How to get from Kraków Airport to Auschwitz?

If you’re traveling to Kraków and planning to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, you might be wondering how to get there from Kraków Airport. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the journey smoothly and efficiently. How to get from Kraków Airport to Auschwitz in Oświęcim?

Kraków Airport is the closest airport when it comes to traveling to the Auschwitz Museum. The simplest way to go directly to Auschwitz after landing in Kraków is, of course, renting a car. This is such a straightforward and obvious option that we won’t go into detail about it.

Traveling by car from the airport will be cheap and efficient, and you can reach the museum in about 50 minutes. It’s better to take the free road 780 rather than the paid A4 highway. Now, let’s move on to public transportation, which is also cheap and efficient.

Step 1: Take the SKA1 Train from Kraków Airport to Kraków Główny

The journey begins at Kraków Airport (John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice). The easiest and most convenient way to reach the city center is by taking the SKA1 train directly to the city centre of Krakow.

• Where to board: The train station is located directly opposite the terminal building, connected by a walkway. Follow the signs to the platforms.
• Destination: The train stops at Kraków Główny, the main railway station in Kraków, located right next to the Old Town and the Galeria Krakowska shopping center.
• Cost: A one-way ticket costs 20 PLN (approx. 4.75 EUR / 5.25 USD).
• Travel time: The journey takes about 17-20 minutes.

Step 2: From Kraków Główny to Auschwitz

Once you arrive at Kraków Główny, you have two main options to reach Auschwitz:

Option 1: Take the SKA3 Train to Oświęcim

• Where to board: From Kraków Główny, take the SKA3 train directly to Oświęcim, the town where Auschwitz is located.
• Cost: A one-way ticket costs 16.50 PLN (approx. 3.93 EUR / 4.06 USD).
• Travel time: The journey takes about 1 hour.
• Arrival: The train terminates at Oświęcim station, which is a short walk (about 15-20 minutes) or a quick shuttle bus ride (5 PLN) from the Auschwitz Museum.

Option 2: Take the Lajkonik Bus to Auschwitz

• Where to board: From Kraków Główny, walk to the nearby MDA bus station (located just behind the railway station). Look for buses operated by Lajkonik, which go directly to Auschwitz.
• Cost: A one-way ticket costs 22 PLN (approx. 5.25 EUR / 5.50 USD).
• Travel time: The journey takes about 1.5 hours.
• Arrival: The bus stops directly in front of the Auschwitz Museum, making it a very convenient option.

Additional Tips

• Tickets: Train tickets can be purchased at the station, from ticket machines, or online via the official PKP or Małopolska Railways websites. Bus tickets can be bought on the Lajkonik website or at the station. It’s better to book Lajkonik bus. Train you don’t need to book.
• Shuttle Bus: If you arrive in Oświęcim by train, a shuttle bus (5 PLN) operates during the tourist season (April to October) to take you directly to the museum.
• Timing: Plan to arrive at Auschwitz at least 1.5-2 hours before your scheduled visit to allow time for security checks and ticket collection.

How to get to Auschwitz from Krakow Airport?

Getting from Kraków Airport to Auschwitz is straightforward:

1. Take the SKA1 train from Kraków Airport to Kraków Główny.
2. From Kraków Główny, choose either the SKA3 train or the Lajkonik bus to reach Auschwitz.

Both options are affordable and efficient, with the bus offering direct access to the museum and the train providing a faster journey to Oświęcim. To Auschwitz, unlike most museums in Poland, you cannot simply walk in from the street. You need to reserve either paid tickets for a guided tour or free entry tickets to Auschwitz on the official website.

The museum is a very popular attraction, and tickets must be booked well in advance. Here, you can read the full price list for the Auschwitz Museum.