How to get to Auschwitz from Krakow (Updated 2024)
Choose the best way for yourself!

20.01.2024

Getting to Auschwitz from Krakow

Do you wonder how to get to Auschwitz from Krakow in the way that the most fits your needs? We can imagine your doubts. Auschwitz Tour is treated as Krakow Tour but Oświęcim is actually a different city, where you can use a certain transport to get to. You can choose several ways to get from Krakow to Auschwitz.

We'll make it simple to you to arrange your trip and get essential information. In this article you will find out how to visit Auschwitz with different options of tours, as well as how to get there without an organized tour. 

Find out what thrilling discoveries await you at the museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau and check the possibility to travel to the former concentration camp of Oświęcim on your own.

How far is Auschwitz from Krakow?

The concentration camp of Auschwitz and Birkenau is located in the city of Oświęcim, about 66 kilometres west of Krakow. Auschwitz is a German name of the city and also a component of the name of the infamous concentration camp that was established outside of then-obliging town boundaries in the 1940s.

Nowadays, the "Arbeit macht frei" entry gate is located about 2,5 kilometres from the city centre of Oswiecim.

Krakow to Auschwitz
How far is Auschwitz from Krakow?

Buses from Krakow to Auschwitz and return

The bus is the best way to get to Auschwitz. There is an option to book a bus ticket directly to Auschwitz Museum from Krakow Bus Station. It is the easiest way to travel to Auschwitz Museum on your own. If you would like to travel independently by a public bus, this is the solution for you. We provide return tickets for the official carrier - Lajkonik. If it's something you are looking for, check Shuttle Bus to Auschwitz and return.

 Connection from Krakow to Auschwitz by bus is presented below:

  • From: MDA Bus Station Krakow (Upper floor)
  • Price: 20 PLN for one way ticket
  • Travel time: 1:30-2:00h
  • Distance to Museum after stop: 1 min by foot
  • Current departure times: 6:20, 8:40, 9:40, 11:10, 12:30, 14:45, 15:50, 16:55, 19:05

Please note that if you don't prebook your ticket to Auschwitz Museum your entrance will not be secured.

It is possible to purchase tickets to Oswiecim at the stationary ticket offices of Dworzec MDA on the day of departure, while the drivers of certain carriers also sell them directly if the buses are not crowded. 

Krakow to Auschwitz
Krakow Bus Station

ATTENTION: The easiest and most efficient way to get to Auschwitz and make the most of it is to book an organized tour. Take a closer look at these 4 options:

The most popular choices

Train to Auschwitz: the most reliable, yet not direct transportation

Getting to Auschwitz from Krakow is not that difficult after all :)

There are direct railway connections to the city of Oswiecim that leave from Krakow once an hour or two, with a standard journey lasting 1 hour and 40 minutes.

  • From: Main Train Station Krakow
  • Price: 12,50 PLN for Adult one way ticket
  • Travel time: ~1:50h
  • Distance to Museum after stop: 20-30 mins by foot, 5-10 mins with bus

Check Auschwitz Birkenau Train Timetable.

The railway agency that operates on this route requires having it purchased at a stationary ticket office or on the Internet (such bought ticket may be printed or downloaded to a mobile device).

Once you get off, you will find yourself at the railway station of Oswiecim, about 1,9 kilometres away from the concentration camp of Auschwitz.

You may take a walk (with 25 minutes expected to cover the distance) or decide to use the transportation company of the town – an urban bus line which has its stop near the railway station and includes the "Muzeum" stop in its timetable (the price for a single ticket is PLN 3,5 and you will pay PLN 2,50 for a reduced one).

Krakow to Auschwitz
Walk from Railway Station at Oswięcim to Auschwitz Museum

How to return: Walk back to Oswiecim railway station or take a return bus to Krakow. If you are also interested in exploring the town itself, check the local places that are worth a visit here.


Tour to Auschwitz with transportation

If you find all those options too complicated, don't hesitate to ask us for an organized trip with the transport from Krakow to Museum and back. This is the easiest way if you want to get to Auschwitz. 

Tours include pick-up service which means that you will be picked up from the pick-up spot in the city center:

  • Pawia 18b

After the tour, you can choose where you want to be dropped off, in one of the above pick-up spots or just in the city center. You can also choose the option with direct pickup from the hotel where you are staying. This solution ensures convenience and a worry-free experience. 

English speaking driver will help you throughout the whole trip assisting you and answering all the necessary questions. You can book such a tour HERE.

  • From: One of the above pick-up points in the city center or hotel pick-up (if particular offer chosen)
  • Price: From 69 €  for the tour with ticket, live guide, transportation and hotel pick-up (Check here available options)
  • Travel time: 1:00h-1:30h (one way)
  • Distance to Museum after stop: Direct connection

Krakow to auschwitz

When to visit Auschwitz?

After you found out a way to get from Krakow to Auschwitz, you need to be sure its open. The exhibitions of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp are open to visitors daily, with the exceptions of January the 1st, the first day of Easter and the 25th of December, as well as on certain days or hours when official diplomatic delegations are to be hosted there (you may check these special dates when Auschwitz isn't open).

It is possible to visit the museum between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. (December), 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. (January, November), 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (February), 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (March, October), 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (April, May, September) or 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (June, July, August). The closing hours mentioned above are when the last groups of visitors are admitted inside, having one and a half an hour to complete their visits.

Krakow to Auschwitz

What should I choose?

As a Local, I would say "it depends". But to make it easier for you to choose a way of transport from Krakow to Auschwitz:

If you enjoyed my guide please share it and gratitude my work. I will really appreciate it, thanks!

4.916665
4.92 (12)

Comments

Anna Dundas
5
2018.10.21 14:10
Thanks for this helpful information. I'm a 67 year old, independent woman and you are telling me what I need!! Many thanks and kind regards, Karolina.
moderator
5
2018.10.30 15:10
You are welcome, Anna. Glad you found it helpful! Best regards, Karolina
Robz
4
2018.10.23 09:10
Good info, I hope to be there by April 2019 to pay a visit at Auschwitz.
moderator
5
2018.10.30 15:10
Dear Robz, Thank you so much! If you need any help preparing for your trip - let us know, we will be happy to help! Best regards, Karolina
Anthony
5
2018.10.24 21:10
Very helpful, thank you
moderator
5
2018.10.30 15:10
You are welcome, Anthony! Thank you for your comment!
Sue
0
2018.11.06 18:11
Hi There is no mention of driving to the camp from Kraków . As there are 6 of us we thought this would be a better option and far cheaper than organised transport. Do you have any advice please?
Karolina
5
2018.11.12 13:11
Dear Sue, I think the train or a bus will still be most convenient for you. If you choose to rent a car there is a paid car parks available near the camp.
Gonçalo
5
2018.10.30 18:10
Hi, thank you for the helpful guide!! Just one question, is it possible to buy online tickets for buses from Auschwitz to Krakow? Thank you once again.
Karolina
5
2018.10.31 10:10
Dear Gonçalo, Yes, definitely! Here is a link to this service: https://discovercracow.com/tickets/auschwitz-shuttle---to-krakow/ I hope that helps :)
France
5
2018.11.26 01:11
Very complete information. Please advise the site developer that it is impossible to book the "Auschwitz Shuttle to Krakow" as to complete a transaction, in addition to the date, a language needs to be selected and the dropdown list is empty.
Karolina
5
2018.11.30 12:11
Thank you for that information France. We already investigated this case and in fact you have to select the language but on the dropdown list there is a "not applicable" option. So I hope that solves this problem :)
Teresa Doran
5
2019.05.29 15:05
Hi, kaolina I am hoping to visit Krakow in September 2019 can you advise me roughly on prices of organising a taxi to take us on tours of camps and Saltmines many thanks
Ian.H
5
2018.10.30 20:10
Very informative looking forward to my visit in November 2018.
Karolina
5
2018.10.31 10:10
Dear Ian, Thank you so much! If you need any help with organizing your stay - let me know :) Best regards and have an awesome time in Krakow in November!
Adrian
0
2018.11.26 13:11
Hi Karolina, we are 6 adults and we will come this week to Krakow. We want to visit Auschwitz and Bierkenau. Can you please tell us which is the best tour and also not so expensive for doing that?
Ania
0
2019.01.04 08:01
Hi Adrian! If you are interested in an organised tour and you want to spend as little as possible on doing so, the regular tour would probably be the best option for you.
Brent
0
2019.09.21 17:09
My travel partner and I will traveling to Berlin next October and would like to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau to pay our respects and to take a tour of the complex, but would also like to know if it is possible for my partner and I to walk around Birkenau on our own. Is this possible? Thank you for your assistance.
Ann Claxton.
5
2018.11.03 11:11
Thank you for all the informative information. I prefer to travel alone. I feel happier now I now the times of the bus.
Karolina
5
2018.11.06 12:11
Awesome Ann! I'm so happy that we could help :)
Andy A
5
2018.11.06 22:11
Great info and advice Karolina, thank you :-) My wife Sandra and I are planning a visit in Sept 2019 (we will be based in Warsaw) and this has certainly helped us plan.
Karolina
5
2018.11.12 13:11
Dear Andy, I am very happy that you found this helpful :) Thank you for your comment!
Jose Alcala
5
2018.11.14 06:11
Thank you very much, this was very helpful, I’m traveling with my wife and daughter in March 2019 and we really want to visit Auschwitz, and now thanks to your input we would love to stay an extra day to visit Krakov,thanks from Phoenix Arizona U.S.A.
Karolina
5
2018.11.14 09:11
That is so lovely to hear, Jose! If you need any help with arranging your tours or tickets, please let me know! Cheers!
Sue Withers
5
2018.11.19 21:11
Hello, we are visiting krakow Friday, we want to visit the camp/museum on Saturday, where in the square can we book the tour on Friday? Many thanks.
Ania
0
2018.12.17 22:12
Dear Sue, if you don't want to book online, you can visit our Tourist Information Point at Plac Szczepański 8.
David
4
2018.11.20 15:11
Great information, thanks
Karolina
5
2018.11.30 12:11
Thank you David, lovely to hear that!
Iain
5
2018.11.22 12:11
Excellent article, very well laid out and easy to understand. many Thanks in advance as we travel in Feb 2019.
Karolina
5
2018.11.30 12:11
Thank you! I am sure you will have a grat time in Krakow. If you need any help with arranging your stay, please email: karolina.sleczkowska@discovercracow.com :)
Rosarine
5
2018.11.25 17:11
Your article is very helpful for my trip to Poland next year. I had friends from Krakow when we studied the same class in Australia ... definitely Auschwitz and krakow will be my destination. Thank you.
Ania
0
2018.12.17 12:12
Hello Rosarine, we're happy to hear that you've found our article useful. Krakowiacy in Australia, wow, what a small world! We hope you'll enjoy your time here :)
Norman
0
2018.11.27 14:11
Excellent information many thanks, I will be using your information when I visit Krakow in April next year.
Karolina
5
2018.11.30 12:11
You are welcome, Norman :) email us if you need any help with your trip!
Adam Jay
4
2018.12.06 21:12
nice guide..i will be there this Dec 8, 2018 !
Ania
0
2018.12.17 12:12
Hi Adam, we are glad to hear that you've found our article helpful. Thanks for your comment!
Roberale Perez
5
2018.12.10 09:12
Thank you so much for your advice!! We are on a Gt Tran van right now on our way to Auschwitch!! Your information was extremely helpful!! Thank you!! Thank you!!
Ania
0
2018.12.17 22:12
Hi Roberale, thank you for commenting! We are glad to hear that you found our article useful.
Juan Carlos
0
2018.12.13 00:12
Hello! We are visiting Auschwitz in June of 2019, after 34 years of trying it will finally be here. Thank you for insight. We’ll stay in touch again.
Ania
0
2018.12.17 14:12
Dear Juan Carlos, I am sure that this tour will be a profound experience to you. Glad to hear that you found our article helpful and thank you for taking the time to comment!
Lisa Little
5
2018.12.13 23:12
Hi Karolina, I am travelling to Poland in February and for part are staying in Krakow and plan to go to Aushwitz. I have to admit I didn't appreciate how far it is from Krakow given I'm not great at mega early mornings! I'm now thinking we should go and stay the night before in Oswiecim and then head off for the opening in the morning? I can get a cheap night so it's not massive given I've already paid for a few nights in Krakow. We could travel over the night before. Do you think this is a good idea or am I complicating things? I struggle with buses as I do need access to toilets for a medical condition. Thanks, Lisa
Ania
0
2018.12.17 22:12
Dear Lisa, have you considered booking an afternoon tour? That way you can still stay the night in Krakow and not wake up before 10am! Sounds like a solution that could work for you, so I recommend checking it out :)
Vic
5
2018.12.16 22:12
A great help in planning my visit. Thank you
Ania
0
2018.12.17 14:12
Hi Vic, glad we could help! You may also want to check out the rest of our articles - they are jam-packed with practical information useful for tourists :)
Johan
5
2018.12.26 14:12
Hi Karolina, thank you for sharing this great information. Im planning to visit Krakow and Auschwitz early in february next year, and i feel little bit nervous because perhaps it will be a very cold weather in Krakow. I live in a tropical country so really can not imagine how cold it be...:-)
Karolina
5
2019.01.22 14:01
Dear Johan, That's awesome that you're coming to Krakow - you will not regret it, I'm sure! Don't worry about the weather - just purchase some thermal underwear and you will be just fine :) Also a big scarf and gloves are important. But really - it's not as cold as it seems :) If you need any help with planning your trip - let me know :) Best regards, Karolina
Kevin
5
2018.12.30 10:12
A fantastic source of practical information. Thank you. I will be referring to discover cracow.com when I visit in January..
Karolina
5
2019.01.22 14:01
Dear Kevin, thank you so much! Are you in Krakow yet? If yes, how do you like it? :) Best regards, Karolina
Ken
5
2018.12.30 23:12
Very informative. Thank you for your guidance.
Karolina
5
2019.01.22 14:01
Thank you Ken, I'm so glad you found it useful! Cheers, Karolina

Pages

Add new comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
5 + 9 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.