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Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum

Top choice in Oświęcim

Auschwitz-Birkenau is synonymous with the Holocaust. More than a million Jews, and many Poles and Roma, were murdered here by German Nazis during WWII. Both sections of the camp – Auschwitz I and the much larger outlying Birkenau (Auschwitz II) – have been preserved and are open to visitors. It's essential to visit both to appreciate the extent and horror of the place.

From April to October it’s compulsory to join a tour if you arrive between 10am and 3pm.

Book well ahead either online or by phone, or turn up early (before 9.30am). English-language tours leave at numerous times throughout the day, generally most frequently between 10am and 1.30pm, when they operate half-hourly. Most tours include a short documentary film about the liberation of the camp by Soviet troops in January 1945 (not recommended for children under 14).

The museum’s visitor centre is at the entrance to the Auschwitz I site. Photography and filming are permitted throughout the camp without the use of a flash or tripod. There’s a self-service snack bar by the entrance as well as a kantor (private currency-exchange office), free left-luggage room and bookshops with publications about the site.

If not on a tour, get a copy of the museum-produced Auschwitz Birkenau Guidebook (5zł). It includes plans of both camps.

The Auschwitz extermination camp was established in prewar Polish army barracks on the outskirts of Oświęcim by the German occupiers in April 1940. Auschwitz was originally intended for Polish political prisoners, but the camp was then adapted for the wholesale extermination of the Jews of Europe in fulfilment of German Nazi ideology. For this purpose, the much larger camp at Birkenau (Brzezinka) was built 2km west of the original site in 1941 and 1942, followed by another one in Monowitz (Monowice), several kilometres to the west.

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Visiting Auschwitz – How to Plan the Auschwitz Tour

Visiting Auschwitz, albeit a very somber experience, is one of the must things to do in Poland. The largest Nazi Germany concentration and extermination camp during World War II, where over 1,3 million people lost their lives, needs no introduction. Conveniently located near Krakow , Auschwitz can be an easy addition to your Poland itinerary.

It took me almost 37 years to finally visit Auschwitz (although I’ve been to other Nazi Germany camps in Poland), and even if I knew very well what to expect, the place still overwhelmed me with its cruelty and tragedy. And I think everyone should plan a trip to Auschwitz to understand history better and see what people are capable of when the ideology brainwashes them. And, of course, to pay respect to all the unnecessary victims. It’s important to visit places like Auschwitz so we can do our best to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

If you are visiting Poland (especially Krakow , Warsaw , Katowice , or Wroclaw ), I prepared this guide to help you plan your Auschwitz tour without too much hassle. There are different ways to visit Auschwitz, but no matter which one you choose, be prepared for one of the most difficult yet necessary travel experiences of your life.

Table of Contents

Where is Auschwitz

The former Nazi Germany Concentration Camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, is located in a town of around 37.000 inhabitants called Oświęcim in southern Poland. Krakow is less than 70 km away, and Katowice is 35 km away. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is around 330 km away from Oświęcim.

A brief history of Auschwitz

Even if Auschwitz is known mainly as the extermination camp, it was established as a concentration camp in mid-1940. It was one of over 40 camps in Poland that were supposed to be a solution to the problem of overflowing prisons full of arrested locals. The first people were brought to Auschwitz on June 14th, 1940, from the prison in Tarnow.

Since 1942 Auschwitz has also been used as the extermination camp where Nazis implemented their plan to murder Jewish people from all over Europe. At the peak of its operation, in 1944, Auschwitz was divided into three parts: Auschwitz I (the oldest one, in the old Polish military barracks), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the largest one, founded in 1941, the majority of victims were killed here), and Auschwitz III (this was a group of over 40 sub-camps created near industrial plants, made for work prisoners).

Numerous Polish villages were demolished, and locals were evicted to develop such a large institution. The camps were isolated from the outside world. The total area was around 40 square kilometers, including all three Auschwitz camps and the so-called “interest zone” used for the technical or supply background, offices, and barracks for Nazis.

Since Auschwitz had a strategic location on the front line, in August 1944, the camp’s liquidation began – the prisoners were taken to Germany, and the evidence of the crimes was covered up. The liberation of Auschwitz took place on January 27th, 1945, when around 7,5 thousand prisoners were still held there.

Altogether, in the almost four years of operation, over 1,3 million people lost their lives in Auschwitz; the majority were Jewish (around 1,1 million), but also Polish (about 150 hundred thousand), Roma people (23 thousand), and other nations.

In 1979 Auschwitz was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List – it is the only former Nazi concentration camp with that title in the world.

How to visit Auschwitz

You can visit Auschwitz two ways: with a tour from where you are staying in Poland (most likely Krakow, Katowice, Warsaw, or Wroclaw) or independently, reaching the site by car or using public transport. Both options are doable; however, the tour is a slightly better one as everything will be taken care of for you.

There is a wide selection of tours to choose from that depart from Krakow as well as other mentioned cities. Most of them cover more or less the same things: pick-up from your accommodation, transportation to/from Auschwitz and back, the entrance ticket to the concentration camp, and the guided tour on-site.

When I visited Auschwitz, I arrived by train from Warsaw, with the change in Katowice. I was at the museum almost an hour before my guided tour of the site was supposed to start, and despite the poor weather (it was raining on that day), there was no place to hide and wait for the tour. Visitors were not allowed to enter the museum until a few minutes before the tour was about to start. Me and a few other unlucky visitors just stood near the trees, hiding under the umbrella and waiting for our time to enter the site. I can’t say it was a comfortable situation (but at least the weather worked perfectly well for such a sad place to visit). Recently, a new visitors center was opened so hopefully the situation is better.

When using public transport, you need to rely on the schedule of trains/buses and, just in case, plan to be at the site with some extra time ahead; hence a tour is a better option. Still, visiting Auschwitz is doable independently – I did it, and once the tour of the site started, it was really good.

Visiting Auschwitz – practical information

Visiting Auschwitz memorial site is free of charge; however, I recommend joining the tour with the educator provided by the museum. They have a huge knowledge of the place and the tragedy that occurred here and can answer all the questions visitors always have. Tours are available in various languages: Polish, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Czech, and Slovak.

Even if you decide to visit the site independently, you still need to book the entry pass – those with free entrance start in the afternoon. You can buy/reserve your ticket online at the website of Auschwitz Museum here.

Currently, the price for the tour with the educator is 80 PLN for Polish and 90 PLN for other languages. When booking the ticket, you must state your full name and surname – this will be checked later.

Since tickets can sell out quickly, booking one at least a month in advance is recommended. If there are no tickets left for the day you want to visit Auschwitz, you can join the organized tour from Krakow or other cities, as tour operators usually have tickets booked in advance. Due to the sensitive nature of the place, children under 14 years old should not visit Auschwitz Museum.

Once you have your ticket, you need to arrive at the Auschwitz visitors center 30 minutes before your tour starts to go through the security check (it’s rather thorough, similar to the airport), have your ticket inspected (remember to have the ID or passport with you), get the headset for the tour and meet your group. You are allowed to have a bag or backpack with a maximum dimension of 30x20x10 cm; any larger luggage must be left in the paid lockers.

Auschwitz Museum is open every day except January 1st, December 25th, and Easter Sunday. Opening hours vary depending on the month and are as follows:

• 7:30-14:00 in December
• 7:30-15:00 in January and November
• 7:30-16:00 in February
• 7:30-17:00 in March and October
• 7:30-18:00 in April, May, and September
• 7:30-19:00 in June, July, and August

The closing time means the last entrance – after that, you are allowed to stay on-site for an hour and a half. However, if you want to see Auschwitz Museum properly, you need at least 3,5 hours for that – that’s also how long the standard tour with the educator lasts. It is usually divided equally between Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II- Birkenau. A free shuttle bus runs between the two sites every few minutes.

Taking pictures and making videos is allowed in Auschwitz, for individual use, except in two places: the hall with the hair of Victims (block nr 4) and the basements of Block 11. Your educator will remind you not to take pictures there.

Remember what sort of place you are visiting and behave there with respect. It might be obvious for most, but I can’t count how many times I’ve read news about inappropriate behavior in Auschwitz and other similar sites in Poland, so I think it’s worth reminding this is not your typical tourist attraction but a place of one of the greatest tragedy that ever happened in the world.

Getting to Auschwitz independently

If you decide to visit Auschwitz on your own, you must get to the visitors’ center, where your tour will start. The new visitors center, which opened just recently, is located at 55 Więźniów Oświęcimia Street in Oświęcim ( here is the exact location ). If you drive there, there is a large parking lot where you can leave your car before visiting the museum.

If you use public transport, there are both trains and buses you can take to reach Oświęcim. I recommend trains as they are slightly faster and more comfortable; however, some buses stop next to the museum, so that’s convenient. You can check all the connections on this website , where you can also find the location of the bus stop in Oświęcim (there can be three different ones).

The train station in Oświęcim is located at Powstańców Śląskich Street, some 20 minutes walking from the Auschwitz museum. It’s a straightforward way; you can check the map with the directions here . I recommend catching the train that gives you at least an hour between arriving at Oświęcim and when your tour starts.

Auschwitz tour from Krakow

Numerous Auschwitz tours depart from Krakow, so you will easily find the one that suits your itinerary and needs. Here are some recommended ones:

• Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial Guided Tour from Krakow
• Auschwitz & Birkenau – Fully Guided Tour from Krakow
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour with Private Transport from Kraków
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour by Private Transport from Krakow

You can also combine visiting Auschwitz with Wieliczka Salt Mine , another UNESCO-listed site near Krakow and a must-visit place in Poland. Here are the tours that go to both places in one day:

• Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow including Lunch
• Full-Day Tour of Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow
• Auschwitz-Birkenau and Salt Mine Tour with private transport from Krakow
• Combined: Auschwitz Birkenau and Salt Mine private chauffeur from Krakow

If you decide to go to Auschwitz from Krakow on your own, you can take the train from the main train station to Oświęcim. They are rather frequent, more or less every hour, and the journey takes a bit over an hour (depending on the connection, the longest one is 1h20min).

If you want to take the bus, they depart from the MDA bus station, next to the main train station. The price for trains and buses is similar, between 15 and 20 PLN, although trains tend to be cheaper and faster. You can check all the connections and buy a ticket here .

Auschwitz tour from Warsaw

Even if Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is located over 300 km away from Oświęcim, it is possible to go for a one-day Auschwitz tour. However, you can expect a long day, and a large part of it will be spent traveling. But if you are visiting Warsaw only, Auschwitz can be a good addition to your Poland itinerary, so you can better understand the country’s complex history.

Here are some of the recommended Auschwitz tours from Warsaw:

• From Warsaw Auschwitz and Krakow one day tour by train with pick up and drop off
• One day tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Warsaw with private transport

Going for the day trip from Warsaw to Auschwitz independently is also possible using trains. You can take the 6 am train to Katowice and then change for the train to Oświęcim, arriving in the town around 10:30. If you decide to do that, you can book your Auschwitz tour for 11:30 or 12:00. On the way back, you can catch the train after 16:00 from Oświęcim to Katowice, and after changing for the train to Warsaw, you will be in the capital after 20:00.

Auschwitz tour from Katowice

Since Katowice is less than 40 km from Auschwitz, it’s easy to go for a day trip. You need to take the local train to Oświęcim, it takes less than 50 minutes, and the connections are more or less every hour.

Or you can go for a tour, here are the Auschwitz tours from Katowice:

• Auschwitz – Birkenau from Katowice
• Auschwitz & Birkenau English guided tour by private transport from Katowice
• Auschwitz tour from Wroclaw

Wroclaw is another popular place to visit in Poland, and since it’s located around 230 km from Oświęcim, you can go for an Auschwitz tour from Wroclaw too. If you decide to do it independently, you can take the train to Katowice and then change for the local train to Oświęcim. A one-way trip should take you less than 4 hours.

Or you can go for a tour; here are the recommended ones from Wroclaw:

• Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour from Wrocław
• Private Full-Day Tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Wroclaw

Auschwitz Museum Tour

As for the museum itself, here is what you can expect.

You will start in the oldest part of the concentration camp – Auschwitz I, where the infamous gate with the sign “Arbeit macht frei” (meaning “Work Sets You Free”) is located. Here, you will visit numerous barracks where inmates were kept – now you can see different exhibitions there, showing the reality of Auschwitz and halls with personal belongings taken from arriving prisoners – luggage, shoes, glasses, etc., or hair of Victims. You will learn all about cruel practices here, including medical experiments or torture.

Visiting this part of Auschwitz museum is a very somber experience, and it’s really difficult to comprehend the tragedy that happened in this very place.

Besides the barracks in Auschwitz I, you will also see where the camp commander lived or the first crematorium where Nazis started their experiments with killing using gas. In this part of the Auschwitz tour, you can take pictures everywhere except the two places in Blocks 4 and 11 – they will be clearly marked, and your educator will remind you about this restriction.

The visit to Auschwitz I takes around 1,5 hours. Afterward, together with your group and educator, you will take the shuttle bus to Auschwitz II-Birkenau, located some 3 km away.

Auschwitz II-Birkenau is where around 90% of victims died. It is a huge area that worked kind of like the killing factory, with four gas chambers and crematoriums. This is also where most prisoners arrived – you most likely know the view of the railway tracks and brick gate – that’s Auschwitz II-Birkenau. This part of the visit is mostly outdoors.

You will walk around the area, see the remnants of the camp, visit some barracks inside, and learn all about the horrific tragedy that happened here. When Auschwitz I has a more intimate, even claustrophobic feeling, Auschwitz II-Birkenau can overwhelm you with its scale and enormity.

You will spend around 1,5 hours here, too; afterward, you can take the shuttle bus back to the visitors center when you started your tour.

Final thoughts on visiting Auschwitz

Even though I’ve lived in Poland almost my whole life, and Auschwitz has been a familiar topic since I remember, it took me nearly 37 years to finally visit the place. Before I was in different Nazi Germany sites in Poland, mostly in Majdanek in Lublin, so I didn’t feel the need to visit Auschwitz too. But I don’t regret the decision to go there eventually.

You can read and learn about the place, but nothing can prepare you for visiting Auschwitz. Some areas look familiar (after all, pictures of the “Arbeit macht frei” sign or Birkenau gate are present everywhere), but you will still be overwhelmed by the place and seeing it in real life. It’s hard to comprehend the cruelty and tragedy that happened here, and dealing with all the thoughts invading your mind afterward can take a while. It can be one of the most difficult-to-understand places you will ever visit.

Still, despite it all, I think everyone should go to Auschwitz to see where fanaticism and totalitarianism can lead and why we should avoid them at all costs.

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Poland

Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Poland here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here .

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Auschwitz Guided Tour

• Private transportation
• All Fees and Taxes
• Door-to-Door Pick Up & Drop Off
• English / Spanish / German / French/ Italian Speaking Guide
• Entry/Admission - Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau
• Other places may be visited additionally or instead on Your request at an additional cost
• Please note this tour is a guided group tour of Auschwitz with our privately guided transportation
• Please tell us about your special requirements
• Meeting at the location set by You in or near Krakow according to Your wishes (hotel, airport, etc.)
• J. Paul II Balice Intl Airport, Krakow Poland
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Infant seats available
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Most travelers can participate
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau

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• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau Stop: 3 hours - Admission included Itinerary: KL Auschwitz I where You spend ca. 2 hours (and have ca. 15 min break) KL Auschwitz II – Birkenau (2.5 km further) where You spend ca. 1 hour You will see blocks with exhibitions, central jail of the camp and wall of death, gas chamber and crematoria in Auschwitz, wooden/brick barracks, ramp for selections and road of death, ruins of gas chambers and crematorias in Birkenau, monument devoted to all victims. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• 474rf 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Exceptional Company and Team We checked the various Krakow tour operators well in advance of our trip, and decided to use Private Tours Krakow because of the level and quality of communication right from the initial email with Christopher Skutela. We booked walking tours of the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town, and tour of Auschwitz. A colleague of Christophers called Joanna was our guide for both the walking tours. She met us at our hotels on both occasions, turning up exactly on time. Joanna was excellent. She has a lovely personality, with a wealth of knowledge relating to Krakow, its surrounding area and Poland in general, from medieval to modern day history. Plus she knows some excellent coffee stops to call into en route. We were fortunate enough to have Christopher for the drive to and from Auschwitz. Following a warm, welcoming introduction in our hotel lobby, we boarded his very comfortable six seater Mercedes. We soon discovered that Christopher is an extremely knowledgeable person, and during the drive gave us a fantastic insight into the history, architecture and culture of Krakow and its people, along with an excellent preface into Auschwitz – Birkenau. Upon arrival at Auschwitz he introduced and handed us over to the private guide he had arranged for us. A lady called Halina, whose knowledge was not only outstanding but personal too. The pace of the tour was perfect, and the experience made all the better because we were with a dedicated private guide. An incredibly moving day that we will always remember, and completely worth the price. We feel so fortunate to have found Christopher. He and his colleagues are, without doubt what made our first visit to Krakow a unique experience. We would highly recommend Private Tours Krakow to anyone intending to visit Krakow and the Southern Poland. Read more Written April 21, 2024
• o8orbgrinder 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Accomplished a lot in one day in Poland. Great use of time. Christopher and Thomas were excellent to work with. I had very limited time in Poland and wanted to see a couple of things, including Auschwitz. Both Christopher and Thomas were both tremendously accommodating, made excellent use of my time and made the trip as easy as possible. They made certain that everything was timed and managed to maximize our day. Hotel pick up, drop off at Airport, and made a couple of great recommendations for other things to do with our time that day. The Salt mine tour was amazing, thanks so much for the recommendation. Read more Written April 7, 2024
• tatbteresag 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A PROFESSIONAL TOUR COMPANY IN POLAND? I GOT THE BEST We organized our trip to Krakow and we had as a priority to book private tours with Spanish speaking guide. Being Easter it was quite complicate to get services in Spanish due to high demand. It took us too long to make decisions and as result, we ended looking for a supplier to do a private tour to Zakopane just 48 hours before the day for the excursion. Christopher was our angel, organising it for us with such short notice, always reachable in WhatsApp and with an excellent guide (Thomas) who makes an amazing day for all us. Furthermore, we had booked and paid Hola Cracovia for a tour to Auschwitz​ on Tuesday 02nd April. They sent us a WhatsApp on Monday 01st April at 1810hrs saying that they cancel our booking and refund us the money...we contacted Christopher out of working hours in a holiday day in Krakow, to see what can he do. Although finally we decided not to go to Auschwitz​ , he tried to give us an option till the last minute. This is clearly the different approach and attitude between a company and the other. THANKS TO CHRISTOPHER AND HIS TEAM!! We will visit again next year and our priority will definitely be to do ALL our visit with PRIVATE TOUR KRAKOW, either Spanish or English. We have learn that the quality service is over the language matter. Read more Written April 2, 2024
• W4857EXkatyas 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour We hired a whole guided tour with Christopher and his team. We went to Auschwitz, Cracow and Juan Pablo II museum. Every visit was very informative and complete, especially the sightseeing in Cracow and the visit to the hometown of Juan Pablo II. Christopher was an excellent guide very knowledgeable and helpful with logistics. In Cracow Katsia managed excellent Spanish and has a lot of historical info. Highly recommendable. Read more Written March 25, 2024
• Allan T 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Brilliant, Beautiful Krakow. Wow fantastic tour with Thomas. Took us to the spa baths and Zakopane. We went with friends for a fiftieth birthday celebration and had a fantastic time. Thomas our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and took us to a lovely restaurant. Definitely would recommend and so much better than a large group tour. These Guys are the best! Read more Written February 18, 2024
• Mrsmomo 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A truly wonderful Tour guide. We had 2 tours booked and were lucky enough to have Christopher both days. From the moment the tours were booked, first one booked before we'd even arrived in Krakow, the communication was superb. He met all of our requirements and more. We were thrilled when we managed to book another private tour with him whilst still in Krakow. Both of our tours met all our expectations and more, Christopher is an excellent tour guide, he is an extremely knowledgeable person, who gave us a fantastic insight into the history, architecture and culture of Krakow and its people. We will not hesitate to contact him again upon our return. Thank you so much, I would highly recommend booking any tour with Christopher & his company. As I know you will have an exceptional experience. Read more Written February 5, 2024
• Fbright1998 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour guide Christopher Was a superb tour guide and I would suggest him to everyone he went out the way to give us extra information about anything we asked his knowledge was superb. He even went out the way and call and booked a restaurant. A great man with a great brain perfect for the trip and super accommodating Read more Written February 5, 2024
• Y3984FSkarlj 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private tour absolutely worth the money. We are so glad we had this Tour with Christopher. He is a excellent guide with a lot of knowledge and he is a very friendly person. Thank you. Everybody should see this place to realize what Homo Sapien Monsters are capable of. Read more Written January 30, 2024
• fsergi212 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Safe & Pleasant Journey to Zakopane with Private Tours Krakow I have used Private Tours Krakow several times over the past five years. On this visit, Christopher provided transfer services from my hotel in Krakow to Zakopane. We also enjoyed a pleasant visit to the off-the-beaten-track Cafe Tygodnik Podhalanski, with spectacular views of the Tatras. Private Tours Krakow is always safe, reliable, and enjoyable, a trusted and valued part of my holidays in Poland. I will continue to use Christopher's company whenever I am in Krakow. Read more Written January 23, 2024
• elizabethgY3695FI 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Auschwitz Private Tour We took the Auschwitz Private Tour and then went to the Salt Mines. The tour was very professional and informative, our driver was wonderful. I would highly recommend Private Tours Krakow. Read more Written December 30, 2023
• jamesbY1775XY 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The only way to tour Auschwitz! Thomas was very kind and courteous. He shared facts that were very educational. We also had pleasant conversations during the drive. I highly recommend this tour! Worth every penny. Thank you. Read more Written December 20, 2023
• Curious08613938574 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Krakow walking tour in December, 2023 We took a walking tour with Christopher's associate, Joanna. She was fabulous! Very knowledgeable and informative and told us all about the history of Krakow and Poland. I was so impressed with her and how she organized our tour. Plus she went out of her way to help us find some medication that I needed. Very personable and a lovely person. I would highly recommend Joanna and Christopher! Read more Written December 14, 2023
• WarrenK65 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth every penny. Compared to most of the trips advertised on this site, and indeed objectively, Private Tours are very, very expensive. However, for what is ultimately a mixture of tourism and pilgrimage, worth their weight in gold! Christopher is deeply knowledgeable about the history of Krakow and Poland, and comes across a deeply proud of the achievements, both historical and present day, of his country and its citizens. Turning up bang on time, the drive to Auschwitz was never less than informative and engaging. At Auschwitz, Christopher handed us over to one of the guides that work for the museum (external guides are not permitted), but rather than tagging onto the end of an endless row of dead-eyed schoolkids, parading through the camps at breakneck speed without any time for contemplation or absorption, we were allowed to hang back where we wanted, ask the questions that we wanted and see the things that we wanted to see, without fear of holding anyone else back or monopolising anyone else's time. Exactly what we were after for an important day. If you can afford it, do it. Read more Written December 13, 2023
• O3102ZJmichaelm 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Remembering Pope John Paul II: a saint for our modern age It was my last day in Krakow and, being that I am a Catholic, I felt I had to know more of the life story and legacy of JP2. Christopher gave me this opportunity, he arranged for me to visit the Sanctuary and view a few of his relics. I also learned more about the mystic Saint Faustyna and the Divine Mercy Shrine, a special place of pilgrimage for Catholics all over the world. The tour was most appreciated, and renewed my faith. Thank you Christopher! Read more Written December 2, 2023
• elisabethyarbrough 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A Welcoming Experience in Krakow Christopher is the very best! He was warm, welcoming, knowledgeable and responsive to all questions about the tour and the day. During my first trip to Krakow, I feel lucky to have found this tour and everything it provided. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Krakow and the surrounding area. Read more Written December 1, 2023

More to explore in Krakow

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Tours & Trips including Auschwitz 2024/2025

Find the right tour for you through Auschwitz. We've got 107 adventures going to Auschwitz, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 28 days. The most popular month to go is August, which has the largest number of tour departures.

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107 auschwitz tour packages with 1,131 reviews.

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Krakow, Auschwitz & Wieliczka Salt Mine - 4 Days

The tour guide absolutely makes this tour so special! Apart from a professional and knowledgeable delivery, he makes fantastic food recommendations and even scheduled a piano concert last minute (front row seats)!

Krakow & Auschwitz

Did their Krakow, Poland trip in December during the Christmas markets. Really a great trip and experience. Everything was very organized, had really good hotel near the square/old town (I booked the 3-star hotel, private room option with my husband), guides were very good & knowledgeable and the excursions/tours were very good. We also received a lot of extra information and recommendations for things to do and places to go (food and drink too) in our free time which was really nice and helpful. I was a bit nervous reading a few of the reviews here on Yelp but our experience was fantastic and nothing like what some others wrote in their reviews. Krakow was an amazing city and one of the most beautiful in Europe. Definitely recommend this trip and company.

Krakow, Auschwitz, Enamel Factory & Wieliczka Salt Mine - 4 Days

Seweryn was an excellent guide. He set up tours for all four days and booked my stay at a delightful bed and breakfast in Krakow's Jewish district. He was knowledgeable and patient on all of the tours. I highly recommend taking one of his tours if you visit Krakow!

• Coach / Bus

Highlights of Southern Poland

The Poland tour was excellent! The group leader Beata was awesome and all guidance, planning and itinerary was wonderful. Totally recommended!!

• Sightseeing

Pearls of Poland (for couples)

I think this tour is just right for covering the best sites in Poland in a week's time. I doubt few travelers know anything about Poland's history. So a brief outline of the essentials at the start of the tour would facilitate understanding in Warsaw and Krakow. Our guides were excellent, but if they had structured their presentations, they would have communicated the details at the sights visited much better. Since we two were the only tourists on this tour in this Covid-marred year, we traveled with a driver (Piotr) who was tops.

Highlights of Poland (Classic, 10 Days)

The trip was great. All the things we saw were awesome. Poland is a lovely country. The hotels were all 4 or 5 star -- very nice. And the coach was excellent -- with 2 doors for more efficient boarding, and a toliet for emergencies. The guides were great too.

6 days in Krakow and Szczawnica- private exclusive tour for 2 people

6 days in Krakow and Szczawnica- private exclusive tour for 5-8 people

Highlights of Poland

Thanks for a great trip, we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was my first time with Explore, and I was impressed. Already looking at booking one with you for next year.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Portrait of Poland

The hotel In Gdansk was awful There were hotels near town that were the same rate and we could have gone into old town after dinner. I didn’t like not having a choice for dinner. We all ate the same. The hotel in Krakow was close to a Shopping center not close to what makes Krakow special. The hotel in Krakow could have been a whole lot better . We spent 3 nights there but we were not close to go to old town after dinner

Tailor-Made Private Trip to Southern Poland with Daily Departure

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

• Walking Adventure

Best of Poland (11 Days)

Outstanding tour guides, Kate, Sylvia and Robrick. They all worked so hard behind the scenes to make the trip so smooth and fun. Great choice of attractions, accommodations, meals and schedule. Knowledge of country and attention to details was amazing. Highly recommend this travel team and this tour for anyone wanting a great tour of Poland. Many Thanks, Randy and Diana Rickard

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Best of the East

Such a fun and alternative trip to take! We went to Prague, Poland, Budapest, and Austria. Even though it was one of the coldest weeks, our tour guide made it beyond enjoyable. She had so many suggestions of places to go and all were great. My favorite stop was Krakow, Poland, what a beautiful city and so much fun. I had an absolute blast while on this trips, the tour guide were energetic, fun, and knowledgeable, the trip was well run and flexible which I enjoyed, the company had optional activities set up for us which was nice to not feel pressured to do them if you wanted to explore on your own. The accommodations were always comfy and clean and the buses we took for all the trips were enjoyable and filled with fun movies to watch. I would highly recommend traveling with Euroadventures, their attention to detail, responsible yet fun guides, and flexible, activities filled schedule are all beyond worth it.

Tailor-Made Private Poland Tour with Daily Departure

Highlights of Poland (Small Groups, 10 Days)

What people love about auschwitz tours.

Seweryn was a fantastic tour guide and very knowledgeable about Krakow's history. I enjoyed learning about the many historical and religious details we saw around Krakow. He also went above and beyond to help me when I had trouble purchasing train tickets, and when I got sick offered to reschedule one of the tour days. I really enjoyed his tour and would highly recommend it.

Did their Krakow, Poland trip in December during the Christmas markets. Really a great trip and experience. Everything was very organized, had really good hotel near the square/old town (I booked the 3-star hotel, private room option with my husband), guides were very good & knowledgeable and the excursions/tours were very good. We also received a lot of extra information and recommendations for things to do and places to go (food and drink too) in our free time which was really nice and helpful. I was a bit nervous reading a few of the reviews here on Yelp but our experience was fantastic and nothing like what some others wrote in their reviews. Krakow was an amazing city and one of the most beautiful in Europe. Definitely recommend this trip and company.

I had a great first time experience of Krakow through this tour. My tour guide Seweryn was very friendly, flexible, organised and helpful and made the whole process very smooth. The trips to the mine, factory and camps were well laid out and gave me plenty of time for independent sightseeing and fun. If you want to come to Krakow I would highly recommend you do a trip this way!

79th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz, 27 January 2024 - announcement

On 27 January 2024 we will commemorate the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. The event will be held under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

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The theme of the anniversary will be a human, symbolically visualised by the faces of the people imprisoned at Auschwitz, immortalised in drawings made during the existence of the camp and after the war.

'Auschwitz is today associated by many primarily with its terrain: barbed wire, barracks and guard towers. It is an empty space filled with relics of camp architecture. Meanwhile, the drama and significance of Auschwitz is not about the relics, but about a Human. More than a million people, victims who were murdered, and people who survived. It is their faces - drawn by themselves - that we want to remember on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the liberation, which will take place next year: 27 January 2025,' said Auschwitz Museum Director Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński.

'The question of the preservation of Auschwitz, rightly posed so often in recent years, also demands a question about our memory of the deepest essence of the Auschwitz experience, which is precisely the human. The memory of human cannot be preserved, but it is in the memory that all the answers - even the unspoken ones - to the great questions about people today, here and now, in our difficult and disturbing reality are contained,' stressed Piotr Cywiński.

The anniversary commemoration will begin at 6 pm on the grounds of the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp, inside a tent placed over one of the authentic brick barracks.

All Auschwitz Survivors are invited to participate in the event, each with one accompanying person.

The entire event will be broadcast on www.auschwitz.org and the Museum's YouTube channel, and an open sector will be available on the Museum's grounds for anyone interested in following the event there.

Details about the commemoration event and organizational information will be provided on the 79.auschwitz.org page. The media regulations and accreditation information are also available there.

Until the liberation of some 7 thousand prisoners remaining at the site of the camp by soldiers of the Red Army, the German Nazis murdered approx. 1.1 million people in Auschwitz, mostly Jews, but also Poles, the Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and people of other nationalities.

We talk about the history of Auschwitz in our online lessons and our podcast "On Auschwitz."

For the world today, Auschwitz is a symbol of the Holocaust and the atrocities of World War II. In 2005 the United Nations declared 27 January as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Today, for the world, Auschwitz is a symbol of the Holocaust and the cruelties of World War II. In 2005, the United Nations designated January 27 as the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

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