Prices to visit Auschwitz can vary greatly depending on which tour you go on and method of transportation. If you're on a tight budget, see our tips ahead for the cheapest way to visit Auschwitz.
Our travel guide covers how to take a day trip to Auschwitz from Krakow. We include the cheapest way to visit Auschwitz with a guide, without a guide, the easiest way to visit and price breakdown of each.
Don't make the same mistake we did by following Google Maps to the wrong building and missing the first 20 minutes of our tour! 😕
Overview: How to visit Auschwitz |
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Best time of year to visit Auschwitz
The best time to visit Auschwitz is in Spring from March - May and in Fall from September to November. The weather won't be freezing cold at this time and you will avoid the mass of summer tourists.
Getting to Auschwitz from Krakow
Cheapest way to visit Auschwitz without a guide
1. Reserve your time slot for Auschwitz from the official organizational website
Admission to the grounds is free and has to be reserved online (although we highly recommend including an educator/guide to better understand the history).
2. Take the bus to Auschwitz from Krakow
The cheapest method of transport to Auschwitz from Krakow is by bus. Taking the bus was reliable and easy. You can purchase bus tickets here. They were only 34.20 zl (~$6.75 USD) roundtrip and busses leave from the Krakow Main Bus Station (Bosacka 18, 31-505). The only catch is that you have to pre-book your time, so plan accordingly.
The bus drops you off at Auschwitz I. There is a free bus that takes you between Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II (Birkenau).
Cost summary: cheapest way to visit Auschwitz without a guide
- Admission to grounds: free
- Roundtrip bus to Auschwitz from Krakow: 34.2 Â zl (~$6.75 USD)
- Total = 34.2 zl (~$6.75 USD per person)
Cheapest way to visit Auschwitz with a guide
1. Buy tickets for Auschwitz from their official organizational website
Reserve your tour here and pick your language of choice. The cost of the 3.5 hour guided tour is 85 zl (~$17.50USD) per person. For students or seniors over 75, the cost is 75 zl (~$15.50 USD).
There were about 20 people on our tour which seemed a bit large at times, but we each had a headset so we could hear what the tour guide was saying. Our guide was also a very good story teller and spoke good English.
2. Take the bus to Auschwitz from Krakow
The cheapest method of transport to Auschwitz from Krakow is by bus. Taking the bus was reliable and easy. You can purchase bus tickets here. They were only 34.20 zl (~$6.75 USD) roundtrip and busses leave from the Krakow Main Bus Station. The only catch is that you have to pre-book your time, so plan accordingly.
The bus drops you off at Auschwitz I. We made the mistake and walked all the way to the "Auschwitz Historical Gate" labelled on Google maps, which is Birkenau and visited on the second half of the tour. In a panic, we ran back to where we started because we didn't know there was a free bus that moves back and forth. Doing so we missed 20 minutes of our tour!
Cost summary: cheapest way to visit Auschwitz with a guide
- 3.5 hour guided tour: 85 zl (~$17.50 USD)
- Roundtrip bus to Auschwitz from Krakow: 34.2 Â zl (~$6.75 USD)
- Total = 119.20 zl (~$24.25 USD) per person
Easiest way to visit Auschwitz
If you don't mind spending a few extra bucks for convenience, the easiest way to visit Auschwitz from Krakow is by booking a tour through Viator or GetYourGuide.Benefits of booking a tour through Viator or GetYourGuide:
- Most tours have hotel pickup/drop off, so you won't have to worry about getting to/from the bus station and catching your bus.
- Most tours have free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If you buy your tickets from the main Auschwitz website, they are non-refundable.
- hotel pick up/drop off
- an air-conditioned vehicle
- professional guide and headset so you can hear them clearly
- guarantee to skip long lines (some other tours you have to wait to get your tickets)
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Our top tips for a comfortable trip
There is a cheap snack shop outside of Auschwitz I. You will get a 10 minute break between visiting Auschwitz I and Birkenau to grab a snack if you desire.
Make sure you bring warm clothes if your tour is in Fall, Winter, or Spring! It gets quite chilly, especially in the evenings.
We hope you enjoyed our tips on how to visit Auschwitz on a budget!
Start planning your trip to Krakow
- 🌃 Book your accommodation in Krakow: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚌 Book your tour: buy your bus ticket & admission ticket , or book your full tour through Viator or GetYourGuide.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
- 🏥 Travel insurance: World Nomads. Already traveling? You can purchase insurance with World Nomads while you're abroad. A 48-hour waiting period just applies for coverage.