Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow including Lunch
Full-day guided visit from Kraków to two UNESCO-listed sites: Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau with an English museum guide, followed by a guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Transportation, entrance tickets, English-speaking guides at each site, a packed lunch set and insurance are included. You must bring your ID or passport to enter the Auschwitz Museum grounds.
In Collaboration with MrShuttle.com. Updated on February 12, 2026.
This itinerary was created in collaboration with MrShuttle.com, inspired by the tour Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow including Lunch. Please check the tour information during your booking process.
Highlights
- Guided English tour of Auschwitz I (Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum)
- Visit Auschwitz II–Birkenau with the same English-speaking guide
- Guided 2.5-hour tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine down to ~140 m
- Packed lunch set based on Polish products
- Return transportation from Kraków (pickup service)
Explore all itineraries in Kraków.
Itinerary
Day 1
Pickup from Kraków in the morning. Documentary shown during transfer to Auschwitz; English-language guided visit of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II–Birkenau followed by transfer to Wieliczka Salt Mine for the underground tour. Packed lunch provided during the second part of the day.
Auschwitz I
Transfer from Kraków to Auschwitz I (Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum). On arrival you will join the Museum's English-language guided tour of Auschwitz I for about 2 hours. A documentary film about the history of concentration camps is shown during the transfer.
- Monday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tips from local experts:
- Bring your passport or national ID — the Museum requires ID to enter the grounds.
- Only small bags (maximum 30 x 20 x 10 cm) are allowed on site; leave larger luggage on the bus.
- Dress conservatively and maintain quiet, respectful behaviour inside exhibits; seating is limited, plan for standing during parts of the tour.
Auschwitz II - Birkenau
Short transfer (approx. 2 km) from Auschwitz I to Auschwitz II–Birkenau. You will continue with the same English-speaking Museum guide for an approximately 1-hour visit of the Birkenau grounds and external memorial areas.
- Monday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Tips from local experts:
- Birkenau is an open-air site; wear weather-appropriate outerwear and sturdy, non-slip shoes.
- The visit includes walking on uneven and potentially muddy surfaces; allow the guide to keep group pacing and stay close to the meeting point.
- For comfort, bring a small bottle of water; there are no visitor cafés inside the memorial area.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Transfer to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. On arrival you will join the English-language guided tourist route down to approximately 140 metres below ground for a guided 2.5-hour tour through chambers, chapels and salt-carved sculptures. A packed lunch set (based on Polish products) will be provided during the second part of the day/transfer.
- Monday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tips from local experts:
- The descent to the first tourist level requires descending a wooden stairway of 378 steps; after the tour you ascend by elevator. If you have mobility concerns, plan accordingly.
- Temperature underground is around 14°C (57°F) — wear a warm layer and comfortable shoes with good grip.
- Inform your guide in advance about any dietary restrictions for the provided packed lunch; staff can advise but special meals are not guaranteed on short notice.
Itinerary Attributes
| Days | 1 |
| Highlights | 5 |
| Season | - |
| Month | - |
| Persona | Seniors |
| Transfers | - |
| Restaurants | - |
| Total Activities | 3 |
| Total Places | 3 |
| Activities Types | Culture, Attraction |
Why this experience
You're spending a full day understanding two opposite sides of Polish history: the heaviest and the most magical. In the morning, you'll walk through Auschwitz I, the most systematic documentation of industrial-scale genocide. Your guide will explain what you're seeing—the barracks, the crematorium, the wall where prisoners were executed—with the care and context it demands. You'll witness the scale of loss, the precision of evil, the individual stories preserved in photographs and belongings. It's the kind of experience that changes how you understand humanity.
Then, after lunch (often in a traditional Polish café in the countryside), you'll descend into the Wieliczka Salt Mine—into an entirely different world. For 700 years, miners carved this underground cathedral from salt. There are chapels sculpted entirely from salt rock, chandeliers made of crystalline salt, even an underground lake. You'll walk through chambers that feel otherworldly, where the air itself tastes mineral and old. It's a counterbalance: after witnessing the darkest chapter of recent history, you're reminded of what humans can also create—beauty, endurance, ingenuity. Both experiences are about Polish identity, but they ask completely different questions.
Before you go
- Best time: Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather for a full day of travel and walking. Summer is busier; winter can make driving conditions challenging, though the salt mine stays a constant cool temperature year-round.
- Budget: Check the booking widget for current tour pricing. Tours typically include both Auschwitz I and Wieliczka entries, transport from Kraków, and a midday meal.
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging. You'll walk for 4-5 hours across two sites with a lunch break in between. The emotional difficulty of Auschwitz is the primary consideration.
- What to bring: Sturdy walking shoes (cobblestones and gravel at Auschwitz, salt floors at Wieliczka), warm layers (the mine is cool year-round), water, snacks, and a notebook if you process experiences through writing.
- Getting there: Hotel pickup and transport from Kraków included. Auschwitz is 65 km southwest; Wieliczka is about 15 km southeast.
- Accessibility: Auschwitz has limited wheelchair access; Wieliczka has stairs and uneven salt floors. The mines do offer elevator access to some levels. Discuss specific needs with your operator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this tour with young children? Auschwitz is not recommended for children under 14. The emotional and historical context required is significant. Wieliczka is family-friendly, but the combination is best suited to older teens and adults.
How much walking is involved? You'll walk roughly 3 hours at Auschwitz and 2 hours at Wieliczka, with a lunch break in between. The walking is mostly flat, but the emotional weight makes it feel more demanding than the distance suggests.
What's included in the lunch? Most operators include a traditional Polish lunch at a café near Wieliczka or between the two sites. Check your confirmation for specifics. Vegetarian and dietary options are usually available with advance notice.
What's included in this itinerary? This itinerary on TheNextGuide is free to read and follow at your own pace. The bookable part is the guided tour itself, which includes professional guides at both sites, transport from Kraków, lunch, and entry to both Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Complete your trip in Kraków
Kraków offers ways to process what you've learned and continue exploring your own connections to Polish culture.
- Kraków in 1 Day - Wawel Castle and Cathedral — Return to Kraków's heart and explore the royal castle and medieval city with fresh perspective.
- Kraków in 1 Day - Drive around Nowa Huta in a genuine Trabant or Soviet Lada — Explore another chapter of twentieth-century Polish history through the Soviet-era district of Nowa Huta.
- Kraków in 1 Day - Private hotel pickup in Kraków — Find peaceful reflection at the Tyniec Abbey and savor local craft beers in a serene setting.
Browse all Kraków itineraries at TheNextGuide.
Last updated: April 2026
