How to get to Auschwitz from Krakow in 2026?
4 Ways to get to Auschwitz from Krakow
How to visit Auschwitz from Krakow: Travel options and tips
This guide provides all the information you need when considering how to get to Auschwitz from Krakow. Each travel method has its advantages and disadvantages, and we’re here to help you decide which one suits you best.
Krakow is a beautiful city with a well-preserved medieval center and many attractions. However, the region around Krakow holds a dark history: the infamous concentration and extermination camps of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. During World War II, more than a million innocent civilians, mostly Jews, lost their lives here. Visiting the Auschwitz memorial site is an experience that will make you reflect on the atrocities and genocide committed by the Nazi regime. While this visit is grim and sobering, we believe it is an essential journey for everyone.
1. Getting to Auschwitz from Krakow by car
When considering the method of transportation, you might want to choose a rental car. Renting a car in Krakow should not be a problem, as it is a big city, and the prices range from €50 for economy cars to more than €100 for luxury vehicles. The distance between Krakow and Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau is approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles), so it should take you a little more than an hour depending on the traffic.
Going by car has its advantages; you are your own boss, and there are numerous parking spaces near the Auschwitz Museum. Once you get out of Krakow’s city traffic, the road is pretty straightforward; stick to Route 44 for 60 kilometers until you reach Oświęcim. Road signs will easily navigate you to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. The address is Więźniów Oświęcimia 20, 32-603 Oświęcim, Poland.
However, there are several disadvantages to traveling to Auschwitz by car. Namely, the visit itself can emotionally affect you and drain your energy. You do not want to be in that state behind the wheel on the return trip. Please take this into consideration when deciding how to get to Auschwitz from Krakow. Additionally, this is the most expensive option.
Get to Auschwitz easily with our organized tours and transport!
Skip-the-line
Auschwitz Tour from Krakow
Visit the historic grounds of the former concentration camp where over 1 million people, primarily Jews, lost their lives during the Holocaust. Explore the gas chambers, view the original belongings of Auschwitz prisoners, and walk through the historic buildings and barracks as your expert guide shares their stories. Enjoy the convenience of skip-the-line tickets, hotel pick-up, comfortable transportation, and drop-off in Krakow.
Personalized experience
Auschwitz Private Tour
Witness the solemnity of the largest Nazi concentration camp. Walk around the prisoners’ barracks, watchtowers, and a gas chamber with a private guide as you explore at a more contemplative pace, away from the large crowds of standard tours. The tour includes skip-the-line access and private transportation, and you can add lunch.
2. How to get to Auschwitz from Krakow by bus?
If you’re thinking about traveling from Krakow to Auschwitz by bus, here are some helpful tips.
Buses to Auschwitz (Oświęcim) depart from Krakow Główny, the city’s main bus station. At the station, you’ll easily find ticket counters where you can buy your ticket. Make sure to ask for Bus Route 290 and inquire about its exact schedule. This bus departs multiple times per day, typically every one to two hours during peak times. A return ticket costs around 40 PLN ($10), and the journey takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic. Once you arrive at Oświęcim’s main bus station, you’ll have about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) to walk to reach Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Memorial.
If you prefer not to walk, you can take a taxi, but keep in mind that this will add to your expenses. Walking the distance means you’ll be on your feet the entire time, and bear in mind that the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Memorial is a huge place. Additionally, traveling on your own means you might miss crucial details and the opportunity to learn the complete story, as you won’t be part of a guided tour.
3. How to get to Auschwitz from Krakow by train
When thinking about how to get to Auschwitz from Krakow, a train ride might cross your mind. After you arrive at Kraków Główny (Main train station), look for the nearest ticket counter and ask about the schedule and price of the ticket. The trains to Oświęcim (Auschwitz) run relatively frequently, approximately every 30 minutes, and the price should be around 25-30 PLN ($6-8). You can also book the ticket online through the PKP Intercity website or purchase it using ticket vending machines at the train station. Usually the trains to Auschwitz depart from Platform 5, but make sure to double-check. The ride itself is about an hour and a half long, and it will take you to the Oświęcim train station.
Although a train ride is simple and cost-effective, you will still need to get to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, which is about 1.5 kilometers away (1 mile). You can choose to walk or take a taxi from the Oświęcim train station to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. Keep in mind that while walking is free, it can be tiring, especially since you’ll have to walk back to the train station later. On the other hand, taking a taxi will cost extra!
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is vast and requires a lot of walking, so don’t be surprised if your feet are sore afterward. Besides, since you’re not a part of a guided tour, you might wander aimlessly trying to figure out what is where.
4. Organized Auschwitz tour from Krakow – Best option!
If you want to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum as part of an organized guided tour, here are some benefits.
First of all, you’ll be in the company of an experienced and knowledgeable English-speaking guide. They will share many historical facts and provide you with the context of this gruesome place. The Auschwitz tour is carefully and tactfully planned out to provide you with details you would otherwise skip. As you enter via skip-the-line tickets, you will pass under the infamous „Arbeit Macht Frei“ („Work will set you free“) sign, and your guide will explain the cynical meaning behind this phrase. Next, you will visit administrative buildings of the SS officers, as well as the workshops where prisoners worked as slave labor. As a part of a guided tour, you’ll be able to enter the terrifying brick blocks where inmates were kept in inhuman conditions. One of these blocks is the „Block 11″, also known as the „Death Block”, where Nazi scientists experimented with the use of poison gases such as Zyklon B.
For the second part of the Auschwitz tour, you will board the bus and ride to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. That’s 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) that you won’t have to walk! Once you get there, the tour will conclude with a visit to the museum where your guide will provide an in-depth explanation of the daily life of prisoners. After the Auschwitz tour, you will be taken back to Krakow aboard a comfortable bus.
Get ready for an Auschwitz visit
Now that you know how to get to Auschwitz from Krakow, make sure to check out our visitor guide to help you prepare for your visit.
We have the best value Auschwitz tours & tickets for you!
Skip-the-Line
Auschwitz Guided Tour
Visit Auschwitz Concentration Camp with a licensed guide and learn about its important and tragic history. Skip the line and enter through the "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate and explore both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Hear about the Holocaust, World War II, and the terrible events that took place there. See the Auschwitz Museum and the remains of gas chambers and crematoria, preserved as a reminder of the horrific crimes that happened there.
Skip-the-line
Auschwitz Tour from Krakow
Visit the historic grounds of the former concentration camp where over 1 million people, primarily Jews, lost their lives during the Holocaust. Explore the gas chambers, view the original belongings of Auschwitz prisoners, and walk through the historic buildings and barracks as your expert guide shares their stories. Enjoy the convenience of skip-the-line tickets, hotel pick-up, comfortable transportation, and drop-off in Krakow.
Small group
Auschwitz and Salt Mine Tour
This full-day tour takes you to two of Poland's most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Krakow area: the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Learn about the darkest chapter of World War II and see the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. Later, go on a guided tour of the Wieliczka salt mine, where you will walk the winding corridors and visit chambers and chapels carved out of salt.