Krakow and Auschwitz from Warsaw in One Day: Which Fast-Train Tour?
5 min read
The fast-train tour with pickup is the most reviewed of the three compared here. It costs €148.18 per person and has 1,021 reviews at 4.6 stars. Expect a very long day: the listing gives 17 hours.
The three tours
| Tour | Length | Start | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour to Krakow and Auschwitz by Fast Train with Pickup | 17 hours | Pickup at your accommodation | €148.18 |
| Guided Tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Krakow | 16 hours | Warsaw Central Railway Station | €141.34 |
| Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour with a Fast Train | 15 hours | Pickup at your accommodation | €150 |
The day in outline
The pickup tour collects you at your accommodation, takes you to the station and puts you on the train to Krakow, where a driver takes you on to Auschwitz. The listing gives 3.5 hours for the guided visit of Auschwitz and Birkenau, then three hours of free time in Krakow, with the train back at about 8:30 pm. Second-class return train tickets and shared transport between Krakow and Auschwitz are included according to the listing.
The station-start tour has you meet in Warsaw Central Station. Its itinerary shows a 2.5-hour train ride, a 1.5-hour road transfer each way, 3.5 hours at the memorial and two hours in Krakow. The guide speaks English or Spanish. A reviewer calls it a very long day that began at 4:30 am and advises taking food and water.
The third tour centres on Auschwitz-Birkenau, with a licensed guide in German, French or English, entry fees and a headset. It also collects you at your accommodation. Its description runs from Birkenau straight back to Krakow station and the fast train home, so plan it as an Auschwitz day rather than a visit to Krakow.
The train
The fastest Warsaw to Krakow service on PKP Intercity takes 2 hours 21 minutes according to the operator (intercity.pl); the listings of the tours quote about 2.5 hours. Pickup times depend on the train, and the first listing says the exact time is confirmed the day before.
Rules to know
The first two listings name wheelchair users and people with limited mobility as not suitable or not recommended; the third names children under 14 as not suitable. The pickup tour requires your full name and contact details at booking, may refuse entry if the name differs from your ID, and says museum tickets are non-refundable; the station-start tour lets you cancel up to 3 days ahead, the others up to 24 hours before. The memorial itself advises against visiting with children under 14, and entry cards are reserved online at visit.auschwitz.org (auschwitz.org). All three ask you to bring a passport or ID card. The pickup tour lists luggage and large bags as not allowed; on the station-start tour, bags larger than an A4 sheet cannot go into the museum but can stay on the bus; the third lists shorts, sleeveless shirts, backpacks, food and drinks, and luggage as not allowed.
Which one
Pick the pickup tour if you want a lift from your door and three hours in Krakow. Pick the station tour if you prefer to start at Warsaw Central. Pick the Auschwitz-focused tour if the camp is the point and you want a German or French guide. See also day trips from Warsaw and POLIN and Jewish Warsaw.
