Auschwitz, Birkenau & Wieliczka Salt Mine tour from Krakow

Two of Poland's most significant sites in a single day, with a guide who knows both stories.

A full-day guided tour from Krakow combines a memorial visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps with an afternoon descent into Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the world's oldest working salt mines. Licensed guides lead the Auschwitz portion in English with headsets. A separate guide takes you 140 meters underground through over 2.5 kilometers of salt chambers, including St. Kinga's Chapel carved entirely from salt. Hotel pickup, skip-the-line tickets to both sites, transport between locations, and a documentary about liberation are included. You choose between meeting-point departure or hotel collection.

Step-by-step itinerary

Auschwitz and Salt Mine Tour

• Transport from Krakow to Oswiecim
• Brief break and meet local guide
• Tour Auschwitz I camp
• Short break
• Tour Birkenau camp
• Transfer to Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Break before Salt Mine tour
• Guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Return to Krakow

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Krakow hotel or a designated meeting point, then a 65-kilometer drive to Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim: about an hour and fifteen minutes. A group leader travels with you, and once you arrive, a locally licensed guide takes over. You'll walk through the gate of Auschwitz I under the sign "Arbeit Macht Frei," then spend roughly two hours exploring the original wooden barracks, fortified walls, gas chambers and crematoria. A headset lets you hear your guide clearly. Groups stay under 30 people per museum regulations.

After a short break, you move to Birkenau, the larger camp three minutes away, where your guide continues the narrative of the camp's construction in 1941 and its capacity to hold around 90,000 prisoners. The tour concludes with the story of liberation on January 27, 1945. Then you're driven to Wieliczka Salt Mine with roughly an hour to rest, grab coffee or eat before your underground tour begins at 4pm or 5pm depending on road conditions.

At Wieliczka, you descend 400 steps to reach the mines, then walk a 2.5-hour route through chambers and corridors 140 meters below ground. The centerpiece is St. Kinga's Chapel (54 meters long and 12 meters high) carved from salt with chandeliers made of salt crystals. You'll ride an authentic miners' lift to the surface and see underground salt lakes and chambers that exist nowhere else. The mine has produced salt for over 700 years. After the tour, it's a 40-minute drive back to Krakow.

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entry tickets to both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine.
• professional licensed guide at Auschwitz with headsets for clear audio.
• separate guide for the Wieliczka tour.
• hotel pickup from Krakow or meeting-point departure.
• air-conditioned transport between all sites.
• documentary film about the liberation of Auschwitz.
• authentic miners' lift ride to the surface at Wieliczka.
• visit to St. Kinga's Chapel underground.
• travel insurance.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guided tour special offerGuide in English · Available from 19 Nov · 06:15This option is a ticket for a one-day guided tour of the Salt Mine and Auschwitz Museum, with transportation from the meeting point.

Guided tour departing from a meeting pointGuide in English · Available from 5 Nov · 06:00, 06:15 and 06:30Pick this option for a one-day guided tour covering the Salt Mine and the Auschwitz Museum, starting from the meeting point.

Guided tour that includes pickup from your hotelGuide in English · Available from 5 Nov · 05:45, 06:15 and 06:45Choose this option for a ticket to a one-day guided tour of the Salt Mine and Auschwitz Museum that includes hotel pickup.

Guided tour booked at the last minuteGuide in English · 06:15 and 08:25This option is a last-minute ticket for a guided tour of the Salt Mine and Auschwitz Museum, with transportation provided from the meeting point.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 05:45, the last at 08:25

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 35

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Krakow Tours by KrakowDirect

Is this one for you?Pick hotel pickup for door-to-door convenience, or meet at the starting point if you prefer to drive yourself. Both options fit Auschwitz and Wieliczka into one day rather than splitting across two.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

How long does the whole day take from pickup to return?

The full experience runs about 10.5 hours including transport, both guided tours, and breaks. Auschwitz takes roughly 3.5 hours (two hours at Auschwitz I, 1 to 1.5 hours at Birkenau), Wieliczka takes 2.5 hours, and the rest is driving between sites and a one-hour rest stop before the salt mine tour.

What exactly is St. Kinga's Chapel and why is it worth seeing?

St. Kinga's Chapel is an underground chapel carved entirely from salt deep inside Wieliczka Salt Mine, measuring 54 meters long and 12 meters high. It resembles the interior of a medieval wooden church and features chandeliers made of salt crystals, making it a rare underground structure that cannot be seen anywhere else on the surface.

Do I need to bring anything specific or wear anything particular?

Bring your passport or ID. It's required to enter Auschwitz-Birkenau. For Wieliczka, wear warm clothing because temperatures underground stay around 59°F (15°C). Carry-on luggage cannot exceed 30 x 20 x 10 cm. You can leave larger bags in the vehicle. Note that the salt mine route includes over 800 stairs total, and narrow paths may feel claustrophobic. Once underground, you cannot shorten the tour or turn back.

Can I take photos at both sites?

Yes, photography is generally allowed at both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine, though a few areas have clear restrictions posted. Check signage as you move through each site.