Short answer: there is no direct train from Gdańsk to Oświęcim. The fastest public option is a direct PKP Intercity train from Gdańsk Główny to Kraków Główny (about 5 hours, from 107–244 zł depending on the train), then a train or bus from Kraków to Oświęcim (45–90 min, from about 25 zł). Gdańsk to Oświęcim by train with one change takes at least 6 h 04 min. By car it is 554 km, about 5 h 35 min without traffic, realistically 6–7 hours. Our private transfer Gdańsk Airport → Kraków costs €760 per car (1–3 people, ≈ 3,320 zł) and from Kraków we run a private Auschwitz tour from €50 per person or a transfer Kraków → Oświęcim from €120 per car. Entry to the Memorial needs a named entry card booked online at visit.auschwitz.org.

Comparison at a glance

OptionTravel timePriceChangesBest for
Train Gdańsk → Kraków (EIP/EIC), then train or bus to Oświęcimabout 6–7 h in totalfrom 107–244 zł + about 25 zł (≈ €30–62)1Solo travellers on a budget
Train Gdańsk → Oświęcim with one changefrom 6 h 04 min, usually 6.5–7.5 hfrom 125 zł, up to about 270 zł1Going straight to Oświęcim
Bus Kraków → Auschwitz Museum (Lajkonik Bus)about 1 h 25 mincheck with the operator0Stops at the Museum car park
Flight GDN → KRK (LOT)1 h 15 min in the airvariesflight + ground transportSummer only (29 May–28 Sep 2026)
Car Gdańsk → Oświęcimabout 5 h 35 min without traffic, 6–7 h in practicefuel and A1 tolls0Drivers with a rental car
ShuttleHero transfer Gdańsk Airport → Krakówabout 5 h€760 per car (1–3), €990 per van (4–8)0Families, groups, heavy luggage
ShuttleHero private tour Kraków → Auschwitzabout 7 h with hotel pickupfrom €50 per person (8 people), €170 for one person0The easiest way to visit the Memorial

Prices are in euros. You can also pay in złoty at the NBP exchange rate of the day (on 22 October 2026: €1 = 4.3685 zł).

By train via Kraków

Direct PKP Intercity trains link Gdańsk Główny and Kraków Główny at least every two hours. The fast EIC and EIP (Pendolino) trains take 4 h 57 min to 5 h, for example the EIC 07:00 arriving 11:57. Fares are dynamic: TLK from 107 zł, EIC from 190 zł, EIP from 244 zł in second class. From Kraków Główny, Intercity trains reach Oświęcim in 43–53 minutes (from about 25 zł) and regional trains in about 1 h 05 min to 1 h 35 min (from 27 zł).

Oświęcim station is 1.5–2 km from the Museum, so you still need a local bus, a taxi or a 20–25 minute walk.

By bus from Kraków

Lajkonik Bus leaves from Kraków's main bus station MDA (ul. Bosacka 18, lower level) and stops right at the Museum car park. The ride takes about 1 h 25 min; there are 9 departures between 06:15 and 15:55, some of them seasonal. The operator does not publish the fare on its website, so check it at the ticket office.

By plane

LOT flies Gdańsk–Kraków only in summer (in 2026 from 29 May to 28 September, four days a week). In October there is no direct flight, so outside the summer the realistic options are the train or flying via Warsaw.

By car

The road distance is 554 km along the A1 via Łódź and Częstochowa: about 5 h 35 min with empty roads, 6–7 hours with stops. The Museum car park at ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 55 is free. Driving there and back in one day is not a sensible plan.

Our private transfer

We do not sell a one-day Gdańsk–Auschwitz return trip, because 11 hours in a car for 3.5 hours at the Memorial is not a good day. What works: a door-to-door transfer from Gdańsk Airport to Kraków for €760 per car for 1–3 people (≈ 3,320 zł) or €990 per van for 4–8 people, a night in Kraków, then our private Auschwitz-Birkenau tour from Kraków: from €50 per person in a group of 8, or €170 for a solo traveller, with hotel pickup. If you only need the ride, a private transfer Kraków → Oświęcim costs €120 per car or €160 per van.

Travelling from Gdańsk to Kraków with family or luggage? See the fixed price and book the transfer online.

See the route and book

Where you meet the driver

From Gdańsk Airport the driver waits in the arrivals hall on the ground floor of the terminal with a sign showing your name. We track your flight, so a delay is not a problem: you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing. From a hotel or an address in Gdańsk, Sopot or Gdynia the driver collects you at the door. In Kraków the tour starts from your hotel.

What to choose

Alone and on a budget: the train to Kraków, a night there, then the bus or train to Oświęcim. With children, older travellers or a lot of luggage: the transfer to Kraków and the private tour the next day. Whatever you choose, book the Museum entry card online first, because the time slot drives the whole plan.

Good to know

  • Entry to the Memorial requires a named entry card booked online at visit.auschwitz.org. Since 1 March 2026 individual visitors can book only online, with no sales at the entrance.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before your entry time for the security check.
  • Last entry in November is 15:00 and in December 14:00, so a same-day arrival from Gdańsk by train often comes too late.
  • A guided visit for individuals costs 150 zł per person in a foreign language and 140 zł in Polish (3.5 hours, Auschwitz I and Birkenau); a free shuttle bus links the two sites.
  • The Memorial is closed on 1 January, 25 December and Easter Sunday.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Auschwitz from Gdańsk?

About 554 km by road, roughly 5 h 35 min without traffic along the A1, and 6–7 hours in practice with stops. By train via Kraków it takes at least 6 hours.

Is there a direct train from Gdańsk to Auschwitz?

No. The best option is a direct train from Gdańsk Główny to Kraków Główny (about 5 hours), then a train or bus to Oświęcim. The fastest connection with one change takes 6 h 04 min.

Can I visit Auschwitz as a day trip from Gdańsk?

Not comfortably. It means 11–14 hours of travel for a 3.5-hour visit, and in winter the last entry is at 14:00–15:00. Stay a night in Kraków and visit from there.

How much is a private transfer from Gdańsk to Kraków?

€760 per car for 1–3 passengers and €990 per van for 4–8 passengers, a fixed price for the vehicle (≈ 3,320 zł at the NBP rate of 22 October 2026).

Do I need to book Auschwitz tickets in advance?

Yes. Entry is free without a guide, but every visitor needs a named entry card booked online at visit.auschwitz.org. Guided visits cost 150 zł per person in a foreign language.

Sources and date checked

Public transport times and fares were checked on 22 October 2026 on the operators' websites. Timetables and fares change, so check the operator's website before you travel.

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