Choose your stop

How far is Auschwitz from Krakow, and where exactly is it?

Answer in brief

Auschwitz is not in Krakow but in the town of Oswiecim to the west, about 1.5 hours by coach or 85 minutes by direct bus from the city.

Location

  • Both airports within about 50 km of Oswiecim3
  • Auschwitz I and Birkenau 3.5 km apart4
  • Town of over 40,000 people26

Check out 23 stops

Kraków, Oświęcim and Wieliczka on one map

Choose a route, then tap a pin or stop for its note and a Google Maps link.

Map of the region west of Kraków with Kraków Old Town, Kraków and Katowice airports, Oświęcim station, the Auschwitz Memorial, Birkenau and the salt mine in Wieliczka

  1. Kraków's Old Town; the main railway station, with the bus terminal joined to it, is a 10-minute walk from the Main Market Square.

    Google Maps

  2. Kraków-Balice airport lies several kilometres west of the city centre; an airport train reaches Kraków Główny in about 20 minutes.

    Google Maps

  3. Katowice-Pyrzowice airport, approximately 110 km west of Kraków and within about 50 kilometres of Oświęcim.

    Google Maps

  4. The Visitor Service Centre and car park at Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, where every visit begins at the former Auschwitz I.

    Google Maps

  5. The salt mine in Wieliczka, 10 km south-east of Kraków city centre.

    Google Maps

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

How far is Auschwitz from Krakow in travel time, why the Memorial is in Oswiecim rather than in the city, and how it sits between the airports, Warsaw and Wieliczka.

Editorial team, auschwitzandsaltminetour.com · Updated November 9, 2026 · Takes 7 min

Main facts

  • TownOswiecim, west of Krakow, in western Malopolska.1
  • By roadAbout 1.5 hours by tour coach each way.
  • By bus85 minutes on the first direct bus.2
  • AirportsKrakow-Balice and Katowice-Pyrzowice, both within about 50 km of Oswiecim.3
  • The campsAuschwitz I and Birkenau, 3.5 km apart.4

Is Auschwitz in Krakow?

Is Auschwitz in Krakow? No. The Memorial stands in Oswiecim, a separate town west of Krakow. In 1940 the Germans built the camp on the edge of Oswiecim, a Polish town they had annexed to the Third Reich, and gave the town the German name Auschwitz, which the camp then took as well.5,6 That German name is the one the world remembers, and it is easy to look for it on a Krakow street map by mistake.

Oswiecim lies in the western part of the Malopolska region, near the boundary with Upper Silesia, roughly between Krakow, Katowice and Bielsko-Biala.1 Krakow is the natural gateway: the big city nearby, with the airport, the hotels and the tour operators, but the visit itself always means leaving the city for the day. The Memorial sits on the outskirts of Oswiecim, on provincial road No. 933.7

Keeping the names straight helps when you book. Train and bus timetables use the Polish name, Oswiecim, while the Memorial calls itself the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Its official entry passes are issued only on visit.auschwitz.org.8 When an app asks for your destination, enter the Museum's address, Wiezniow Oswiecimia 55, rather than just the town.9 The same applies to taxis: show the driver the address, and say whether you need the main entrance or the Birkenau site.

From where

Reaching Oswiecim from your starting point

Starting pointHowTime or distance
Krakow Old TownTour coachAbout 1.5 hours
Krakow bus stationDirect bus85 minutes
Krakow AirportAirport train, then busAbout 20 minutes to Krakow Glowny
Katowice AirportRoadWithin about 50 km
WarsawGuided day by train17 hours in all

Times from tour listings, the bus timetable and Krakow's tourism office; distances from the Memorial.2,22,3

How far is Auschwitz from Krakow in time?

So, how far is Auschwitz from Krakow? The most useful answer is in hours rather than kilometres. Guided tours from the city list some 1.5 hours of coach travel each way. Some smaller tours list 75 minutes in a van. The direct public bus from Krakow's bus station, which runs via Chrzanow and Libiaz, takes 85 minutes from its 06:15 departure to the Museum stop.15,2 Ask your operator on the day if timing matters to you.

That travel time shapes the whole day. With about 1.5 hours each way and roughly 3.5 hours inside the Memorial, an Auschwitz-only tour is listed at 7 to 10 hours, door to door.16 If you also want to see the mine at Wieliczka, the combined day this site sells runs to 11 hours and finishes around 8:00 PM. It is entirely possible as a day trip from Krakow, but it is a full day, and early pickups are normal.

There is no quick visit, either. The Memorial asks you to arrive 30 minutes before your tour for the security check, and recommends seeing both Auschwitz I and Birkenau.17,18 Even the shortest guided format, before closing time, lasts around 2.5 hours.19 Add the journey and you need most of a day, whatever transport you choose. Our page on getting there compares the bus, the train, the car and the tours in detail.

Distances on record

Published distances around Krakow, in km

  • Between the camps3.5
  • Krakow to Wieliczka10
  • Airports to Oswiecim50
  • Krakow to Katowice airport110

Distances as the Memorial, the salt mine and Krakow's tourism office publish them; the airports figure is an upper bound.4,20,3,21

Where is Auschwitz from Krakow on the map?

Where is Auschwitz from Krakow? To the west, in the western part of the Malopolska region, roughly in the direction of Katowice.1 Open the first map panel on this page: Krakow's Old Town lies to the east, the Memorial near the western edge, and the airport at Balice in between, several kilometres west of the city center.27 Further north-west is Katowice Airport, approximately 110 km west of Krakow.21 According to the Memorial, Oswiecim has both international airports within about 50 kilometres.3

The public bus runs through Chrzanow and Libiaz before reaching Oswiecim.15 The railway runs to Oswiecim station, which the Memorial's getting-there page places approximately 1,500 metres from the Museum, and the Memorial's main visiting page gives about 2 km.28,29 On the ground, the Museum entrance is on Wiezniow Oswiecimia Street, reached from Legionow Street, provincial road 933.30 Its GPS position is 50.029787, 19.204869.9 Save it offline before you go, in case your phone loses its signal on the way.

Within the town, the Memorial has separate sites. Auschwitz I, the former main camp, is where the visit begins, and Auschwitz II-Birkenau lies 3.5 km away.7,4 The second map panel shows both, with the Visitor Service Centre, the Execution Wall, the Alte Judenrampe and the entrance to Birkenau at ul. Ofiar Faszyzmu 12.31 Use it to picture the walk or shuttle ride between them before you go.

Plan it

Where to start your visit from

Your arrival point and timing point you to a base.

  • If I fly into Krakow

    Stay in Krakow

    The airport train reaches Krakow Glowny in about 20 minutes.22

  • If I fly into Katowice

    Go straight to Oswiecim

    Katowice-Pyrzowice is within about 50 km of Oswiecim.3

  • If I am based in Warsaw

    Move to Krakow for a night

    InterCity trains take about 2.5 hours to Krakow.23

  • If I want the earliest entry

    Sleep in Oswiecim

    The gates open at 7:30 AM, summer and winter.24,25

  • If I also want Wieliczka

    Stay in Krakow

    The mine is 10 km south-east of the center.20

Where to stay

Choosing a base for your visit

Gateway city

Krakow

The usual gateway

  • To the MemorialAbout 1.5 hours
  • ToursPickup in the center
  • Also nearWieliczka
Compare bases

On the spot

Oswiecim

The town itself

  • To the MemorialA short ride
  • Entry opens7:30 AM
  • PopulationOver 40,000
Compare bases

Long day

Warsaw

The capital

  • To KrakowAbout 2.5 hours
  • Day tour17 hours
  • BetterMove to Krakow
Compare bases

From the airports, Katowice and Wieliczka

If you are flying in, either airport works. Krakow-Balice lies west of the city, and its airport train reaches Krakow Glowny in about 20 minutes, which puts you next to the bus station for the direct Lajkonik bus.27,22,33 Katowice-Pyrzowice is approximately 110 km west of Krakow but within about 50 kilometres of Oswiecim.21,3 Buses and minibuses from Krakow and Katowice also stop close to the Museum.53

Wieliczka, the other half of this site's combined tour, lies on the opposite side of Krakow. The mine sits 10 km from the center, to the south-east, close to the motorway.20 The combined day drives from Oswiecim to Wieliczka in about 1.5 hours and from Wieliczka back to Krakow in about 45 minutes. If you visit both on separate days, base yourself in Krakow: Wieliczka is an easy half day from the center, while Oswiecim needs a full one.

Heading on after your visit rather than returning to Krakow? The Lajkonik bus from the Museum also stops at Oswiecim station, which gives you rail connections onward.54 Check the timetable of your train in advance, and keep luggage to a minimum: bags at the Memorial may not exceed 35x25x15 cm, with paid luggage storage at the entrance for anything larger.51,52 Local buses also run between the station and the Museum.29

Go with a guide

Day tours that do the distance for you

Compare guided days with transport.

Compare all 3 options

Day tours that do the distance for you

Compare guided days with transport.

2 people
  1. From Krakow with Wieliczka11 hours · for each guest from €42

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    View
  2. From Krakow, Auschwitz only7 to 10 hours · for each guest from €16

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    View
  3. From Warsaw by train17 hours · for each guest from €160

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    View

Currency conversion uses the ECB reference rate on GetYourGuide from-prices. The exact price is displayed when you book.

The town

Oswiecim through the centuries

  1. 12th c.

    An old town

    Oswiecim dates back to the 12th century.10

  2. 1940

    Annexed and renamed

    The Germans set up the camp and renamed the city Auschwitz.5,6

  3. 1947

    A Museum on the site

    The State Museum is established on 2 July 1947.11

  4. 1979

    World Heritage

    Auschwitz-Birkenau joins the UNESCO list.12

  5. 2010

    Castle Museum

    The town's own history museum opens on 1 January 2010.13

  6. 2026

    Castle closed for works

    Closed from 1 November 2026, planned until September 2027.14

Is Auschwitz close to Krakow or Warsaw?

Is Auschwitz close to Krakow or Warsaw? Krakow, clearly. Oswiecim lies among Krakow, Katowice and Bielsko-Biala, in the Malopolska region of southern Poland.1 From Warsaw you first need to reach Krakow: InterCity trains between the cities take about 2.5 hours.23 Only after that does the journey west to Oswiecim begin, which makes a same-day visit from Warsaw a very long day, with an early start in the dark for most of the year.

It can be done, with a guide and a firm schedule. A guided day from Warsaw to Krakow and Auschwitz by train lasts 17 hours, from €179. That is far longer than a day tour from Krakow, and you spend much of it on trains. It is usually better to move to Krakow for at least a night, see the city, and visit the Memorial from there with an early pickup and a calm evening afterwards.

From Krakow you also have more choice of tours, languages and departure times. Day tours from the city run 7 to 10 hours on the listing with 39,056 reviews, with guides in English, Dutch, Italian, French, German or Spanish. Several pickups operate from the city center, including Wielopole 2 and Starowislna 65. Whatever your base, book the Memorial's entry pass or the tour well ahead: entry passes are limited in number.55

Video

By train from Krakow to Oswiecim and back

RailwaylineT on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.

Nowadays, Oświęcim is a town with over 40,000 inhabitants, it is a center of numerous peace initiatives, a meeting place for people of various nationalities
City of Oswiecim26

Before you choose

Location checklist

Getting your bearings3

  • Search for Oswiecim, not Auschwitz, in rail and bus apps6
  • Use the Museum's address, Wiezniow Oswiecimia 559
  • Count about 1.5 hours each way from Krakow

If you travel far3

  • From Warsaw, add about 2.5 hours to reach Krakow23
  • Leave suitcases in storage: bags max 35x25x15 cm51,52
  • Check the Castle Museum's status if you stay in Oswiecim14

The town of Oswiecim today

It is easy to forget that Oswiecim is a living town. The city describes itself as an old town dating back to the 12th century, today home to over 40,000 people.10,26 It calls itself a City of Peace and a meeting place for people of many nationalities, and it says over 1 million tourists, pilgrims and official visitors come every year.26,56 For the people who live there, the Memorial is a neighbour, and visitors who walk into the center are reminded that this is an ordinary Polish town with schools, shops and a river.

If you stay longer, the town has its own old town and castle hill to explore. The Castle Museum opened on 1 January 2010 to tell the town's history.13 Note, though, that the town's tourist information office reports that the Castle Museum has been closed to visitors since 1 November 2026, with reopening planned for September 2027.14 Check its status before you plan a visit, and use the town's tourist information website for current opening times.57

Staying overnight in Oswiecim lets you take an early entry slot without a dawn pickup from Krakow, and to visit Birkenau again in quieter light. In summer you can enter from 7:30 AM until 7:00 PM.25 Krakow remains the easier base for hotels, restaurants and the choice of tours. Whichever you pick, the distance is manageable, and the Memorial deserves an unhurried day with nothing else squeezed into it.

FAQ

Brief questions, brief answers.

Is Auschwitz in Krakow?
No, in Oswiecim.

The Germans built the camp in 1940 on the edge of Oswiecim, west of Krakow.5,1

What is the travel time from Krakow to Auschwitz?
About 1.5 hours by coach.

The first direct bus takes 85 minutes to the Museum stop.2

Which airport is closest to Auschwitz?
Both are within about 50 km.

Krakow-Balice and Katowice-Pyrzowice are both within about 50 kilometres of Oswiecim.3

Can I visit Auschwitz from Warsaw in a day?
Yes, but it is long.

A guided day by train from Warsaw lasts 17 hours.

How far apart are Auschwitz I and Birkenau?
3.5 km.

The Museum runs a shuttle for individual visitors on guided tours.4,58

How far is Wieliczka from Krakow?
10 km south-east of the center.

It lies by the motorway junction that carries the town's name.20

What is the Museum's address?
Wiezniow Oswiecimia 55, Oswiecim.

The Visitor Services Center and car park are there, GPS 50.029787, 19.204869.9

How many people live in Oswiecim?
Over 40,000.

The town dates back to the 12th century.26,10

Sources

  1. City of Oswiecim · Investment areas in the city of Oswiecim ↩
  2. Lajkonik Bus (operator) · Timetable Krakow - Oswiecim ↩
  3. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  4. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  5. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · History ↩
  6. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · History ↩
  7. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  8. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Basic information ↩
  9. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  10. City of Oswiecim · Oswiecim - the City of Peace ↩
  11. City of Oswiecim · Oswiecim - the City of Peace ↩
  12. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Auschwitz-Birkenau on the World Heritage List ↩
  13. City of Oswiecim · The Castle Museum in Oswiecim ↩
  14. Oswiecim Tourist Information Centre · Tourist information Oswiecim (Polish) ↩
  15. Lajkonik Bus (operator) · Timetable Krakow - Oswiecim ↩
  16. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Basic information ↩
  17. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Basic information ↩
  18. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Plan your visit ↩
  19. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Guides, options for guided tours, prices ↩
  20. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Map and access ↩
  21. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by plane ↩
  22. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by plane ↩
  23. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by train ↩
  24. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Opening hours ↩
  25. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Opening hours ↩
  26. City of Oswiecim · Oswiecim - the City of Peace ↩
  27. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by plane ↩
  28. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  29. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Visiting ↩
  30. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  31. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Accessibility ↩
  32. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by train
  33. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by bus ↩
  34. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Regulations for visitors (valid from 1.07.2026), PDF
  35. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Regulations for visitors (valid from 1.07.2026), PDF
  36. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum
  37. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Accessibility
  38. Polish Tourism Organisation · Auschwitz Birkenau
  39. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Accessibility
  40. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Tourist Route: important information
  41. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Tourist Route: important information
  42. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Tourist Route
  43. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Map and access
  44. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Miners' Route
  45. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Map and access
  46. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Map and access
  47. Wieliczka salt mine (operator) · Map and access
  48. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by train
  49. Krakow city tourism portal (krakow.travel) · Transport by train
  50. Lajkonik Bus (operator) · Timetable Krakow - Oswiecim
  51. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Basic information ↩
  52. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Basic information ↩
  53. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  54. Lajkonik Bus (operator) · Fares Krakow - Chrzanow - Libiaz - Oswiecim ↩
  55. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Individual visitors ↩
  56. City of Oswiecim · Investment areas in the city of Oswiecim ↩
  57. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Getting to the Museum ↩
  58. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum · Individual visitors ↩

Next read

More to read before the day

GuideAuschwitz tour from Krakow: what it costs and what is includedGuideHow to choose an Auschwitz tour from KrakowGuidePrivate, small group or group: visiting Auschwitz from KrakowGuideAuschwitz and Wieliczka in one day: is it too much?

Before you leave

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