How to Visit Auschwitz as a Day Trip from Krakow
Headed to Poland? You’ll want to plan to visit Auschwitz as a day trip from Krakow. It will take one full day for this side trip, and there are two main options in how to see it: A fully guided tour from Krakow or doing it on your own. Let’s take a look at both options.
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Take a Guided Tour from Krakow
There are dozens of tours going to Auschwitz everyday. You will see flyers, signs, and windows advertising them, you can ask your hotel or hostel about them, or you can book them online.
The main benefit of doing a guided tour from Krakow is that transportation is included (about 1.5 hours each direction), and usually they will pick you up from your hotel or hostel creating zero effort on your part. They cost around 140 zloty. Here are some options with rave reviews.
Go to Auschwitz on Your Own
The second option is to make your way to Auschwitz on your own. It’s not too difficult to do and a good option if you’re willing to put in a little bit of effort.
Transportation to Auschwitz
There are buses, minibuses, and trains that can take you there, but the best option is the bus as they run most frequently and will drop you directly at Auschwitz rather than a couple of kilometers away like the train.
Taking the Bus from Krakow to Auschwitz
Make your way to the central bus station in Kraków: Dworzec Autobusowy MDA w Kraków and purchase a ticket to Auschwitz or Oświęcim, the Polish name. Tickets are currently 14 zloty. Only purchase a one way ticket as numerous companies serve this route and then you can take any bus back to Kraków rather than having to adhere to any one bus company’s schedule.
The buses run about every half hour and take between 1.5 – 2 hours to arrive in Auschwitz. Upon arrival the bus drops you at the front gate.
Tickets for Auschwitz
Admission to Auschwitz is free, but guided tours are 75 zloty for adults and 65 zloty for students.
In peak season (April 1 – October 31), between the hours of 10am and 3pm it is only possible to visit with a guided tour. While admission is free on your own during the correct hours and times of year, I highly recommend a guided tour to get an understanding of what you are looking at and to have your questions answered.
The guided tours take about 3.5 hours and take you through both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II or better known as Birkenau. If you want to skip the line, pre-book your ticket and tour time online.
Luggage Check at Auschwitz
There is a luggage check for any large bags you may have with you. Their definition of large may be different from yours, so check their standards and check your bags before you get in the security line or else you will be turned away and have to wait in the security line again. Luggage check is 3 zloty. The security line is pretty quick as it’s simply a take everything out of your pockets and walk through the metal detector. After that it’s on to buy tickets.
Getting to Birkenau from Auschwitz
There are buses that are labeled as Birkenau out by the entrance where you got off the bus from Kraków. These buses are free to take from one camp to another. If you are part of a guided tour, you will all board the bus together.
Returning to Krakow on Your Own
Since a visit to Auschwitz as a day trip from Krakow is typical, there are plenty of buses to choose from. However, buses to Krakow only leave from Auschwitz, so you’ll need to return to Auschwitz from Birkenau on the same free bus, collect any bags you may have checked, and go to the Krakow sign posted near the entrance where the other buses have been.
Any bus that pulls up for Krakow will return you to the central station in Krakow, and you can buy the tickets from the driver when you board for about 14 zloty. These buses also run about every half hour and typically there is one waiting, but if there isn’t, one will be there soon. After that, it’s simply a 1.5 – 2 hour ride back to Krakow.
For more details on what the experience might be like, check out my post on Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Visit or visit the official Auschwitz-Birkenau website.
Continue Your Learning
Throughout Europe, you’ll find plenty of places, tours, and museums to visit to learn more about the history of World War II and the Holocaust. Here are two that you should not miss as you travel around.
- Visit Dachau in Germany to understand the further atrocities that happened during the Holocaust.
- Take the Free Walking Tour in Warsaw to learn about the Jewish Ghetto.
Additionally, if you want to understand more of what to expect when you visit Auschwitz as a day trip from Krakow, check out the post on: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Visit.
I recently visited Auschwitz-Birkenau myself and while I wouldn t mind travelling out there on my own trains and busses are easily accessible and cheaper than taking the full tour I really think one needs the guide walking through the camp.
I would definitely agree. There are times throughout the day were the only option is a guided tour, which is the time I happened to be there, but it is well worth taking the tour as you get a better understanding of what you are looking at. Whether or not you take transport on your own and do a guided tour upon arrival or do a full tour where transportation is included is up to you (and your budget!).