Auschwitz-Birkenau tour from Warsaw: 3.5-hour guided visit

The camps are larger and more dispersed than most visitors expect.

A full-day tour from Warsaw to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in Oswiecim, with round-trip transfer by car and a 3.5-hour guided group tour in English. The journey takes 3.5 to 4 hours each way. Pickup time is confirmed the day before based on your museum entrance slot. The tour covers both Auschwitz, established in 1940, and Birkenau, built in 1941 about 3 km away, where approximately 1.5 million people were imprisoned between 1942 and 1945. Bottled water is included. The driver can arrange a lunch stop on the return if you need one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau from Warsaw

• Pickup from Warsaw hotel
• Drive to Auschwitz (3.5-4 hours)
• 3.5-hour guided tour of Auschwitz
• Visit Birkenau concentration camp
• Drive back to Warsaw (3.5-4 hours)

The experience

You're picked up from your Warsaw accommodation in the morning, and the drive to Oswiecim takes 3.5 to 4 hours. The timing is set around your museum entrance ticket, which the operator confirms with you the day before. Once you arrive, an English-speaking guide leads a group tour through both sections of the camp: Auschwitz first, then Birkenau, located in what was once the village of Brzezinka. The 3.5-hour guided portion is the core of the day. The rest is travel time and the stops the driver makes if you want to eat on the way back.

Auschwitz was built by German Nazis on the outskirts of Oswiecim in 1940 as a concentration camp. Birkenau, established in 1941, became the larger killing center where the vast majority of the 1.5 million deaths occurred between 1942 and 1945. Both sites are now part of the UNESCO-listed Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp memorial. The tour takes in the Auschwitz Jewish Center as well. You'll have bottled water throughout the day, and the air-conditioned vehicle means the long drive is at least physically manageable.

The full tour runs about 12 hours door to door: that includes the 7 to 8 hours of driving and the 3.5 hours on the ground. It's a long day, and the material is heavy. The operator notes this isn't recommended for travelers under 14, pregnant travelers, or those with cardiovascular concerns. Everyone else, regardless of fitness level, can manage the walking and pacing.

What’s included

• The tour includes entrance tickets to both camps.
• round-trip transfer from your Warsaw accommodation.
• the 3.5-hour guided group tour with an English-speaking guide.
• bottled water.
• and an air-conditioned vehicle for the full 12-hour day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (14 to 87 years) · Under 14: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by AB Everest Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide to walk you through both Auschwitz and Birkenau in one trip from Warsaw, rather than navigating the sites independently.

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Top questions

How long is the actual guided tour at Auschwitz and Birkenau?

The guided group tour lasts 3.5 hours. The rest of the 12-hour day is spent traveling to and from Warsaw, with the driver stopping for lunch on the return if you request it.

What time does the tour start from Warsaw?

Pickup time depends on your museum entrance slot and is confirmed one day before the tour. The drive to Oswiecim takes 3.5 to 4 hours, so an early morning pickup is typical.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, but the driver can arrange a stop on the return journey to Warsaw if you want to eat.

What is the difference between Auschwitz and Birkenau?

Auschwitz, built in 1940 on the outskirts of Oswiecim, was the original concentration camp. Birkenau, established in 1941 about 3 km away in the former village of Brzezinka, became the larger camp where approximately 1.5 million people were imprisoned and died between 1942 and 1945.

Is there a minimum age for this tour?

The tour is not recommended for travelers under 14 years old. It is also not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes entrance tickets to both camps, round-trip transfer from your Warsaw accommodation in an air-conditioned vehicle, the 3.5-hour guided group tour with an English-speaking guide, bottled water, and all fees and taxes.