Kraków John Paul II International Airport to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (Oświęcim)
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial in Oświęcim is about 57 km from Kraków Airport, roughly 55 minutes by car. By rail, take SKA1 to Kraków Główny and change for Oświęcim, about 27.50–30 PLN through. Pre-booked cars start at around 372 PLN.
Some visitors fly into Kraków meaning to go to the Memorial on the day they land or the day they leave, because the airport is on the same western side of the city as Oświęcim. It can be done, but it takes more planning than most trips from this airport. Entry has to be reserved online, bag sizes are strictly limited, and there is no direct public transport.
How far is Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (Oświęcim) from Kraków John Paul II International Airport?
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (Oświęcim) is 57 km (35 miles) from Kraków John Paul II International Airport by road, about 55 min by car outside rush hour. In a straight line it is 42 km. By public transport, Train takes about 2h including a change and costs zł 27.5.
Every way to get there
Our verdict: Train is the cheapest way at zł 27.5 (2h, with a change on the way). A private transfer from zł 372 saves roughly 1h 5m and takes you to the door. Timetable: Kraków Główny → Oświęcim weekdays 04:04 to 22:50 (64–90 min); SKA1 from airport at :17/:47.
What it costs for your group
The train is charged per person, while a private transfer is one price for the whole car — so the more of you there are, the better door-to-door value looks.
| Group | Train (per person) | Private transfer (per car) | Best value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo · 1 traveller | zł 28 | zł 372 | Train |
| Couple · 2 travellers | zł 55 | zł 372 | Train |
| Family of 4 · 4 travellers | zł 110 | zł 372 | Train |
Which option should you choose?
| If your priority is… | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price | Train | From zł 27.5, about 2h, with a change on the way. |
| Speed | Private transfer | 55 min and door-to-door, from zł 372. |
| A group of 4 | Train | Four tickets still come to about zł 110 — less than a car. |
| A late-night arrival | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | Train stops overnight — timetable: Kraków Główny → Oświęcim weekdays 04:04 to 22:50 (64–90 min); SKA1 from airport at :17/:47. |
By transport mode
Train
Through ticket from Kraków Lotnisko (~76 km by rail) is about 27.50–30 PLN under the KM tariff; Oświęcim station is about 2 km from the Museum (local buses)
Where to catch it: Kraków Airport station behind the multi-storey car park; change at Kraków Główny
Times: Kraków Główny → Oświęcim weekdays 04:04 to 22:50 (64–90 min); SKA1 from airport at :17/:47
Best for budget travellers near a stationPrivate transfer
Best for luggage, since bags over 35×25×15 cm are not allowed inside; return-with-wait packages are common
Where to catch it: Arrivals hall; arrange waiting time at the Museum when booking
Best for families, groups & late arrivalsTaxi
Over 27 km the fare is agreed before departure and capped at 8 PLN/km, about 460 PLN maximum for 57 km; waiting 35 PLN/hour
Where to catch it: Covered official rank outside the terminal
Best for small groups in a hurryAuschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (Oświęcim) & Kraków in photos
Buying tickets in Kraków
Train (SKA1, Koleje Małopolskie): 20 PLN to any station named Kraków (Główny, Grzegórzki, Zabłocie, Płaszów and others), 24 PLN to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia. Luggage travels free; dogs cost 3 PLN. You can buy tickets from the ticket machine on board (cash or card), from the conductor (cash or card), at the Koleje Małopolskie ticket point at the airport (08:10–19:45, cash and card), on the Koleje Małopolskie website, or through the KOLEO and Jakdojade apps.
City and agglomeration buses (lines 209, 300, night 902): buy your ticket before you board, either from the machine in the arrivals hall on level 0 or from the machine at the bus stop (cash or card). Since 2 March 2026 the main fares are 4 PLN for 15 minutes, 6 PLN for a single trip or 30 minutes, 8 PLN for 60 minutes and 9 PLN for 90 minutes. A 24-hour ticket for zone I+II+III costs 25 PLN. Validate your ticket in the reader as soon as you board. Reduced fares are half price, but they apply only to people entitled to them under Polish rules.
Long-distance coaches (FlixBus, RegioJet, Neobus and others) leave from bus shelter 2 near the terminal footbridge. Book with the operator; prices change with demand.
Taxi scams & safety in Kraków
Kraków Airport Taxi (MPL Services) is the only official taxi service at the airport. Its cars wait at the covered rank right outside the terminal, 24 hours a day. They are black or silver (white if electric), and every car has a card terminal. The zone fares are fixed maximums by distance from the airport: 29 PLN up to 2.9 km, 49, 69, 89, 109 and 129 PLN up to 18.9 km, 149 PLN up to 22.9 km and 169 PLN up to 27 km. They are the same at any hour and on any day. For anything beyond 27 km, agree the price with the driver before you set off; it must not exceed 8 PLN per km. A second drop-off is charged on the meter, and waiting costs 35 PLN per hour.
The zone map is published only as an illustration. Most Old Town and Kazimierz addresses fall into the 109–129 PLN bands, so if a driver quotes much more for a city address, ask which zone he is using. Turn down anyone in the arrivals hall offering a ride who is not part of the official rank or a transfer you booked in advance. To book by phone, call +48 12 258 0 258 or +48 668 307 307 (call centre open 06:00–22:00).
Step-free access in Kraków
Kraków Airport's PRM assistance is handled by WAS – KRK Airport Services. Ask for it through your airline at least 48 hours before you fly, or call it up at the airport from one of the marked help points (contact: [email protected]).
- The Kraków Airport railway station is fully adapted for disabled passengers. Staff can help you from the train door all the way to your seat on the aircraft, and the trains themselves are adapted.
- The city bus stop is by the terminal entrance, and the buses are adapted for disabled passengers.
- Taxi ranks are close to the terminal entrance, and the Kiss&Fly bay has a dedicated space for disabled passengers.
- The car parks have wider marked bays, and there are help points along the way from the car parks into the terminal.
- All lifts are accessible, there are accessible toilets and reserved waiting areas, and Hidden Disabilities lanyards are available at the information points.
Getting from KRK to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (Oświęcim)
Before anything else: the entry card
Admission to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is free, but it is not walk-up. The Museum's visiting page says entry cards are issued only online at visit.auschwitz.org, and none are available at the entrance. Individuals can visit alone or join a paid guided tour. Opening hours change with the season: in October entry runs from 07:30 to 17:00, in November from 07:30 to 15:00, and visitors may stay on site for 90 minutes after the last entry. Reserve your slot first, then plan the journey around it, with a wide margin for a delayed flight.
The bag rule
The Museum allows backpacks and handbags no larger than 35 × 25 × 15 cm. Anything bigger has to stay in a car or coach. Kraków Airport's airport has no working left-luggage lockers at the moment (its services page lists them as suspended), so a suitcase cannot be parked at the terminal. If you are coming straight from arrivals with luggage, a car that waits for you is the only arrangement that really works. Otherwise, go to your hotel first and make the trip the next morning.
By car
The road distance from the terminal to the Museum car park is about 57 km, roughly 55 minutes in normal traffic. The main car park, at ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, is free.
Kraków Airport Taxi's fixed zones stop at 27 km, so beyond that the price is agreed with the driver before departure, at no more than 8 PLN per kilometre under the operator's published tariff. For this distance that ceiling works out at about 460 PLN one way. Settle the figure, and whether waiting time is included (the published rate is 35 PLN per hour), before you get in.
A pre-booked transfer is usually the better value for a return trip with waiting time. Checked on 21 October 2026, Suntransfers priced Oświęcim from about 85.31 EUR (roughly 372 PLN), with a larger vehicle at about 92 EUR (around 400 PLN). Many Kraków operators also sell return trips with the driver waiting at the Museum, and guided-tour packages that include the entry reservation. Check what is included before comparing prices.
By train, with one change
No train goes direct. Take the SKA1 from the airport station to Kraków Główny, 17 minutes, then a Koleje Małopolskie train towards Oświęcim. On a weekday in late October 2026 those leave Kraków Główny from 04:04 until 22:50, at intervals of 30 to 60 minutes through the day, and take between 64 and 90 minutes depending on the route. Trains numbered in the 30xxx series are the faster ones.
Fares are worth a moment's thought. Koleje Małopolskie's tariff prices journeys from Kraków Lotnisko by distance. Airport to Oświęcim is roughly 76 km by rail, which comes to about 27.50–30 PLN on a single through ticket. Buying an airport-to-Kraków ticket (20 PLN) and then a separate Kraków–Oświęcim ticket costs more. Under the tariff, a ticket for 51–100 km stays valid for six hours, which comfortably covers the change.
From Oświęcim station, the Museum says it is about 2 km to the entrance, with local buses from the station, or about 25 minutes on foot. Allow two to two and a half hours from the airport kerb to the Museum gate.
By coach from Kraków
The Museum notes that coaches and minibuses stop beside the entrance with services to Kraków and Katowice. These leave from the Kraków side rather than the airport, so from the terminal you would first need the train or bus 300 into the city. Fares and timetables belong to private operators and change, so confirm on the day.
Auschwitz I and Birkenau
A standard visit covers both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and starts at Auschwitz I. Keep that in mind when booking a return driver or a train home: the time on site is usually several hours, not one.
A sensible plan
- Morning arrival, light bags, entry booked for the afternoon: train via Kraków Główny, about 30 PLN.
- Arrival with suitcases, or a tight entry slot: a pre-booked car with waiting time, from about 372 PLN one way, more for a return.
- Late arrival: stay in Kraków and go the next morning. The last entries in autumn are mid-afternoon to 17:00.
KRK to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (Oświęcim) — FAQ
How far is Auschwitz from Kraków Airport?
What is the cheapest way from Kraków Airport to Auschwitz?
What is the fastest way?
How much is a taxi from Kraków Airport to Oświęcim?
Do I need to book entry to Auschwitz in advance?
Can I bring my suitcase?
What is the last train from Kraków to Oświęcim?
My flight lands in the evening. Can I still visit the same day?
Sources
Fares and times on this page were last held against their official sources on 21 October 2026. Operators change prices without notice — if you spot a difference, the operator’s own page is the authority. How we check fares.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum – Visiting · checked 2026-10-21
- Kraków Airport – Train (SKA1 fares, tickets, station) · checked 2026-10-21
- Kraków Airport – Kraków Airport Taxi zone fares · checked 2026-10-21
- Kraków Airport Taxi (MPL Services) – tariff and zone map · checked 2026-10-21
- Koleje Małopolskie GTFS timetable feed (valid 2 Oct – 12 Dec 2026) · checked 2026-10-21
- Koleje Małopolskie – Taryfa Małopolska from 1 July 2026 (Annex 5: fares to/from Kraków Lotnisko) · checked 2026-10-21
- Kraków Airport – Services and amenities (luggage lockers suspended) · checked 2026-10-21
- Suntransfers – Kraków airport to Oświęcim · checked 2026-10-21
- NBP mid rates 21 Oct 2026 (EUR 4.3641, USD 3.8889 PLN) used to convert EUR/USD quotes · checked 2026-10-21
Other destinations from Kraków John Paul II International Airport
