Krakow: Auschwitz & Salt Mine Day Trip with Entry & Pickup

Summary

From Krakow to Auschwitz and Wieliczka in one day with guides

You’ll move from Krakow’s quiet streets to the solemn grounds of Auschwitz and Birkenau with a local guide who brings history close. Afterward, descend into Wieliczka Salt Mine’s cool tunnels for stories and carvings you can actually touch. With hotel pickup, skip-the-line tickets, and lunch included, it’s a full day that leaves you thinking long after you’re back.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the quiet — that early morning hush as our van pulled away from Krakow. Our driver Marek greeted us with a nod and a quick “Dzień dobry,” and honestly, it felt like we were all still waking up. The city faded fast, replaced by fields and the kind of gray sky that makes you want to pull your jacket tighter. I fiddled with the headphones they handed out, not really knowing what to expect at Auschwitz. It’s strange how you can prepare yourself for history, but standing there — hearing our guide Anna’s voice echo in those empty corridors — it landed different. I caught a whiff of cold stone mixed with something metallic; maybe just my imagination or maybe not.

Walking through Birkenau after was quieter still. Anna didn’t say much between stops, just let us feel it. At one point she pointed out a tiny wildflower poking through the gravel — said her grandmother called them “hope flowers.” That stuck with me more than any fact or date. The drive to Wieliczka Salt Mine was almost a relief; someone cracked a joke about needing coffee and suddenly everyone loosened up again. Lunch came in a brown paper box (I’d picked cheese sandwiches), nothing fancy but honestly it hit the spot after all that heaviness.

The salt mine itself felt like stepping into another world — cool air, walls rough under your hand, everything faintly glittering under yellow lights. Our local guide Piotr showed us carvings made by miners centuries ago; he even let us touch the salty wall (yes, I licked my finger after — don’t judge). There was this underground chapel carved entirely from salt where people sometimes leave candles; it smelled faintly sweet and mineral-y at the same time. By the time we surfaced, blinking into late afternoon light, I realized I hadn’t checked my phone once all day. I still think about that wildflower sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Auschwitz and Salt Mine Day Tour

• Pickup from Krakow accommodation
• Visit Auschwitz I with guided tour
• Tour Birkenau with local guide
• Travel to Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Guided tour of Salt Mine
• Return to Krakow accommodation

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for the Auschwitz & Salt Mine day trip?

Yes, door-to-door pickup from hotels or apartments in Krakow is included.

How long do we spend at Auschwitz during the tour?

About 2 hours at Auschwitz I and 1 hour at Birkenau with an English-speaking guide.

Are entrance fees covered in this tour?

Yes, all entrance fees for Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine are included.

Is lunch provided during the day trip?

A lunch box can be ordered as part of your booking; details are provided on request.

What languages are the guides available in?

The standard tour is led in English by local guides at both sites.

How big are the groups on this day trip?

The shared transfer has a maximum of 8 people per booking.

Are infant seats available for transport?

Yes, infant seats are available if requested when booking.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from anywhere in Krakow, round-trip transport by air-conditioned minivan with an English-speaking driver, skip-the-line entry to both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine with guided tours at each site (headphones provided so you can actually hear), plus parking fees and insurance taken care of—lunch box available if you want it before heading back home tired but changed.