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Auschwitz Tour from Krakow
Auschwitz Tour from Krakow
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Nothing can prepare you for the influx of emotions that will run through your heart as you explore the camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau - the only death camp on the UNESCO World Heritage List where pure evil resided for 5 long years. Each exhibition in the museum adds another sting in your heart and makes you realise what atrocities humans are capable of in their thirst for power.
To help you understand what really happened in the most recognizable place of the Holocaust in the early 1940s, we created the tour that will allow you to see the barracks, crematoria, and gas chambers which Nazis used for the mass extermination of women, men, children, and elderly who weren’t able to do hard labour after an exhausting journey in cattle wagons. We won’t miss the exhibitions with personal belongings, objects of everyday use, and pictures of individual prisoners. Since the war ended and the museum was opened for the public, millions of people have come here to pay tribute and shed tears over the innocents who perished in Auschwitz and Birkenau. All of us, without exception, should brace up and pay a visit to this sobering place for the sake of future generations to make sure no one forgets what hatred and totalitarian regime result in.
What is included?
- Convenient meeting point or hotel pickup (premium or private option)
- Two-way transport
- Museum-certified guide around both camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau
- Entry tickets and all fees
- Water, snack and sandwich (premium option) *
- Packed lunch (private option)
- Free time after the tour
- Transport between both camps
- Groups no bigger than 18 people (premium option) *
- Groups no bigger than 35 people (standard option)
- A private guide can be arranged for a private tour option. Please contact us in advance.
- Headphones (for all groups 10+)
- Documentary screening about Liberation (premium option) *
* This applies to bookings made after March 1, 2024. The small group at the Auschwitz Museum depends on guide availability.
Book a tour and travel with a reputable travel company and a verified ABTA Member. Place your trust in Escape2Poland and travel with confidence.
Tour Schedule
- Pickup
Begin your tour from the centrally-located pickup point at the time selected while booking. Consider upgrading the tour for more convenient pickup directly from your hotel (premium or private option).
- Transport to Auschwitz
Approx. 90-Minute transport to Auschwitz on a comfortable bus. Van or private transport only for you and your party available while booking.
- Auschwitz tour with a museum-certified guide
Skip the ticket line, meet your guide, and start the tour around the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Tour (2 hrs).
- Short coffee break (if possible)
10-15 minutes of free time to use the toilet, grab a snack, or take a breath before your sightseeing of Birkenau.
- Birkenau tour with a museum-certified guide
We will transfer you to the second camp, Birkenau, and show you around the original barracks, unloading ramps, watchtowers, and mass extermination devices. (1h 20 min).
- Free time
Use your extra time to contemplate or visit the bookshop. Upgrade your tour to private transport to have more free time - up to 30 minutes.
- Transport back to Krakow
You will be dropped off at the meeting point or directly at your hotel.
Additional Info
- Please note that the pickup time is estimated. The precise pick up time will be on the voucher sent to you 1-3 days before the tour.
- Main pickup point for standard tours: 65 Starowislna Street, Krakow (GPS: 50°03'11.7"N 19°56'54.8"E) - Kazimierz district
- Pickups on request for standard tours: Mercure Old Town hotel 18 Pawia Street, Radisson Blu hotel 17 Straszewskiego Street (add your special request after the booking)
- Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for weather conditions.
- The minimum number of people for the Premium Tour is 6. If the group is smaller, you will get a refund, and a standard tour will be provided. We will email you three days before the tour date about the change at the latest.
- The museum allows A4-size bags (30x20x10) only. Bigger belongings should be left on the bus.
- Baby seats are granted at no additional cost - please notify our customer service at least 3 days before the tour.
- On the grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, visitors should behave with the appropriate solemnity and respect, and dress in a manner befitting a place of this nature.
- The use of flash is forbidden inside the buildings. You are allowed to take photos only in certain parts of the museum.
- For safety reasons and due to traffic restrictions, direct hotel pick-up may not be possible, in which case you will be assigned to the closest pickup point, about which we will inform you.
- The premium option includes hotel pick up in the city centre. In other locations, additional payment might be required, about which we will inform you.
- Standard language: English. Other languages: French, Italian, Spanish, German available on request.
- Please keep in mind that starting from the 1st of January 2020 you will be asked to provide the full name and surname of each traveller of your party for the personalized tickets to the Auschwitz Museum. Each traveller must have a valid ID or passport at the Auschwitz Museum. We highly recommend booking the tour in advance.
- In order to ensure your safety, there is a possibility that the transport for the premium option will be organized by a bigger vehicle. This is to limit contact with drivers and allow passengers to have more space and greater comfort.
- We highly recommend booking the tour in advance to ensure smooth service.
- For groups, we advise a private tour and recommend booking at least 2-3 months before the arrival date.
- In high season, the tour may take place in the afternoon. We do not recommend going on the tour on the day of departure.
Before you visit
What time will you pick us up for the tour?
The pick-up time depends on the Auschwitz guide's reservation which may vary from day to day. We run morning and / or afternoon tour. We highly encourage you to look at the calendar on the right corner, choose the date and check available time slots. If you have any preference or questions, you may email us or put a request in a request box, we will do our best to accommodate your request.
How many people will be on the van or bus?
To guarantee you a comfortable journey, we use two types of vehicles for transport: a Minivan (8 or 17 seater) for the Premium option and a bus (30 seater) for the Standard tour. If you are travelling with luggage or you require a baby seat, please let us know about it in advance. To ensure your safety, there is a possibility that the transport for the premium option will be organized by a bigger vehicle. This is to reduce contact with the driver and increase the space between passengers (COVID).
How long does the tour last?
The tour with a guide lasts around 3,5 hours. The transfer time is around 1,5 hrs one way. The whole tour takes 6,5 - 7 hrs.
Where is the meeting point for the tour?
In case of a standard Tour, we choose the most convenient meeting point near the Old Town, in the Jewish district area -Starowislna 65, Krakow. If you book a Premium Tour, our minibus picks you up from your hotel (hostel or apartment) within Krakow central area only, at the time stated in your tour voucher, unless it is impossible then a meeting point will be assigned (very often if your accommodation is located within the Old Town). Please note we can only guarantee a hotel pick up if the full address of your Krakow accommodation is provided.
How long do we stay in Auschwitz?
The tour around Auschwitz takes about 2 hours and the tour around Birkenau lasts about 1.5 hour.
How far is it from Krakow to Auschwitz?
The distance between Krakow and Auschwitz is about 40 miles. The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Can children visit the memorial?
It is not advised by the Auschwitz Museum that children under the age of 14 visit the camps as the stories and photos are violent and cruel. However, it is the decision of the parents. Please note it is not allowed to bring prams and strollers to the campsite.
Is there any lunch break during the tour?
There is only around 10-minute break between visiting both camps. Therefore we advise to take some packed lunch with you. It is also possible to buy some snacks at the museum's shop but consumption is not allowed on the premises of the camps. Private tour includes packed lunch.
I am a wheelchair user, will I be able to see the museum?
Yes. Wheelchair users are requested to have a companion to assist them during the tour. It is necessary to have a folding wheelchair which will fit into the van. Please note that some sites in Auschwitz are accessible only by steps. It is recommended that wheelchair users take private tour rather than group tour so the guide can adjust to their individual needs.
I am an elderly person, I don't think I can manage to walk such a long distance. Could you provide a wheelchair?
Wheelchairs can be hired from the museum free of charge. Please inform us upon booking, by requesting the wheelchair in the 'other requests' box, to make sure we secure its availability. Please note that paths are not wheelchair adapted and not all exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair. It is neccessary that a wheelchair user has a companion to push the wheelchair.
If I feel tired in the middle of the tour can I go back to the minivan?
You can either go back to the minivan or to the restaurant located close to the museum and wait for the rest of the group. Our driver is always at the spot (parking lot) ready to help you.
Can I take pictures at the Museum?
Taking pictures without the flash is allowed at the Musuem, except certain exhibitions, which are excluded to honor the victims of the Holocaust. (block no. 4) and the basement of block no. 11.
When do I receive free time in the Standard Tour?
The 15 min extra time is given after the tour has finished at Birkenau Camp and the guide has left the group. Upgrade your tour to Premium or Private option to make more free time after the tour.
Can I take the Auschwitz Tour and the Salt Mine Tour on one day?
Yes, it is possible. In that case depending on your tour option, itinerary and your hotel location you will return to Krakow for some time to be soon picked up again. We advise to take some packed lunch and snacks with you. Most convenient solution to accommodate both Tours in one day is to upgrade them to a private transfer. In that case you have a vehicle to yourself, which will allow you to go to the Salt Mine directly from the Auschwitz Tour and have more time to spare.
What size bags are allowed in the Auschwitz Museum?
The bags should not exceed the limit of 30cm x 20cm x 10cm. It is strictly controlled by the staff at the Museum.
What's the difference between the Standard Tour and Premium Tour?
Standard Tour: the pick up from your hotel is not included; you will be asked to make your way to a meeting point in front of the Starowiślna 65, Krakow. In this option, you will be transferred to the Auschwitz State Museum is bus up to 30 PAX. Additionally, we guarantee a 15 min break after the first part of the trip.
Premium Tour: hotel pickup or the closest meeting point (if the hotle pick up is not possible) and transfer in minivan up to 8 PAX is guaranteed. This Tour also guarantees 30 minutes of free time after the tour has finished, or 45 if you upgrade to private transportation in which car and the driver are only for you and your party.
Is E2P a licensed tour operator?
E2P is one of few licensed tour operators which means that we can offer you a full service (including guide assistance, accommodation, entrance tickets), not only transport. We provide full financial protection for our package holidays by way of a bond held by ABTA – Policy Number: TOTAHC001979 . Moreover, to keep the highest standards of online payments safety we closely cooperate with SIX Payments and Barclays Bank.
Why do the prices differ by day or from the last time I checked the website?
Two factors influence the prices on our website. One of them is the date you book the activity for. If you book at short notice, the prices may be higher. Another factor is availability – the number of seats or spots we have for a given tour. The higher the availability we have, the better the price you get.
Do you offer the lowest price guarantee?
Yes, we do! Escape2Poland is all about getting our customers the best price out there. If you happen to find the same activity at a lower price, we will refund you the difference promptly. Please mind that the activity’s components must match the offer on our website and have the same cancellation policy. That’s not all! Thanks to the promotions we run time and again, you can lower the price at checkout using special discount codes.
Do you accept vouchers displayed on a Phone or Tablet device or do you need a Paper voucher?
We accept vouchers displayed on a phone, tablet device or paper one.
Will I be picked up from my hotel with the premium option?
Please be advised that with the premium option the hotel pickup is possible only in Krakow City Centre, parts of Old Town and Kazimierz district. If your accommodation is not located in those areas an additional payment will be needed in order to provide you with a direct pickup. If you do not know whether your accommodation is located in the areas mentioned please contact our customer support or consider a private pickup option.
What a small group in Auschwitz Musuem means?
For groups of a minimum of 4 people, we try to organize a Premium tour in a small group of up to 18 people. This option is subject to availability.
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Our Travellers love this tour
100 000 clients each year
Tom
Hello there just a quick line to thankyou for the wonderful service we received from your company on our recent visit to Krakow. I booked airport transfers and the trips to Aushwitz and the salt mines, all of which were perfect, All the drivers were prompt and very polite and the lady who did our guided tour around Aushwitz, Birkenau was very good and explained everything to our group. I will certainly be recommending your company to any friends who are visiting Poland and on our next visit I will also not hesitate to use you. Many thanks for everything ,
Lucie - England
My boyfriend and I used Esacpe2Poland for our entire stay in Krakow. But more specifically for the Auschwitz and Birkenau Tour. After I made the booking i received all the confirmation by email, its made very clear on all the emails that the tickets will be sent 3 days before we received ours in good time and all the details were clearly given. We were met at our hotel promptly as you are given a specific time slot. The drive to Auschwitz is quite long so be prepared to be travelling for well over an hour be sure to take a bottle of water with you and wear comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking. Once we arrived we were then met by the tour guide Patrica who gave us headsets to wear for the duration of the tour she was very professional and had a vast knowledge of the camps. this is something i have always wanted to experience and I am glad we used Escape2Poland as booking was easy and everything was taken care of. The tour is powerful to say the least given the subject matter but well worth doing. You get taken to both camps and get to see pretty much everything I cannot recommend this enough. I am not sure I would visit Krakow again as I think it is a one trip sort of place but a place well worth visiting none the less.
Micheal
My father and brother have just come back from a 3 day trip to Poland visiting Auschwitz They have had nothing but praise for the excellent service that your organization provided from the moment they were picked up from the Airport by your driver, to the helpfulness of the Hotel staff and the tour of Auschwitz where they were very impressed by the driver that escorted them there and back and also by the tour guide. This was a Christmas present from me to them and it helps make it even more special when you have the ease of mind that it is run by such a professional outfit such as yours. I will tell people what a good service you provide if they want to travel to Poland .
Ian
Not to be missed! Auschwitz makes incredible impression and the tour was very well organized. I would recommend to anyone. best regards,
Ann
(Tour by MINIVAN) The guide was passionate and very informative about the subject. Unforgettable experience, very well organized tour, comfortable minivan hotel transfer!