Auschwitz-Birkenau tour from Krakow: Guided visit with entry

Walk through both camps with a licensed guide and return to Krakow the same day

A guided tour from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and memorial to over one million Holocaust victims, includes round-trip transport, entry tickets and a licensed local guide (or self-paced entry with introduction). The tour visits Auschwitz I, the original concentration camp, and Birkenau, the larger extermination camp built in 1941, with about two hours in each. Groups stay under 30 people and you hear the guide through a headset. Full names and ID are required at booking and entry. The site requires respectful dress and behavior, and up to 70% of the visit is outdoors.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Main Market Square2h
2. Auschwitz Jewish Center2h · entry included
3. Zakrzowek2h

Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow

• Transport from Krakow to Oswiecim
• Short break and introduction by guide
• Visit Auschwitz I camp with guide
• Short break after Auschwitz I visit
• Visit Birkenau (Auschwitz II) camp with guide
• Break at museum bookstore or rest
• Return transport to Krakow

The experience

If you're staying in Krakow and want to visit this memorial without arranging your own transport or tickets, the tour handles both. A driver picks you up from your hotel or a meeting point you choose, then drives about 75 minutes to Oswiecim, where you'll meet your licensed guide. The journey gives you time to settle in, and there's a short break on arrival to grab coffee or look at outdoor exhibitions before the guide introduces the history and structure of what you're about to see.

Auschwitz I, the original camp, takes roughly two hours to walk through. You'll see the wooden barracks, fortified walls, barbed wire, gas chambers and crematoria: the physical layout itself conveys the scale of what happened. A headset lets you hear the guide clearly even in a group, and the guide's account of how the camp was conceived as a detention center for Polish citizens in 1939 and evolved into something far worse provides the context for what you're standing in front of. After a short break, you're driven three minutes to Birkenau, the larger camp built in 1941 specifically for mass extermination. The same guide continues through the railway ramp, the barracks foundations and the memorials, explaining the conditions prisoners faced and the liberation by Soviet forces on January 27, 1945.

The full day is about seven hours from pickup to drop-off. You'll need to bring water and a snack. There's no time for a full meal between the two camps and no food on-site. An airport-style security check happens before entry. Photography is allowed except in marked areas and inside buildings (no flash). The tour runs in all weather, so dress warmly or bring layers. Up to 70% happens outdoors. Children must be with an adult. The site is recommended for ages 13 and up. Your full name and ID or passport are mandatory, without them, entry is refused.

What’s included

• Round-trip transport from Krakow by air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry tickets to both camps.
• a licensed local guide (in your chosen language, except the self-paced option).
• headsets so you hear the guide clearly in the group.
• hotel pickup or a meeting point of your choice.
• professional assistance if any issue arises during the day.
• all entry fees, insurance and taxes.

Options for this experience

9 options

English Tour, Estimated Departure Time6 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 11:30The selected time may vary (TBC); the final departure time may change, as it will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date. Quick Meet & Go: three centrally located meeting points, so you don't waste time collecting others from their addresses. 30-person English tour: official museum group size.

Visit at your own pace, ticket includedGuide in English · 12:00Includes an entry ticket to Auschwitz I for an individual visit (about 2 hours), a historical introduction, and assistance from your Krakow guide. Birkenau visit: viewed from outside, with views of the main gate and railway tracks, plus round-trip transport. No museum guide inside. Duration: 7 hours. The selected time may vary (TBC); the final departure time may change, as it will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date.

Last Slots, Time GuaranteedGuide in English · 6 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 confirmed with the Auschwitz Museum English guide. Official group size at the Museum: up to 30 people. Choose your preferred meeting point; if you're unsure, we'll help you decide.

See 6 more options

French Guide, Estimated Departure Time07:00The selected time may vary (TBC); the final departure time may change, as it will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date. Quick Meet & Go: three centrally located meeting points, so you don't waste time collecting others from their addresses. 30-person English tour: official museum group size.

Italian Guide, Estimated Departure TimeAvailable from 13 Nov · 07:00The selected time may vary (TBC); the final departure time may change, as it will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date. Quick Meet & Go: three centrally located meeting points, so you don't waste time collecting others from their addresses. 30-person Italian guided tour: official museum group size.

Spanish Guide, Estimated Departure TimeAvailable from 4 Jan 2027The selected time may vary (TBC); the final departure time may change, as it will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date. Quick Meet & Go: three centrally located meeting points, so you don't waste time collecting others from their addresses. 30-person Italian guided tour: official museum group size.

Dutch Guide, Estimated Departure Time07:00Choose the meeting point that suits you best. Group with Dutch guide: up to 30 people. Vehicle type is based on the number of people.

English tour, limited to 15 people07:15, 09:15 and 11:15Small English tour with a maximum of 15 visitors, half the size of regular tours. The group is up to 15 people, not just 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). Pickup is included.

Including the Salt Mine on the same dayGuide in English · 06:00, 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00Auschwitz and Wieliczka: A One-Day Trip Full of History. The selected time may vary (TBC); the final departure time may change, as it will be adjusted to the museum's schedule and confirmed closer to the tour date. Quick Meet & Go: three centrally located meeting points, so you don't waste time collecting others from their addresses. Duration: 11 hours. English guides: up to 30 people at Auschwitz and 35 people at the Salt Mine. Choose your preferred meeting point; if you're unsure, we'll help you.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 12:00

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, Spanish, French, Italian and Dutch

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 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?Pick the guided tour with a licensed museum guide if you want structured interpretation throughout both camps. Choose self-paced if you prefer to move through at your own rhythm after an initial orientation.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, with 16 departure times. In French, Italian and Dutch, at 07:00. In Spanish.

Can children come?

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

What's the difference between the guided tour and the self-paced visit?

The guided option includes a licensed museum guide who walks both camps with you for about two hours in each. The self-paced option gives you entry tickets and an introduction from the tour guide before you explore on your own. Both include transport from Krakow and entry.

How long is the drive from Krakow to Auschwitz?

The drive is about 75 minutes each way (roughly 65 kilometers). With the time spent at both camps, the full day runs around seven hours from pickup to return.

Is there a smaller group option if I want fewer people?

One option limits the group to 15 people and includes hotel pickup from Krakow. Larger groups can be up to 30. Check the available options at checkout to see which fits your preference.

What do I need to bring or know before I go?

Bring your passport or ID. It's mandatory and will be checked at security. Wear respectful, smart casual dress. Eating, smoking and loud behavior aren't allowed on-site. Bring water and a snack since there's no meal break or food available. Dress for the weather. Up to 70% of the visit is outdoors. Full names of all participants must match your ID exactly when you book.

Can I combine this with another activity in Krakow the same day?

One option pairs the Auschwitz-Birkenau tour with a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine on the same day. You'd choose that option at checkout if you want both experiences.