Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine tour from Krakow in one day

Two UNESCO sites in one day: a concentration camp memorial and a 700-year-old salt mine

A 12-hour guided tour from Krakow combines a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, 50 km west, with an afternoon descent into Wieliczka Salt Mine. An English-speaking guide leads a 2.5-hour tour of Auschwitz I and a 1-hour walk through Auschwitz II–Birkenau, then transfers you to Wieliczka for a 2.5-hour underground journey through salt chambers and carved statues 140 metres below the surface. Hotel pickup and drop-off, museum tickets, transport by air-conditioned minivan and headphones are included. Bags larger than 30x20x10 cm are not permitted at the museum, and descent to the mine's first level requires climbing 378 wooden stairs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Zakrzowekpass by
2. Auschwitz Jewish Center4h · entry included
3. Wieliczka Salt Mine3h · entry included

Visit Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine

• Travel from Krakow to Auschwitz I
• Join English guided tour at Auschwitz I
• Transfer to Auschwitz II - Birkenau
• Tour Auschwitz II - Birkenau with guide
• Travel to Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Join English guided tour of Salt Mine
• Descend wooden stairway to mine level
• Explore chambers and salt carvings
• Ascend to surface by lift

The experience

Can you fit two major sites into a single day from Krakow? Yes, if one is a memorial 50 km away and the other is underground. The tour starts with hotel pickup and a drive west to Oświęcim, where Auschwitz I opens with an English-language guide for about 2.5 hours. You walk the camp grounds, barracks and gas chambers with a museum-provided guide. Security checks happen at the entrance. After that, a 2 km transfer takes you to Auschwitz II–Birkenau, the larger camp, where you spend roughly an hour with the same guide before heading back toward Krakow.

The afternoon shift is underground. Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the oldest working salt mines in the world, has been producing table salt for over 700 years. You descend 378 wooden stairs to reach the first level, 64 metres down, then follow your guide through a 2.5-kilometre route carved into salt. Chambers, chapels and statues, everything sculpted from salt, fill the route. A lift brings you back to the surface. The entire mine tour runs about 2.5 hours, and you're back in Krakow by evening.

The 12-hour day is tight but structured: transport, entry tickets, the guide's headphones so you hear clearly in both places, and hotel pickup at the end are all arranged. Bring only a small bag: the 30x20x10 cm limit at Auschwitz is firm. You'll need your ID or passport for security checks. The mine's wooden stairs and the walking pace at both sites mean moderate fitness helps. The lift handles the return from underground.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Krakow.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan to both sites.
• English-speaking guide at Auschwitz and Wieliczka.
• entry tickets to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine.
• headphones to hear the guide clearly at both locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00, 07:00, 08:05 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 74 years) · Senior (75 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Poland Active

Is this one for you?The 12-hour commitment rules out a leisurely morning in Krakow or a relaxed evening after (you leave early and return late), but it's the only way to see both a major historical memorial and a working salt mine in a single day. If you're in Krakow for a short weekend, this packs two UNESCO sites into one itinerary without splitting them across days.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

How far is Auschwitz from Krakow, and how much time do I spend there?

Auschwitz is located 50 km (31 miles) west of Krakow. You spend about 2.5 hours at Auschwitz I with an English-speaking guide, then transfer 2 km to Auschwitz II–Birkenau for roughly 1 hour with the same guide.

What is Wieliczka Salt Mine, and what do I actually do there?

Wieliczka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's oldest working salt mines, producing salt for over 700 years. You descend 378 wooden stairs to reach 64 metres underground, then walk a 2.5-kilometre guided route through chambers, chapels and statues carved entirely from salt, before taking a lift back to the surface.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned minivan, entry tickets to both Auschwitz and Wieliczka, an English-speaking guide at both sites, and headphones so you hear the guide clearly. Bags larger than 30x20x10 cm are not allowed at Auschwitz, and you must bring a valid ID or passport for security checks.

Is there time for lunch, and what about food during the day?

The 12-hour itinerary does not include a meal break or food. You'll want to eat before pickup or bring snacks. There are cafés near both sites if you have time, though the schedule is tight.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires at least moderate fitness. You'll walk the grounds at Auschwitz and descend 378 wooden stairs into the salt mine, then walk underground for 2.5 hours. A lift brings you back up from the mine, so the descent is the main physical demand.