Major city · Poland
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Go as one booked day from Kraków (about 1 h 15 min by bus or train): reserve the timed entry online 2–3 months ahead, then allow 6–7 h on site for both camps.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- PLN
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct (cooler, thinner crowds)
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat, peak bookings), late Dec–Feb (early dark, cold)
- Airports
- KRK · KTW
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Poland ↗Poland is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Poland ↗The currency is the Polish złoty (PLN), not the euro: decline dynamic currency conversion.
- Poland ↗Most shops close on most Sundays under the trading law; small convenience stores and station shops are the exception.
- Poland ↗The border areas with Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region have restricted zones; follow your own government's advice before travelling near them.
Auschwitz-Birkenau is the Nazi camp complex near Oświęcim, 60 km west of Kraków, and since 1947 a state museum on the two surviving parts: Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Entry is free but Auschwitz I runs on timed tickets, and in peak season these sell out weeks ahead. Almost everyone visits as a single long day from Kraków; a night in Oświęcim is only worth it if you want two slower visits.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Auschwitz-Birkenau, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Polish złoty (PLN, zł).Poland-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, Play, Plus and T-Mobile sell prepaid SIMs; registration with a passport is required.Poland-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe.Poland-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%; tell the server or add it on the card terminal.Poland-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Poland-wide
- SafetyThe site is safe and well managed; the real risks are emotional strain, summer heat and cold wind at the open Birkenau site…
- RestroomsStation and mall toilets often cost PLN 2–4.Poland-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All emergencies · 999 ambulance · 997 police
- Sundays & holidaysMost shops close Sundays; museums often close Mondays and have one free day a week.Poland-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKRK Kraków John Paul II International (Main gateway; bus or train to Kraków centre, then onward to Oświęcim.).
- Getting aroundBoth camps are walked on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or snack at the museum café10–20 zł
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi between the two campsabout 15 zł
- Metro or bus rideBus Kraków–Oświęcim, one wayabout 14 zł
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum guided tourstudent discount up to 26150 zł
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed (Kraków or Oświęcim), a night, per personzł 70
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per roomzł 380
- High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per roomzł 700
A day, not counting the bed: Budget zł 120 · Mid zł 220 · High zł 400
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KRK Kraków John Paul II International (Main gateway; bus or train to Kraków centre, then onward to Oświęcim.) · KTW Katowice Wojciech Korfanty (Closer to Oświęcim by road; useful if you fly into Upper Silesia.)
Weather and climate
Auschwitz-Birkenau: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
1°C34°F
−5°C23°F
9 rd
Feb
3°C37°F
−4°C25°F
9 rd
Mar
8°C46°F
−1°C30°F
9 rd
Apr
14°C57°F
3°C37°F
9 rd
May
19°C66°F
8°C46°F
11 rd
Jun
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
11 rd
Jul
24°C75°F
13°C55°F
11 rd
Aug
24°C75°F
12°C54°F
10 rd
Sep
19°C66°F
9°C48°F
9 rd
Oct
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
9 rd
Nov
7°C45°F
1°C34°F
10 rd
Dec
2°C36°F
−4°C25°F
10 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Both camps are walked on foot. A free shuttle runs between Auschwitz I and Birkenau (roughly every 8 min in summer, every 20 min in winter); the walk between the entrances is 2.2 km along roads, and a taxi is about 15 zł. Oświęcim train station is about 2 km from the museum, linked by local buses.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1.5 h by bus, 45 min–1.5 h by train
Bus from Kraków main bus station basement, or train from Kraków Główny to Oświęcim
The standard base; buses are cheap and frequent, trains vary by service.
Oświęcim
goDoor to door: 10–20 min
Local bus or a 2 km walk/taxi from the museumLocal bus or a 1.2 mi walk/taxi from the museum
Town with the closest beds, cafés and the train station.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
goDoor to door: About 1 h from Kraków
Train or bus from Kraków, about 30 min
Pairs well as a second Kraków day; book a timed mine tour.
Katowice
cautionDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Train or bus from Oświęcim, about 1 h
Useful transport hub, not a sight in itself for a short trip.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Kraków (Kazimierz or Old Town)
Where most visitors sleep; buses and trains to Oświęcim run from early morning, last return in the evening.
Oświęcim town centre
2 km from the museum; lets you split the visit over two days or arrive at opening.1.2 mi from the museum; lets you split the visit over two days or arrive at opening.
Museum-area guesthouses (Oświęcim outskirts)
Walking distance to Auschwitz I; quiet in the evening, few restaurants.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 80–150 zł excl. bed
- Mid
- 150–300 zł excl. bed
- High
- 300 zł+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid hotel1 × 1 night × zł 380 | zł 380 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × zł 220 | zł 440 |
| Return bus Kraków–Oświęcim2 × zł 28 | zł 56 |
| Museum guided tour2 × zł 150 · discounts for students up to 26 | zł 300 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × zł 40 | zł 80 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | zł 126 |
| Trip total≈ zł 691 per person per day, bed included | zł 1,382≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in złoty; entry to the museum is free but guided tours and transport are paid. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bus Kraków–Oświęcim, one way | about 14 zł |
| Train Kraków–Oświęcim, one wayfaster services can be cheaper | 12–16.50 zł |
| Museum guided tourstudent discount up to 26 | 150 zł |
| Guidebook / map at the museum | 5 zł each |
| Parking at Auschwitz I, per day | 20 zł |
| Taxi between the two camps | about 15 zł |
| Coffee or snack at the museum café | 10–20 zł |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Auschwitz I needs a timed ticket, booked online; in peak months book 2–3 months ahead, tickets are released about 3 months out.
- Midday hours at Auschwitz I are guided-group only; self-guided slots are usually late in the day.
- The museum closes on 1 January, 25 December and Easter Sunday.
- No toilets at Birkenau; use the facilities at Auschwitz I before the shuttle.
- The 15-minute liberation film is graphic; not suitable for young children.
- Last buses and trains back to Kraków leave in the evening — confirm your return before you stay until closing.
Emergency numbers
- All emergencies
- 112
- Ambulance
- 999
- Police
- 997
- Fire
- 998
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Auschwitz-BirkenauAuschwitz-Birkenau
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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Na ten adres, proszęTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies112
- Ambulance999
- Police997
Embassy
Most embassies and consulates are in Warsaw or Kraków; check your country's list before travelling.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Kraków → Oświęcim: about 14 zł, about 1.5 h
- Train Kraków → Oświęcim: 12–16.50 zł, 45 min–1.5 h
- Taxi between Auschwitz I and Birkenau: about 15 zł
Say or show
- Przepraszam — Excuse me / Sorry (psheh-PRAH-shahm)
- Dziękuję — Thank you (jen-KOO-yeh)
- Ile to kosztuje? — How much is it? (EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh)
- Czy mogę zapłacić kartą? — Can I pay by card? (chih MOH-geh zah-PWA-cheech KAR-tahm)
- Gdzie jest toaleta? — Where is the toilet? (gjeh yest toh-ah-LEH-tah)
- Jeden bilet, proszę — One ticket, please (YEH-den BEE-let PROH-sheh)
Entry to Auschwitz I is by timed ticket; keep your booking reference and ID with you.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Auschwitz-Birkenau. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct (cooler, thinner crowds) · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, peak bookings), late Dec–Feb (early dark, cold) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KRK: last bus/train times to Kraków, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Two walking clusters with anchors: Auschwitz I main building and gate; Birkenau gate, ramp and memorial.
- Place pages with verified ticket release windows and midday group-only hours.
- Booking-window and holiday-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.