The city of Warsaw is well known for its rich history and architecture, but Auschwitz is the most famous WW2 site in Poland. In 1940, the Nazis took over the town and established Auschwitz as one of the largest concentration camps in Europe.
Approximately 1 million people were killed at Auschwitz, including more than 1,000 Jews from Warsaw. Today, the site is a memorial and museum.
While you are visiting Warsaw, you can easily get from Warsaw to Auschwitz, although it does take some extra planning.
- Why should you visit Auschwitz from Warsaw?
- How far is Auschwitz from Warsaw
- Best day tours from Warsaw to Auschwitz
- Small-Group Tour to Auschwitz from Warsaw with Lunch
- For more information & bookings
- Tour Auschwitz-Birkenau from Warsaw with premium train transportation
- Check the latest prices and availability
- Warsaw to Auschwitz and Krakow Old Town Full-Day Trip by Car
- Schedule a visit to Auschwitz by car
- Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine from Warsaw with private driver
- Take in 2 great attractions in 1 tour
- Self guided tour from Warsaw to Auschwitz
- Essential information for Warsaw
Why should you visit Auschwitz from Warsaw?
Many people visiting Warsaw Poland, want to visit Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp. The Auschwitz Memorial lies much closer to Krakow than it does to Warsaw. Nonetheless, you can still make an Auschwitz tour from Warsaw.
Auschwitz – Birkenau is a destination that will rock you to the core. So much history, sadness and crazy ideology all converge in this one location. In 1940, on the outskirts of Oswiecim Poland, a prison camp was established. The continued mass detainment of the Jews, political prisoners and the Polish people meant that a bigger solution was required.
On June 14, 1940, the first prisoners arrived. By 1942 Auschwitz had turned from a prison camp into a death camp, a systemic killing machine controlled by the Third Reich. For over a million people the Auschwitz arrivals platform was the end of the line for them, as they were marched straight to the gas chamber.
What was once a Polish Army barracks is now one of the most well-known museums in the world. It is a place of pure sadness and will create memories that will not be forgotten.
How far is Auschwitz from Warsaw
The trip distance from Warsaw to Auschwitz is 326 kilometres and can be done by car, train, bus, tour, and even plane if you want to fly to Krakow from Warsaw and head out to Auschwitz from there.
Best day tours from Warsaw to Auschwitz
An organised tour day trips from Warsaw to Auschwitz Birkenau takes all the hassle of organising it yourself. Tours from Warsaw are convenient and easy, most are planned so that you can relax and enjoy a comfortable journey, You will have little to worry about except enjoying the experience.
Tour companies and operators take care of all the details, from transport to entrance tickets to Auschwitz and guide services. This leaves you free to focus on what matters – gaining an understanding of one of history’s darkest moments. All the best day trips to Auschwitz from Warsaw will be very long so be prepared for 12-plus hour tours.
Small-Group Tour to Auschwitz from Warsaw with Lunch
This personal small group will have a more personal feel to it. You are taken to Auschwitz Birkenau from your hotel in Warsaw, aboard a coach equipped with air conditioning and wifi for your comfort and convenience.
During the course of the ride, you will receive a historical overview of the horrors of the Holocaust from your tour guide that will help prepare you for what you will see and hear at the Auschwitz Memorial Site.
Upon arrival at Auschwitz Birkenau, bypass the lines with priority admission and begin a guided tour of the memorial site where you will see the infamous cell blocks, watch towers and train platform that over 1 million people who died arrived at. Your tour at the site will last for 3 hours, and that will never be forgotten.
What’s included in your Warsaw to Auschwitz tour:
- Transportation by car/minibus
- English speaking driver
- Traditional Polish lunch of the day (e.g. pierogi, chicken soup or schnitzel+water)
- Free pick up from your Warsaw hotel
- Tour Auschwitz Birkenau in English
- Skip the line priority entry to Auschwitz
- Free Wi-fi onboard
For more information & bookings
On your way back to Warsaw you will stop for a meal that is included in the price of your tour. Auschwitz Birkenau is a very personal experience for many and in a small group is the best way to experience it.
Planning a trip to Warsaw: Here are the best areas to stay in
Tour Auschwitz-Birkenau from Warsaw with premium train transportation
On this train tour, you will get picked up at your hotel at 6 am and catch one of the first trains to Kraków from Warsaw. This tour runs a little differently, you will have no guide on the trains. The tour operator makes sure you get on the train in Warsaw. Someone from the tour companies team meets you in Kraków at the Krakow train station and transports you to Auschwitz.
At Auschwitz, you will join an official tour in your language of choice. Once your tour is finished, your guide will take you back to Kraków and make sure you get back to the train station and on the train to Warsaw, where you will be met and transported back to your hotel.
Check the latest prices and availability
This is a great option to travel by train and then transfer by vehicle the distance of 67 kilometres from Kraków to Auschwitz. The road conditions in Poland can vary and road work always causes delays while the fast train from Warsaw will deliver you to Kraków in comfort and on time.
Planning a trip to Poland: Getting from Berlin to Warsaw is easy with our detailed guide
Warsaw to Auschwitz and Krakow Old Town Full-Day Trip by Car
An ideal tour for those wanting to see a bit of Kraków along with a day trip to Auschwitz from Warsaw. You will get picked up by private transportation and whisked off down the highway towards to Auschwitz Birkenau for your visit.
Pay your respects to the Holocaust memorial and learn about the terrible events that took place at this site by going to the prisoner barracks, gas chambers, and crematorium exhibition buildings.
After your day tour at Auschwitz is finished, you will travel to Kraków where you will go on a short sightseeing tour and view medieval architecture of the old town area. A dinner of traditional Pierogi awaits you before heading back up the highway towards Warsaw and your hotel.
What included in your Warsaw to Auschwitz tour
- All entrance fees and tickets
- Private tour transportation by air-conditioned car
- English-speaking driver
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entrance tickets
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide in Auschwitz
- Headsets at the Auschwitz Birkenau museum
- Private local guide in Krakow
- Lunch
Schedule a visit to Auschwitz by car
Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine from Warsaw with private driver
The tour from Warsaw starts with private transportation who takes you to Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp, a sobering and poignant experience that provides a glimpse into the dark history of the Holocaust. Your sightseeing tour to Auschwitz Birkenau includes a group tours and a short amount of free time
Afterward, the tour takes visitors to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site where they can explore the stunning underground chambers carved out of salt rock, learn about the history of salt mining, and admire intricate salt sculptures. It’s a thought-provoking and educational tour that provides insight into Poland’s past.
If you don’t like buses and trains, this tour is for you, just you maybe your partner and the driver heading off on your own personal tour to Auschwitz.
What included in your Warsaw to Auschwitz tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transport by air-conditioned, Wi-Fi accessible, brand new, luxury Mercedes-Benz cars
- Private car with private driver for whole time of the trip
- Professional local guide
- Headsets to hear the guide clearly
- Bottled water
- Admission fees
Take in 2 great attractions in 1 tour
Planning to see more in Warsaw? Use our epic 2 day Warsaw itinerary
Self guided tour from Warsaw to Auschwitz
You can certainly do Warsaw to Auschwitz day trip on your own without doing an organised tour. You can catch a Warsaw to Auschwitz bus or do Warsaw to Auschwitz by train. I will tell you it will be hard to organise and will most certainly be longer than any organised tour. Private transportation by rental car to the Auschwitz Birkenau camps is another option
Be prepared for an 18- hour round trip from Warsaw to Auschwitz concentration camp and back to Warsaw. If you want to do this, here are a few helpful sites and tips to plan your own Warsaw Auschwitz day trip.
- Search the official Auschwitz Memorial website to book a tour time
- You can book a train from Warsaw to Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum with Train line.
- Although you can catch a Warsaw to Auschwitz bus, it will take around 8 hours
- Book a Rental Car today in Warsaw and drive to Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp.
Essential information for Warsaw
There are many other things you need to consider when planning a vacation to Warsaw not just where are the best areas to stay in Warsaw. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from travellers to Warsaw.
How to get to Warsaw Poland
- The Fredrik Chopin International Airport is located just 10 kilometres from the centre of Warsaw. The Warsaw Airport is home to LOT Polish Airlines and serviced by budget airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair. Book your flights to Warsaw with CheapOair.
- You can book an airport transfer from Warsaw Airport to your hotel
- You can catch trains to Warsaw from all over Europe and Poland. High-speed trains run frequently between Warsaw and Krakow in around 2 hours. You can book your Super saver fare tickets book here! with Bahn.de
- Flix Bus has buses running daily to Warsaw from destinations inside Poland and International destinations. Search your bus tickets to Warsaw
- Poland has some great Highways for driving, The newer Highways built with E.U assistants are levied with what I would say are heavy tolls. Some local roads do leave a lot to be desired. You can hire a car at any international airport in Poland and Europe. Search your Rental Car today!
Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Aviasales or Kiwi Flights. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend, fly carry-on only on a budget airline, and take late-night or early morning flights.
Accommodations in Poland
You can stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels, and private rooms in hostels or luxury locations. We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews).
For apartments and rentals, we book using VRBO. VRBO has lower fees and better customer service than Airbnb. You can also book vacation rentals on Agoda.
How to get around Warsaw
Public transport in Warsaw includes buses, trams (streetcars), Metro, light rail, urban railway and regional rail. ZTM tickets are valid on the city and suburban bus lines, as well as trams, and metro. You can buy tickets at most stops or onboard. Riding on public transport in Warsaw is the best way to get to all the best things to do in Warsaw.
Taxi and UBER are available in the city.
What currency do I need for my trip to Poland?
The official currency you need to use in Poland is the Polish Zloty, We recommend that you get a Revolut travel money card, that can be loaded with multiple currencies and has nearly non-existent withdrawal fees to save you money.
Travel insurance for Poland
Poland has a high quality of healthcare but in saying that travel insurance is still recommended for all travellers entering the country. The last thing you want is a huge bill for medical expenses should you require care on your holiday in Warsaw.
We recommend using Travel Insurance Master, their website will compare the best deals from a number of providers and present you with the best value for money policy on the market. Click through to Insurance Masters to get a free quote.
Using your phone in Warsaw
Relying on Wi-fi when you are travelling and sightseeing in Warsaw on vacation can be hard. Making calls and staying in contact when you travel to Europe is a top priority. Plan your trip out and order your sim before you leave home to stop any stress about travelling, data and calls on your epic vacation in Poland.
Use a VPN Service on your travels
A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network while travelling. When overseas, we access a lot of different Wi_Fi networks along the journey. A VPN will allow you to stream Netflix & other streaming sites from your home country! We use Express VPN when travelling.
Taking a guided day tour from Warsaw to Auschwitz is a powerful and educational experience. As visitors walk through the haunting remnants of the concentration camp, including the notorious Death Block, they are confronted with the sobering reality of the Holocaust.
The museum at Auschwitz displays evidence of the atrocities that occurred there, serving as a reminder of the importance of remembering and learning from history. These tours offer a meaningful way to pay respects to the victims of the Holocaust, gain insight into this dark chapter of human history, and honor their memory.
Day trips from Warsaw to Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp are not ideal, they are long days but in the end, a visit to Auschwitz is something you will remember forever. You will not be disappointed by adding this experience to your Warsaw itinerary.
We hope this article from Poland Travel Expert has helped you choose the best way to get to Auschwitz concentration camp from Warsaw. We know there is already plenty of things to do on a Warsaw itinerary. A Warsaw to Auschwitz tour can be done comfortably with a number of options we outline above.
Poland Travel Expert is your ultimate guide to all things Poland. Your next trip to Poland will not be complete without our detailed Poland guides, Poland itineraries and Poland travel tips.
