Krakow to Auschwitz Birkenau Guided Tour with Transfer and Ticket
4.7 / 5 · 10,454 traveler reviews
Visit one of the most important memorial sites in Europe on an organized Auschwitz-Birkenau tour from Krakow. The former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of remembrance for more than one million victims of World War II. Preserved barracks, watchtowers, the railway ramp in Birkenau and memorials bear witness to the history of the Holocaust. Several visit options are available (please read carefully before booking): • Options with a Licensed Museum Guide - Guided visit inside both camps. • Independent Visit Option - Entry without a Museum guide inside; introduction provided by our guide before the visit. All options include round-trip transport from Krakow and pre-arranged entry passes. The visit is conducted with appropriate respect. ✔ Visit both camps ✔ Transport from Krakow included ✔ Entry tickets arranged ✔ Licensed guide in selected options
Your experience
Stop 1
Your tour begins with transportation from Krakow (hotel you specified or a meeting point you choose from). Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum is located in the town Oswiecim, about 1h15min in one way (65km). Every driver we cooperate with has all required by EU permissions for passenger transport. An English speaking and friendly leader of the group will assist you at any time you need. After arriving in Oswiecim, have a short break to grab a coffee or keep an eye on outdoor exhibitions.Then be kindly introduced to your local and professional guide who is licensed by Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.
Stop 2
Start your tour by walking through the gate to the first camp - Auschwitz I - originally conceived as a concentration camp, to be used as a detention centre for the many Polish citizens arrested after Germany annexed the country in 1939, with the most recognizable sign Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Makes You Free).This part usually takes 2 hours and you will be using a headset to hear your guide clearly. The group according to the Museum’s rule counts up to 30 people making the visit comfortable and accessible for every participant. Visit the original wooden buildings, fortified walls, barbed wires, gas chambers and crematoria - all of those leave a shocking impression allowing to imagine the scale of Holocaust.
Stop 3
After the 1st camp short break up to 15 minutes is planned. You will be taken by us to visit the second part of the tour - Birkenau (Auschwitz II), only 3 minutes away, which is the largest camp built and operated for the specific purpose of making Europe ''Judenrein'' (free of Jews). The same guide continues a poignant lecture about the camp in the village Brzezinka (Birkenau) which was constructed in 1941 on the order of Heinrich Himmler (SS commander) and could hold some 90 000 prisoners.You will be told about terrible stories of unimaginable living conditions as well as cruel selection and pseudo-scientific medical experiments made by prominent Nazi doctors including Josef Mengele. A history about soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front opened the gates of Auschwitz on January 27, 1945, which meant the final liberation, ends your tour with a feeling, both this genocide should never have happened and it can not happen again.
Stop 4
When the tour ends, you are not rushed by us. There is at least a 20 minutes break which you can spend in a bookstore, grocery store or just rest. After another 1h15min on the way, you will be taken to a predetermined address in Krakow.
What’s included
- All entry fees, insurance and taxes
- Professional assistance in case of any issue
- Headsets to hear the guide clearly (except self-paced option)
- Hotel pickup (available only in the Tour Limited to 15 pax option) or meeting point and drop off
- Highly qualified, helpful and friendly customer service
- Licensed local guide (self-paced option does not include the guide from Auschwitz)
- Round-trip transportation from and to Krakow by air-conditioned vehicle (van, mini-bus or coach)
Not included
- Food and drinks
Meeting and pickup
Jewish Quarter / Starowiślna 65 (Kiss & Ride)
Old Town (Kiss& Ride) / Wielopole 2
Old Town / Near Krakowska Gallery / Pawia 18a
Before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- [DEPARTURE] Booked times are approximate and may change due to museum scheduling or traffic.
- [DOCUMENTS] **Full names of all participants MUST be provided during booking (the same as on ID or passport, no nicknames). Passport or ID is MANDATORY for each participant and will be checked. NO ID = NO ENTRY!**
- [VISIT] Guided group tour only, no individual pacing. Respectful behavior and smart casual dress required. Eating, smoking, and loud behavior are not allowed.
- [PICKUP] Some Krakow hotels are in restricted traffic zones; pickup will be arranged from the nearest accessible point and you will be informed in advance.
- [LUNCH] Lunch is not included. There is no time for a full meal between visits, and no food facilities on-site, so please bring a snack.
- [SECURITY] An airport-style security check is required before entering the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum.
- [WEATHER] The tour runs in all weather. Up to 70% of the visit takes place outdoors, so please dress appropriately and bring water on warm days.
- [CHILDREN] Children must be accompanied by an adult. Infant seats are available. Due to the sensitive nature of the site, the tour is recommended for ages 13+.
- [PHOTOS] Photography is allowed except in marked areas. Flash is not permitted inside buildings.
- [RENOVATIONS] Due to roadworks in western Krakow, pickups in that area are not possible. The Straszewskiego 19 meeting point is temporarily closed. We will arrange a nearby alternative if needed.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
Check dates and book on Viator →Confirm the meeting point, inclusions, cancellation policy and final price on Viator. We may earn a commission from your booking.