I contains the original wooden barracks, fortified walls, barbed wire, gas chambers, crematoria, and the gate with the sign "Arbeit Macht Frei." You spend about 2 hours walking through these structures with your guide using a headset so you hear clearly in the group.

Is Birkenau a separate visit, or part of the same tour?

Birkenau (Auschwitz II) is the second part of the same tour. It is only 3 minutes away by vehicle and your guide continues with you. Birkenau was the largest camp, built in 1941 to hold around 90,000 prisoners, and you walk through the barracks remains and learn about conditions there.

What do I need to bring to enter the museum?

You must bring your passport or ID: entry is not possible without it. The ID will be checked at an airport-style security screening before you enter. Full names of all participants must match your ID or passport exactly (no nicknames).

Can I eat lunch during the tour?

Lunch is not included and there is no time for a full meal between the two camps. There are no food facilities on-site, so bring a snack or light food if you need something to eat during the day.

What if the weather is bad? Does the tour still run?

The tour runs in all weather. Up to 70% of the visit takes place outdoors, so dress appropriately for the conditions and bring water on warm days. Respectful behavior and smart casual dress are required. Eating, smoking and loud behavior are not allowed on-site.