Reserve your entry in advance
Admission to the Memorial is free, but entry is for a specific time slot and the number of places is limited. You reserve your entry pass ahead of time on the museum's official website, often several weeks in advance, because popular slots disappear fast. During the busiest hours you can only visit with a museum guide, which you also book online.
How much time to set aside
The site has two parts: Auschwitz I and Birkenau (Auschwitz II), about 3 kilometres apart. To see both without rushing you need around 3.5 hours. Adding the round trip, realistically plan for half a day or more. There is no point squeezing it, this is not a place to hurry.
How to get there from Krakow
You have several options. The train and the bus reach Oswiecim, but they can be slow and require fitting around the timetable plus a walk to the museum gates. An organised coach tour is convenient, but it keeps you to the group's rhythm. A private transfer gives you the most freedom: the driver picks you up from your hotel, waits on site and drives you back, while you decide the timings. The Krakow to Oswiecim route has a fixed price from 470 PLN (approx. 118 EUR) per car and around 540 PLN (approx. 135 EUR) for a larger van for up to 8 people.
Want to arrive for your entry time with no timetable stress? Book a private transfer to Oswiecim at a fixed price.
Transfer to OswiecimTransfer or guided tour
These are two different things and worth telling apart. A transfer is just the drive there and back. Around the museum you are then shown by a museum guide, whose ticket you reserve separately. A guided tour in our offer is a full day package where we handle the travel and a licensed guide leads the visit. If you want everything from one hand, choose the Auschwitz-Birkenau tour. If you prefer to explore at your own pace with a museum guide, a transfer is enough.
Good practice on site
This is a place of remembrance, not a tourist attraction. Dress for the weather, as part of the route is outdoors. Leave large bags in the car or in the cloakroom, as there are limits on backpack size. Keep quiet and respectful, especially inside the buildings. Children under fourteen are generally not recommended given the weight of the subject.
Frequently asked questions
Is admission to Auschwitz free?
Entry to the Memorial is free, but it requires reserving an entry pass in advance for a specific time on the museum's official website. In peak season you visit with a museum guide.
How long does a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau take?
You need around 3.5 hours for both parts, Auschwitz I and Birkenau. With the round trip from Krakow, realistically plan for half a day or more.
What is the easiest way to get from Krakow to Oswiecim?
A private transfer from your hotel at a fixed price from 470 PLN (approx. 118 EUR) per car gives you the most freedom. The train and the bus are cheaper but slower and tied to the timetable.
Does the driver guide you around the museum?
No. The driver handles the journey. Around the museum you are shown by a museum guide or, if you choose our full day Auschwitz-Birkenau tour, a licensed guide as part of the package.