Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau: what to arrange first
Auschwitz-Birkenau is a memorial and a cemetery. Visitors are asked to behave quietly and with respect. Since 1 March 2026 all entry cards for individual visitors are issued online only, including the free ones. Cards are not sold at the entrance.
Entry to the grounds is free in principle, and the fee applies to the guided tour. Guided tours can be reserved up to 3 months in advance, and free individual passes up to 7 days before the visit. Organised groups must take a guide from the Memorial. A tour escort who only accompanies the transfer is not a substitute.
Visits to both sites from Kraków
These day trips include guided visits at the memorial and in the mine. Expect a long day of about eleven hours; if you can, give each place its own day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Auschwitz-Birkenau and the mine with hotel pickup
- All entries
- English-speaking guides
- Hotel pickup
Door-to-door transport, guided visits to Auschwitz I, Birkenau and the mine, and all entries.
Check availability →
Guided visits to the memorial and the salt mine
- Entry at both sites
- Guided tours at both
- Coach from Kraków
Entry and guided tours at Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka, with coach transport and headsets.
Check availability →
Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka with a guide
- Entry fees and tickets
- English-speaking guide
- Pickup from your stay
Pickup from your stay, entry fees and tickets, and an English-speaking guide at the memorial and in the mine.
Check availability →Auschwitz-Birkenau guided visits and day trips from Kraków
Guided visits to the memorial and day trips from Kraków, with live prices and availability. Check that a guide from the Memorial is included and what the transfer covers.
Entry windows for individual visitors
In the first window you can enter only with a guide. In the second you can enter without a guide, but only with a reserved pass.
| Months | Entry with a guide | Entry without a guide |
|---|---|---|
| January, November | 07:30 to 14:00 | From 14:00 |
| February | 07:30 to 15:00 | From 15:00 |
| March, October | 07:30 to 16:00 | From 16:00 |
| April to September | 07:30 to 17:00 | From 17:00 |
| December | 07:30 to 13:00 | From 13:00 |
You may stay up to 90 minutes after the last entry. The memorial is closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday and 25 December. Parts of the exhibition and the grounds can be temporarily closed, so read the current notices before you go. For most first visits, a guided tour in the guide window is the clearest way to enter, because the guide is required then anyway.
Guided tour prices 2026
The headset system is included. Prices are in złoty.
| Guided tour | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual visitor, in Polish | PLN 140, reduced PLN 130 |
| Individual visitor, in another language | PLN 150, reduced PLN 140 |
| Group of up to 10, 3.5 hours | PLN 970 per group |
| Group of up to 20, 3.5 hours | PLN 1,070 per group |
| Group of up to 30, 3.5 hours | PLN 1,120 per group |
Reduced prices apply, with proof, to students under 26, visitors over 75 and holders of a disability card. A visitor with a disability and a companion have separate entitlements, so contact the Memorial before the visit to arrange the passes. Group prices are for the whole group, not per person. Bags may measure at most 35 x 25 x 15 cm.
Auschwitz and Wieliczka in one day: what is realistic
The two places lie on opposite sides of Kraków. Each needs its own reservation and has its own fixed times. A guided tour at the memorial lasts about 3.5 hours, plus the 30 minutes you should arrive early and the time at the security check. Wieliczka takes 2 to 3 hours, and the underground museum section can add about 1 hour. Travel between Kraków, Oświęcim and Wieliczka adds long stretches on top, and the times depend on traffic and on the day.
The visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau is also emotionally heavy. Plan for the possibility that you will not want a second programme afterwards. In winter the entry windows are short, and in December entry ends at 14:00, so a combined day is hardest to arrange from November to February.
For most visitors, two separate days are the more considerate plan. A combined day is realistic only with an early start at the memorial, a long buffer for the transfers and a mine ticket that you can still buy close to the time. Individual tickets for the mine can be bought online until 1 hour before the tour. Give Auschwitz-Birkenau your full attention and treat the mine as optional on that day.
If you book an organised combination, check whether it includes a guide from the Memorial, the mine ticket, the transfers and the length of the whole day. No transfer chain or pickup can be promised from this page. Read how to reach Wieliczka from Kraków for the connections to the mine.
Wieliczka Salt Mine as a separate visit
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a former working mine and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Tourist Route runs about 3.5 km and down to 135 m, at 17–18 °C. You walk more than 800 steps, 380 of them at the start, and a lift brings you back up. The lift is included in the ticket. Visits are in a group with an assigned guide, and you may not leave the group.
In 2026 an adult ticket with a foreign-language guide costs PLN 143 to PLN 169, depending on the season. The Tourist Route is shown with 08:00 to 18:00. Check the current timetable before you go, and read the pages on Wieliczka Salt Mine tickets, opening hours and getting there.
Plan the rest of your stay
Connections and places in Kraków.
Auschwitz and Wieliczka: frequently asked questions
Can I buy an Auschwitz-Birkenau ticket at the entrance?
No. Since 1 March 2026 all entry cards for individual visitors, including free ones, are issued online only. Reserve before you travel.
Do I need a guide at Auschwitz-Birkenau?
Within the entry windows above, individual visitors enter with a guide in the earlier part of the day and with a reserved pass later. Organised groups must take a guide from the Memorial.
Is Auschwitz-Birkenau suitable for children?
A visit is not recommended for children under 14. This is a recommendation and not a general ban on entry.
How long does a guided tour take?
The standard guided tour takes about 3.5 hours. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your time.
Can I see Auschwitz and Wieliczka in one day?
Only with an early start and a long buffer for the transfers, and two days is the more considerate plan for most visitors. Each place needs its own reservation and has its own fixed times.
Is this the official website of the memorial or the mine?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, the Wieliczka Salt Mine or any tour company. Check the current rules with the operators before you go.