From Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour

Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
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Pawia 18b - Kiss&Ride Stop (in front of Mercure Hotel)
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Why Choose Us?

We understand that visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau is a profound, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we are here to ensure it is meaningful, seamless, and unforgettable. That’s why we go above and beyond to provide exceptional service, ensuring your journey is seamless and meaningful from the moment you book until your return.

Here's why we stand out:

  • Personalized Communication: From booking confirmation to the tour’s conclusion, we’re here every step of the way. Using WhatsApp, we provide instant confirmations, tour reminders, and answers to any questions you might have. Before the tour, you’ll receive clear details and can join a dedicated group with your tour leader, who is available to assist with anything you need.
  • Proffesional Tour Guide: Licensed, local guide in Auchwitz-Birkenau Museum fo a whole day
  • Comfortable, hassle-free transport: Start your journey from a convenient central pick-up point, relax in our air-conditioned coach and immerse yourself in the history with fascinating insights or a film shared during the ride.
  • Largest tour operator in the city: 175,000 tourists book with us annually. Don’t just take our word for it - our reviews speak for themselves. Years of experience have taught us that your experience is our top priority, and we know exactly how to deliver it.

With Discover Cracow it is hassle-free experience. Just relax knowing every detail of your journey is handled by our professional team. From transport to expert-guided tours, we take care of everything.

When you choose us, you’re choosing a team dedicated to delivering a meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Guided Tour Itinerary

Departure Time Confirmation
The day before the tour, we will reach out to you to confirm the pick-up time via WhatsApp, along with any other important details you need to be fully prepared and feel safe throughout your journey.
Pick-Up from Central Krakow
Arrive at our convenient meeting point, Pawia 18b (in front of the Mercure Hotel), where our tour leader will be waiting for you. Be sure to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled departure to begin your unforgettable experience.
Comfortable Transport to Auschwitz (90 min)
Relax in our air-conditioned coach on the 90-minute drive to Auschwitz, 70 km from Krakow. Our English-speaking drivers and tour leaders will share insights and a documentary, setting the historical context for your visit.
Tour of Museum Grounds Auschwitz I
Upon arrival, you’ll join a local expert guide for a tour of Auschwitz I, the original camp used by the Nazis. Walk through its haunting grounds and hear the stories of survival, courage, and tragedy.
Transfer to Auschwitz II Birkenau Museum (10min)
After visiting Auschwitz I, we’ll take a break and then short 10-minute transfer to Auschwitz II - Birkenau, the larger camp where the atrocities of the Holocaust reached their devastating scale.
Birkenau Memorial Tour
Here, you’ll visit the vast grounds, seeing the iconic wooden barracks, watchtowers, and the remains of the railway ramp, where millions of people arrived to meet their fate. Your guide will help you grasp the significance of this site, where over a million people perished.
Return to Cracow (120 min)
After a deeply moving day, we’ll bring you back to Krakow in comfort, with an optional drop-off at the Main Market Square. If you’d like to see more of Krakow or explore other attractions with us, feel free to contact us on WhatsApp—we’re here to help!"

Tour Details

Our Auschwitz-Birkenau tour offers more than a visit to a historical site; it’s a profound journey through one of the darkest chapters of history. Led by expert local guides, the tour takes you through the grounds of both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, where you will gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust and the stories of those who lived and died there. From the iconic "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate to the original barracks, crematoriums, and gas chambers, every part of the tour is designed to immerse you in the reality of the past. With seamless logistics, English-speaking guides, and a fully organized experience, we ensure that you can focus on the history, not the details.

You will experience

  • Authentic Sites: Walk through the iconic "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate, visit original barracks, crematoriums, and gas chambers that tell the haunting stories of the Holocaust.
  • Expert-Led Tour: Our knowledgeable, English-speaking guides provide rich insights into the history of the camps, ensuring you grasp the significance of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Powerful Artifacts: Explore personal belongings, photographs, and exhibits that offer a glimpse into the lives of those who suffered here.
  • A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience: This is not a tour you repeat—it’s an opportunity to connect with history in a meaningful way and honor the lives lost.

About Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp became the grim destination for prisoners from across Europe, mainly Jews, during World War II.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum was established in 1947 after WWII after Red Army liberated the camp in Oswiecim. Numbers are shocking over 1 million people died in nazi german concentration camp in occupied Poland; 960 00 Jews where among them (438 000 were Hungarian nationality, 300 000 were Poles, 70 000 from France […])

This site stands as a chilling symbol of the consequences of extreme nationalism. Prisoners lived in horrible conditions with 700 kcal per day, forced to work over their strength. You will witness real places and barracks where they lived and the remains of the railway ramp.

Auschwitz has earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, alongside the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Explore the Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour for more details.

Museum Regulations

  • Please, wear comfortable shoes - the Tour requires a lot of walking. Also, take an umbrella or a raincoat with you in order to be prepared in case of rain (the majority of the tour will take place outside)

  • Please bear in mind that there are hundreds of tourists visiting the Museum every day and keeping your own pace of sightseeing is not possible

  • You will be asked to leave your bigger belongings in a car (don’t worry, they will be locked and supervised by our driver). The allowed dimensions of a bag you can take with you are 30x20x10 (A4 size)

  • You will get a headset to hear the guide clearly throughout the whole Auschwitz tour

  • Eating and smoking, as well as acting in a loud manner are forbidden at the site

  • Taking photos in the buildings with the use of flash is forbidden. You are allowed to take photos only in selected parts of the Museum

  • Participants are required to provide an ID card, as this will be checked before the entrance. The name provided on the booking should be exactly the name on the ID provided.

Terms & Conditions

  • Please arrive at the designated pick-up point minimum of 5 minutes before the departure time
  • Tour is refundable if it's more then 24 hours before start time.

  • Minor delays (circa 20 minutes) are possible due to traffic conditions   

  • Note that the maximum size of the sightseeing group is 30 people.   

  • The pick-up time of the tour can change due to the low availability of the Museum. Your chosen start time may not be final! In such case, we will inform You about it at least one day before the tour, however money refund for this reason is not possible

  • Cancellation is non-refundable because of named tickets being bought in advance

Faq

Is there an option to pick me up from a place that is not on the list?

Unfortunately, we have a limited number of pick-up points that are mentioned above.

How long does the museum tour last?

The guided Auschwitz tour lasts about 3,5h and a one-way transfer from Krakow to Auschwitz takes about 1h 30min (+ pickup time) so the whole tour takes about 7 - 7,5 hours.

I am using a wheelchair, can I participate in the tour?

Yes, you can visit Auschwitz with an assisting person. Bearing in mind that the wheelchair should be capable of folding so it would fit into a vehicle (please contact us beforehand if you have any difficulties with moving). However, some sites in Auschwitz are available only through steps so you may not be able to see some of them. Sightseeing in a wheelchair is difficult due to the historical aspect of the buildings (no driveways, large steps, stairs, and pebbly ground).

What luggage size can I take to Auschwitz?

The dimensions are 30x20x10 cm and you will not be able to enter with any larger luggage than those. These are strictly followed and controlled. You can leave your bigger luggage on our bus, it will be locked and supervised by the driver.

I am interested in WWII history - what others tours can I take to enlarge my knowledge about this subject?

The History of World War II in Cracow is such an interesting and tragic subject, no wonder why you want to learn more about it. We highly recommend taking Schindler's Museum Guided Tour - it will not only teach you about the story of Oskar Schindler but also the conditions of living in Krakow through wartime. 

Another place where you can learn more about War and particularly Cracow Ghetto is the Eagle Pharmacy. You will discover the story of Tadeusz Pankiewicz, a pharmacist that volunteered to be locked inside the Cracow Ghetto in order to help Jewish people survive in the ghetto. The Eagle Pharmacy is included in a list of museums allowed to visit for free with our Krakow City Pass.

What different tours to Auschwitz do you organize?

We do organize few different Auschwitz Tours tailored to your needs, these are: