The sort of place you don’t necessarily get excited about going to, but the sort of place you feel you need to go to, visiting Auschwitz can be something of a moral gauntlet when it comes to travel plans.
Situated in the eastern European country of Poland, this is a place with a dark history, a place that has withstood the test of time to tell its sad, horrifying and graphic story.
From that perspective, I do think its important to go and see this place, to bear witness to the atrocities and to remember them.
If you feel the same, then here’s my practical guide to visiting Auschwitz for independent travellers, which I’ve updated for 2023 and beyond…
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How to Visit Auschwitz: The Basics
Most people visit Auschwitz on a day trip from the city of Krakow in Poland.
Not only is picturesque Krakow worth a visit in its own right, but it’s also the closest major city to the Auschwitz concentration camp and therefore serves as a good base for those who want to visit this important site too.
There are 3 main options when it comes to visiting Auschwitz from Krakow and because this is how the vast majority of people make their visit there, I’ve decided to concentrate this practical guide on them.
They are numbered below so you can easily choose the best option for you.
#1 Taking a fully guided tour from Krakow to Auschwitz where everything is arranged for you.
#2 Taking public transport to Auschwitz from Krakow and then joining a museum tour once at the site.
#3 Fully independent visit that doesn’t involve any guides.
Do be aware that Auschwitz really is a full day trip from Krakow.
The drive there takes around 1.5 – 2 hours, as does the ride back.
Plus you’ll need to allow around 4 hours to tour the site itself.
That’s because there’s actually 2 different parts within the area known as Auschwitz.
The first is the main area, or Auschwitz I – which was largely a concentration camp.
The second area is Birkenau – which was mostly an extermination camp and is known as Auschwitz II.
I highly recommend you visit both to get a full sense of the site.
Shuttle buses run between the 2 parts free of charge and tickets include entry to both.
In the winter months, the shuttle buses are hourly.
In the summer months, the shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes.
You can also choose to walk the 3.5km between the 2 sites if you wish.
I’d suggest having a short break between the 2, because the unending litany of horrors can be a lot to handle in one unrelenting afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, there’s no doubt visiting Auschwitz is an unnerving, emotional and intense experience.
I’m not going to go further into how you will / might / should feel or what I felt visiting there either.
I’m simply going to say I think it is important to visit and witness the horrors of the past to ensure the stories are not forgotten and repeated.
The rest of this article will deal with the practical dimensions of visiting Auschwitz.
#1 Guided Tour from Krakow
Pros: Easy, Straightforward, Everything is organised, Guided tour of the site
Cons: Most costly options, Lack of flexibility
The easiest and therefore most expensive way to visit Auschwitz from Krakow is to take a fully organised day tour.
If you’re feeling lazy, tired, or are travelling with a family or like things easy, then this could be the option for you.
Normally these trips include transport to and from Krakow to Auschwitz, entrance fees and a guide inside the site and a private tour of the Auschwitz museum.
They involve paying a one-off price that takes all the hard work out of arranging the trip for you.
Instead, you can sit back, let someone else do the legwork and spend your time learning about the events that took place here, rather than having your energy taken up the organisational elements of visiting Auschwitz.
Taking an organised tour from Krakow is also the best way to ensure you get an English-speaking guide who knows a lot about the site and how to explain what happened there.
You can also get tours that include lunch, skip-the-line access, or even pair Auschwitz with a trip to Wieliczka Salt Mine – another key historical site near Krakow.
To learn more about fully guided tours that visit Auschwitz from Krakow, check out these options, which offer a range of experiences and prices.
#2 Public Transport & Museum Tour
Pros: Flexibility, Price, Guided tour of the site
Cons: Need to organise things in advance and navigate public transport
Step 1: Book your Auschwitz Museum Tour
The second option for visiting Auschwitz is to take public transport there from Krakow and then, when you arrive, to take a guide / tour operated by the museum to talk and guide you through the site.
The first thing to note about this is that you’ll have to book a museum guide / tour in advance – and in the summer if you want an English speaking guide, this could be quite far in advance!
If you know which day you want to visit Auschwitz, I’d honestly advise booking your guide (or “educator” as the museum calls it) at least 2 weeks in advance.
Entrance to the museum complex is free, but the guide costs a small amount.
Here’s a full guide to the prices you can expect to pay, but in general tickets for a single adult cost around $20 USD.
The guided tours take around 3 and a half hours and are available in many major European languages including English, Polish, French, Spanish and Italian.
Bookings for such guides can easily be made through the Auschwitz-Birkenau website – simply select a time for your tour and the language you want the tour in.
Visitors in groups must take a guide, while it’s optional for solo travellers – although I still highly recommend it.
Alternatively, you can chance it and leave booking your guide until the day of your visit.
That said, chances are that in high season you’ll struggle to find an English guide / educator last minute and will likely get put in another language group with partial tour translation offered through a headset.
If you factor in getting a bus from Krakow and the 1.5 – 2 hour journey time, I wouldn’t suggest booking your guide / tour for 9am!
Instead, I’d opted for around 2pm, which was perfect as it meant I could have a lazy morning and also miss many of the crowds at Auschwitz, because the latter part of the day tends to be a lot quieter with visitor numbers.
Step 2: Take Public Transport / Drive from Krakow to Auschwitz
If your tour starts at 2pm, I’d suggest getting to Auschwitz at least 20 mins before the start of your tour.
That’s because on arrival, you’ll need to register, store any large bags, pick up your headset and get your tour sticker.
As my tour was at 2pm, I actually got the bus from Krakow at 12pm, which meant being at the station in the city at 11:45am – see what I mean about this being a full day trip!
It’s normally the number 14 Zolty Bus from Krakow’s main station that goes to Osweicim.
Prices are around 20 PLN one way and you can view the timetable here.
The journey time is around 2 hours and the bus will drop you directly at the Auschwitz museum entrance.
I’d arrive at the station in Krakow at least 15 minutes early to buy your ticket from the Central Office – not only because there’s often queues here, but because sometimes tickets run out.
Also, my bus left early and didn’t wait for all the seats to be filled – you have been warned!
Don’t buy a return bus ticket either, just get a one-way.
The reason I say this is because there are many different buses back from Auschwitz to Krakow and you don’t want to be limited by a set return option when getting a ticket from the driver on any return bus is easy.
You can also drive to Auschwitz from Krakow. This takes just over an hour and there is plenty of paid parking available by the main site entrance. If you’re looking to rent a car in Poland, check out these deals.
Step 3: Arriving at the Auschwitz Museum
When you arrive at the Auschwitz Museum things can be a little confusing – there’s lots of people, but no real directions for where to go!
But don’t fear, if you’re visiting Auschwitz and have your tour booked, simply head to the Visitor Centre (the main building you can see opposite the bus stop), where you can use the bathroom and store your bag – this is a requirement for anything larger than a small handbag.
According to the official website, “the maximum size of backpacks or handbags brought into the museum should not exceed 30 x 20 x 10 cm”.
Basically, I’d advise bringing as little as possible with you here to make life easier.
15 minutes before your tour starts you are allowed to pass through the far left entrance (if you’re facing the Visitor Centre) to clear security, collect your headphones for the tour and meet your guide.
Your tour will include a visit to both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II (Birkenau), as well as a short break and the shuttle bus between the 2.
You’ll then be taken back to Auschwitz I at the end of the day, from where you can catch a bus back to Krakow from the same stop you were dropped at.
#3 Fully Independent Visit
Pros: Flexibility, Cheapest option
Cons: Need to organise things in advance, No guided tour of the site
And finally, you can see Auschwitz fully independently by getting a bus from Krakow and then touring the museum by yourself without a guide or tour, as long as you’re not part of a group (10+ people).
This is free (outside of the bus fare) so maybe the best option for any real shoestring travellers among you.
That said, even as a hardened budget traveller myself, I’d really suggest visiting Auschwitz with a guide / tour, because you’ll be able to appreciate the magnitude of what you’re seeing on a whole, new level.
I seem to have visited quite a few “dark” tourism sites in my adventures (largely unplanned and unintentional), but I can tell you that from the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem to the Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, Auschwitz was by far the most powerful for me.
Perhaps this is because you’re physically walking through the location where the atrocities you’re hearing about happened – it’s undeniably more real and visceral as a result.
Also, Auschwitz was the only 1 of these 3 sites where I took a guide and there’s no question it greatly enhanced the experience for me and was well worth the small extra expenditure.
Things to Know Before Your Auschwitz Visit…
There’s a few other practical guidelines it may be useful to know about when visiting Auschwitz…
- Visits to the site are not recommended for children under the age of 14.
- Non-commercial photography is allowed at the site, with the exception of some buildings and areas, which are signposted accordingly.
- Opening times vary throughout the year, based on the month, but generally, the site entrance opens at 7:30am and shuts somewhere between 2pm (winter months) and 7pm (summer months).
- Visitors are allowed to explore the site for 90 minutes after the entrance closing times.
- The site is open every day except January 1, December 25, and Easter Sunday.
- Behaving and dressing appropriately, given the gravity of what happened at Auschwitz, is the best way to be respectful. I suggest covering your shoulders, chest and knees as a good starting point.
- Comfortable walking shoes + sun protection (in the summer months) are a must.
- The busiest time to visit is during the months of April through October when the warmer weather makes walking through the largely outdoor site more pleasant – note winters in Poland can be freezing!
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Krakow Mini Travel Guide
Given that most people visit Auschwitz from the Polish city of Krakow, I thought it would be useful to also list some travel info about getting to and staying in this city, as that will most likely be a key part of your journey to this important holocaust site.
How to Get to Krakow?
When it comes to getting to Krakow, the quickest and easiest way if you’re in a nearby country (like Czechia or Slovakia), or elsewhere in Poland, is via train or bus.
As always, I use Omio for the job, as this website compares hundreds of journeys across rail and coach to Poland’s second city.
Offering great prices, and easy booking in English, this is my one-stop shop when it comes to organising all my overland adventures in eastern Europe.
Otherwise, if you’re travelling to Krakow from further afield, it’s good to know this city boasts an international airport. Pick up a great flight deal care of Skyscanner.
Trains run every 30 minutes from the airport to the city centre and take around 20 minutes. Or you can book a secure airport transfer here.
Where to Stay in Krakow?
If you’re looking for budget accommodation in the heart of Krakow’s Old Town – and the action – then there’s few better locations than that of Greg & Tom Hostel!
Just outside Stare Miastro, making it just a 10 minute walk away if you do want to grab those early morning snaps, this independent backpackers boasts a cosy vibe, free wifi, free walking tours and free guest breakfast and dinners!
Otherwise, for something a bit more comfortable and spacious, check out this amazing apartment in the heart of Krakow.
It gets amazing reviews and sleeps up to 4 guests, making it a total bargain!
4 Essential Packing Items for Krakow
#1 Good Camera – You will be pretty much snapping non-stop in Krakow and will need a good camera to do this gorgeous destination justice. I highly recommend the Sony A6000, which I use for all my travels because its light, compact and robust!
#2 Good Walking Shoes – There will be a lot of walking in Krakow, it’s as simple as that! Make sure your feet are comfortable therefore with a pair of New Balance Trainers. I love mine!
#3 Good Water Bottle – All that city sightseeing is thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because Krakow tap water is drinkable… and free!
#4 Good Backpack – And to carry your water bottle, camera and guidebook, you’re going to need a decent backpack that will help you balance the weight as you walk the city streets. In my opinion, you can’t go past the Bobby Anti Theft Backpack, which is also perfect for helping you avoid pickpockets too.
Travel Insurance for Poland
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.
Travel Money in Poland
When it comes to paying for things in Poland, you want to ensure you’re not being charged overseas transaction fees or getting poor exchange rates when using your card abroad, which is why I always take my Wise card away with me wherever I travel.
The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and no sneaky transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card here.. and it links easily with Google and Apple pay – sold! Get yours here.
Top Poland & Eastern European Tours
And if you want to visit Krakow and Auschwitz as part of a wider tour, either in Poland or across eastern Europe, check out this great selection.
SAVE THIS TO PINTEREST!
So that’s my practical guide on how to visit Auschwitz in Poland.
Have you visited this important museum?
Have there been any updates to the above information?
If so, please let us know in the comments box below – that way we can also help out other travellers wanting to visit this important museum and memorial.
