How far is Birkenau from Auschwitz? How to get to?

During the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany, concentration camps operated in the small town of Oświęcim near Krakow, which today serve as a museum. Tours to Auschwitz are a popular activity among visitors to Krakow. Many tourists wonder how far Auschwitz is from Birkenau. We explain whether it is far and how to travel between Auschwitz and Birkenau.

When referring to the Auschwitz Museum, it actually includes both camps: Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the latter established in the small village of Brzezinka, located near the slightly larger but still very small town of Oświęcim.

A ticket to visit Auschwitz allows access to both parts of the museum. How far apart are they?

The entrance to Camp I is located at Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, 32-600 Oświęcim, Poland, while the entrance to Camp II is at Ofiar Faszyzmu 12, 32-600 Brzezinka, Poland. The distance between the two sites is approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mile) by car, which takes about four minutes to drive or 30 minutes to walk.

In a straight line, the distance between the two locations is about 1.8 km, or 1.13 miles.

How to travel between Auschwitz and Birkenau?

If you are traveling by car, you can drive between the two sites, though this will incur additional costs. You can also walk, but the area is not visually appealing, so the walk is not particularly interesting.

Fortunately, a free shuttle bus operates between the two parts of the museum. The journey between the two sites takes just a few minutes and is free of charge.

We remind you that Auschwitz is a museum largely located in an open area, so it is advisable to wear good shoes for the visit. Here you can read about how much a trip to Auschwitz really costs, as it is not tens of euros as sometimes advertised in Krakow.

Auschwitz can, of course, also be visited for free. In Krakow, you can purchase very expensive tours to Auschwitz. Before spending dozens, or sometimes even more, euros, it is worth analyzing the official price list and knowing that a direct bus from the center of Krakow to the museum costs 22 złoty one way. The official website for purchasing Auschwitz tickets is visit.auschwitz.org.

Read detailed guide on easiest and cheapest ways to get to Auschwitz from Krakow city center.

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