Visiting Auschwitz from Krakow
Guided tour of the former concentration camp
A city trip to Krakow is often combined with a visit to the former concentration camp Auschwitz in Poland. For many Dutch people this is often one of the most important reasons to visit Poland. This former concentration complex is located in the town of Oświęcim and consisted of 3 larger camps and a number of subcamps at the end of the Second World War. Today, the remaining camps of base camp Auschwitz I and extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau can be visited and viewed from Krakow.
Organized tour with guide
From Krakow there are organized day tours by bus to the former camp almost every day. It is recommended to book it in advance. There are options to be picked up at the hotel of stay. Booking a guide certainly has added value. Entrance tickets are available on getyourguide.com and are easy to book different options.
Auschwitz is located about 69 kilometers west of Krakow. The entrance to the museum is located on the outskirts of the town of Oświęcim on the national road 933, and the entrance to the parking lot is on Stanisławy Leszczyńskiej Str. number 11. The museum is about 2 kilometers from the train station and can be reached from there by local buses.
Preparation and tips for visiting Auschwitz
- A visit to Auschwitz is a full-day program that can easily take 6 to 8 hours.
- Book a tour with a travel guide, which provides a lot of extra information about the camps and the history.
- Depending on the chosen tour, it is possible to be picked up at the hotel or at an agreed point.
- Do not plan any other activities after the day tour, Auschwitz leaves quite an impression and needs some time to process.
Auschwitz I
- Well known entrance gate with the text Arbeit macht frei
- Gas chambers and crematorium can be viewed
- Block 10 medical experiments
Auschwitz II-Birkenau
- Entrance gate under which the train enters
- Wooden barracks
- Old train carriage
First impression Auschwitz
Tour of Auschwitz
The easiest way to visit Auschwitz from Krakow is through an organized guided bus tour. Depending on what you book, it is possible to be picked up and returned from your hotel. The bus journey takes about an hour and a half from Krakow and the first destination stop is often the Auschwitz I base camp, which was the prisoner camp.
When you arrive at the camp, you will take a tour of the complex with the guide, view the buildings from the inside and the guide will provide you with background information. Then the bus continues to the second and larger camp of what is left called Auschwitz II-Birkenau. This was the extermination camp with the well-known building under which the train enters. Here too you get a tour and you see various buildings from the inside and you visit the monument. After the tour, the bus will of course take you back to Krakow.
Frequently Asked Questions about Auschwitz
The day tour takes at least 6 to 8 hours including travel time. It is a full day's work.
With an organized day tour you usually visit the two remaining large camps.
Yes, as a large city, Krakow is relatively close to Auschwitz. Warsaw is further north and further away from the camp.
A visit to the camp is not suitable for very young children, the first impressions of a visit can be quite intense.
Yes, that way you get just a little more of the background information.
