Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau Fully Guided Tour with Hotel Pick-up
Description
Join a respectful, professionally organized day trip from Krakow to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum – a powerful and unforgettable experience that offers deep insight into one of history’s darkest chapters. This all-inclusive tour includes round-trip transportation from Krakow, skip-the-line entry tickets, and a licensed museum guide who will lead you through the most important areas of the former Nazi concentration and extermination camps. You’ll visit both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, exploring preserved barracks, memorial sites, original structures, and exhibits that tell the story of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Throughout the journey, a dedicated tour leader ensures everything runs smoothly, allowing you to focus on reflection and learning. The tour is conducted with the utmost respect, historical accuracy, and sensitivity.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your trip starts with a ride from your hotel in Krakow. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to Auschwitz. When you arrive in Oswiecim, take a quick break for coffee or to look around outside.
When you arrive at your destination, you will be met by your professional guide and enter the site at Auschwitz I, walking through the gate to the camp that bears the inscription Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Sets You Free). The Auschwitz-Birkenau complex was established in 1940 in place of old polish army barracks. Originally to hold Polish POW`s political prisoners, and operated until its liberation by advancing soviets in 1945. During its operation, more than 1.5 million Jewish, Polish, Italian and French prisoners were brought here ,of which 1.1m. was exterminated as part of largest genocide in human history. Leaving survivors terribly scared for live. The Auschwitz complex comprises of original buildings and you can see the original roads, fences, watchtowers and railway ramps, and death wall. Visit some of the barracks on the Auschwitz I complex, which now house a collection of original exhibitions and documents, as well as articles stolen from prisoners upon camp arrival.
The second part of the tour - Birkenau - is the largest camp of over 40 camps and sub-camps from the Auschwitz complex. Originally planned as a camp for Soviet prisoners of war, it eventually became a concentration camp for prisoners of various nationalities and a center of the extermination of Jews. Its construction began in October 1941 by the hands of slave labourers, in a place of a displaced and mostly demolished village of Brzezinka and three kilometres from Auschwitz I. It was designed to hold 125 000 prisoners at one time. Who was from the start destined to die from cold, hunger, diseases, and exhaustion. Prisoners were treated as redundant and easily replaceable workforce. You will see unimaginable living conditions; prisoners have to adapt. You can walk to preserved camp barracks. You will see the rail ramp, where infamous Dr. Mengele oversaw the selection process of new arrivals, when a split second decided your life or death in gas chambers. They were only 200m away.
Finish your tour and go back to Kraków to the starting point, seeing various landmarks on the way. Travel back to central Krakow and finish with a drop-off in town.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- WEATHER CONDITIONS⛅: Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately. The tour mostly takes place outdoors, so we encourage you to bring an umbrella or a raincoat in case of bad weather.
- REFUND: You'll receive a FULL REFUND, if for any reason, the guide or transportation is not provided.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers Operated by Discover Cracow
- DOCUMENTS : Please make sure to bring with you ID or passoprt. Because before the entrance seciurity will ask about it.
- DEPARTURE TIME ️: The start time of the tour may change due to the limited number of guides available at the Auschwitz Museum. Please contact the supplier to confirm your exact departure time the day before the tour. If you not specify your hotel adress we will be waiting for you on our pick-up place: Pawia 18b, kiss and ride stop, next to Mercure hotel.
- PICKUP : Some hotels in Krakow are located in a restricted traffic zone. In such cases, your pickup will be arranged from the nearest available location. You will be informed about this one day before the tour.
- In rare circumstances beyond our control, a licensed museum guide may become unavailable due to changes in museum allocations or operational restrictions. If this occurs, we will contact you several days in advance and offer one of the following alternatives: entry to the museum with an official guidebook in your language, or a fully guided experience with our local guide at historically significant locations around the former camp complex without entry to the museum grounds. If neither alternative suits you, a full refund will be provided
Reviews(422)
I booked this as a last-minute tour. That being said, what you get to see is extremely limited. If everything is already booked, then this would be your alternative. Other than that, I would recommend booking another tour because this one leaves you feeling like you showed up to see Auschwitz but got turned away at the door.
We had the best experience on our tour .. from start to finish .. our guide Damien was amazing .. he was full of knowledge and was passionate about the whole tour .. he didnt hesitate to respond to any questions in fact encouraged us to ask so we weren't left with any unanswered questions. I loved the fact it was headsets and you could just brows around the particular room we were in and still listen to all the information Damien was giving us .. the groups were kept 2 a small group and everything was really well organised. I wasnt the most knowledgeable about the the whole thing but came away full of knowledge and have since watched a few films since been back recommended by damien and it makes u watch the film with a whole different outlook once you have visited.. highly recommend if visiting krakow
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for sharing such a deeply moving and thoughtful review of your visit to Auschwitz. We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience was seamless from start to finish. Damian is an incredible guide, and we are so proud to have him on our team. It is wonderful to hear how his extensive knowledge, passion, and open encouragement for questions made such a profound impact on your journey. We will be absolutely delighted to pass your compliments along to him—he will be incredibly touched to know he made you feel so supported and informed. We are also glad that the small group size and the headset system allowed you the space to quietly process and browse the rooms at your own pace without missing any of Damian's insights. It is truly special to hear that the tour inspired you to learn even more through the films Damian recommended, and that standing on those historic grounds gave you a completely new perspective on them. Thank you for highly recommending our tour to anyone visiting Kraków. We truly appreciate your trust in us for such an important and memorable visit. Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team #DiscoverCracow #AuschwitzTour #DamianTheGuide #DeeplyMoving #HighlyRecommended #KrakowHistory
The guide was fantastic—in-depth explanations delivered with genuine feeling. Even though it wasn't possible to visit the museum—only the exteriors of the sites—it allowed us to fully experience the atmosphere.
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us. We are deeply moved to hear that you had a powerful experience, even though this specific visit was limited to the exteriors of the sites. It is wonderful to know that your guide was fantastic, delivering in-depth explanations with genuine feeling that allowed you to truly connect with the atmosphere of this historic place. We appreciate your understanding of the tour's format and thank you for recognizing the care and dedication our guide put into making it meaningful. Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team #DiscoverCracow #AuschwitzExterior #ExceptionalGuide #MovingExperience #InDepthHistory #ThoughtfulTravel
Great atmosphere in a smaller group and excellent storytelling by our friendly guide Damian. It was a pleasure to listen to his knowledge while observing places, would recommend him for other activities as well. Everything was organised smoothly and in my opinion the duration was optimal. A great choice specially if you want to have an authentic behind the scenes experience.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and for sharing your experience with us! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed the intimate atmosphere of the smaller group and the smooth organization of the tour. Our "Outside the Walls" itinerary is specifically designed to offer an authentic, behind-the-scenes perspective on this profound history, so it is fantastic to know that the optimal duration and pacing worked so well for you. We will be thrilled to pass your high praise along to Damian! He is an exceptional guide, and we are so glad that his deep knowledge, friendly approach, and excellent storytelling made such a meaningful impression on you. Thank you for your warm recommendation, and we hope to welcome you on another insightful journey with us in the future! Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team
Amazing experience. Our guide Damien was amazing and knowledgeable. Although we didn't get to go into most of the places, seeing it and learning about it was what I came for. And the group was small so it felt personal and friendly.
Thank you for your amazing review! We are so glad to hear that you had such a great experience and that Damian was knowledgeable and welcoming. It is wonderful that the small group size gave the tour a personal, friendly feel, and that you enjoyed seeing and learning about all the historic spots on your list. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to him! Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team
The tour was excellent and very well priced. Our tour guide Damian was an excellent tour guide and this something everyone should visit. Even tho the tour didn’t include inside Damian did an excellent job at explaining all the details to ensure we didn’t miss out on anything, the storytelling was great
Thank you for your excellent review! We are thrilled to hear that the tour was well-priced and that you highly recommend this experience to everyone. It is fantastic to know that Damian did such a wonderful job with his great storytelling, ensuring you didn't miss out on any details even without going inside. We will happily pass your compliments along to him! Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team
We had a really good trip with Damian as a guide. It was very exciting and worked really well, even since it was a last minute decision. We thought the guide told lively and interested about the various things, and the tour had a suitable length. We had a good experience overall!
Thank you for your review! We are glad to hear that you had a really good experience, even as a last-minute decision. It is wonderful to know that Damian kept the tour engaging with his lively storytelling and that the length of the tour was just right for you. We will be sure to pass your compliments along to him! Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team
Damian is very helpful, attentive and deeply knowledgeable of history. Guided tour by it is highly recommended and for everyone.
Thank you so much for sharing such a meaningful review of your visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau! We are deeply glad to hear that your experience was so educational and rich in historical knowledge. Damian will be incredibly proud to read your kind words. Guiding visitors through these historic sites requires the utmost respect, sensitivity, and depth of knowledge, so it is wonderful to know that his helpfulness and expertise stood out so highly to you. We will be sure to pass your compliments directly to him! Thank you for choosing Discover Cracow for such an important and memorable visit. Kind Regards, Discover Cracow Team
Damian was very helpful, going above and beyond by helping to push my dad in his wheelchair as well as keeping great communication throughout the whole experience. He was very welcoming and very informative on the drive. Would highly recommend Damian as a driver to anyone who wants to experience krakow.
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for taking the time to share this wonderful and heartwarming review! We are incredibly proud to hear how Damien went above and beyond to support your family, especially by helping to push your dad's wheelchair. Visiting a historical site like Auschwitz can be physically demanding, and ensuring that all of our guests feel comfortable, safe, and fully included is a top priority for us. It is fantastic to know that Damien's great communication, warm welcome, and informative commentary during the drive made such a positive impression on you. We will be absolutely delighted to pass your high recommendation and kind words along to him! Thank you for choosing Discover Cracow for such a meaningful journey. Kind Regards, The Discover Cracow Team #AuschwitzTour #DiscoverCracow #Damien #KrakowTours #AccessibleTravel #GreatGuide #ExcellentService #TravelPoland
It was a very emotional experience. Unfortunately, we were unable to enter the concentration camps and the museum due to a last-minute cancellation by another provider, but Damian, our guide, was incredibly good at explaining all the history from outside, giving us very personalized attention thanks to the small group size, and he saved us from missing Auschwitz during our visit to Kraków. Thank you very much, Damian!
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback about your experience. We are incredibly glad to hear that **Damien** was able to turn a deeply challenging situation into an unforgettable and meaningful experience for you. Discovering at the last minute that your original entry to the main museum grounds was canceled by another provider must have been incredibly stressful, and we are so proud that Damien was able to step in, look after you, and save you from missing Auschwitz entirely during your stay in Kraków. Our "Outside the Walls" tour is specifically designed to provide a deep, highly respectful, and comprehensive understanding of the vast Auschwitz-Birkenau and Monowitz complex from a broader historical perspective. We are so pleased that the small group size allowed Damien to give you such personalized attention and that his extensive knowledge brought the history vividly to life for you despite the emotional weight of the site. Thank you for choosing **Discover Cracow** and for your wonderful praise for Damien. We will be sure to pass your kind words along to him! Kind Regards, **The Discover Cracow Team** --- #AuschwitzTour #DiscoverCracow #Damien #KrakowTours #SmallGroupTour #GreatGuide #MovingExperience #TravelPoland
