Auschwitz Tour from Poznan

Private one-day trip from Poznań to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial: around 5 hours each way with stops, hotel pickup, reserved tickets and a guided visit.

Tour Details

• Duration: approx. 14–15 hours, including up to 3.5 hours at the Memorial
• Tour type: private tour by car or minivan with an English-speaking driver
• Drive time: around 5 hours each way, with a few stops along the route
• Pickup: early morning from your hotel in Poznań; drop-off in Poznań at the end of the day
• Guide languages at the Memorial: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish
• Price: from 105 EUR per person

Description

The Auschwitz tour from Poznań crosses Poland from west to south in a single day. You leave your hotel early in the morning in a private car or minivan, drive about five hours to Oświęcim with a few stops on the way, and return the same evening. The day lasts around 14–15 hours, and the driver and vehicle are reserved for your group throughout.

The time at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is built around a guided visit of up to three and a half hours. A local guide leads you through the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp, starting with around two hours in Auschwitz I and continuing for around an hour and a half in Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Your entrance tickets are reserved in advance, and up to an hour of free time follows for lunch or rest before the drive back.

With a guide, the visit becomes an account of what happened in each place rather than a walk past buildings. You learn how the Germans established the camp in 1940 and how it became the largest of their camps. You also learn who was deported there: mostly Jews, as well as Poles, Roma and Sinti, Soviet prisoners of war and people of other nationalities. The Memorial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the visit is conducted with the respect such a place requires.

Auschwitz Tour from Poznań Itinerary

1. Early pickup in Poznań
   The driver collects you from your hotel in Poznań early in the morning. The detailed itinerary, including the exact pickup time, is confirmed by email before the tour.
2. Journey south (around 5 hours)
   The drive from Poznań to Auschwitz takes about five hours in an air-conditioned vehicle. A few stops along the way give you time to rest and buy refreshments.
3. Arrival in Oświęcim
   At the Memorial, you meet your guide and collect your reserved tickets. Headphones are provided so you can follow the commentary throughout the visit. Please keep a passport or ID card at hand, as each ticket is issued by name.
4. Auschwitz I (around 2 hours)
   The visit starts in Auschwitz I, which the Germans established in 1940 in former Polish army barracks. Through the gate bearing the “Arbeit macht frei” inscription, you reach the brick blocks with exhibitions that document the deportations and the prisoners’ lives. Block 11, the camp prison, and the Death Wall next to it are also part of the route.
5. Between the two camps
   Birkenau is about 3 km from Auschwitz I. The transfer is included in the guided visit.
6. Auschwitz II-Birkenau (around 1.5 hours)
   Birkenau was the largest part of the complex and the main site where European Jews were murdered. The guide leads you from the railway unloading ramp past the wooden and brick barracks to the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria, which the SS blew up before liberation. The visit ends at the International Monument to the Victims.
7. Free time (up to 1 hour)
   After the guided visit, you have up to an hour for lunch or a rest before setting off.
8. Return to Poznań
   The drive back takes around five hours, again with stops. You are dropped off in Poznań late in the evening, about 14–15 hours after pickup.

Prices

As the car and driver are reserved for your group alone, the price per person depends on group size and drops as more travellers join.

What is Included

• Private car or minivan with an English-speaking driver
• High-quality, air-conditioned minivan or minibus
• Pickup from your hotel and drop-off in Poznań
• Reserved entrance tickets to Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau
• Guided visit of up to 3.5 hours at the Memorial in your preferred language

Before you go

• Book early: Guided visits to the Memorial are often booked out weeks in advance, particularly from spring to autumn. Early booking makes it easier to secure your date and guide language.
• Bring identification: Tickets are issued by name, so each traveller needs a passport or ID card.
• Bag restrictions: Bags inside the Museum must not exceed 30 x 20 x 10 cm. Anything larger can stay in the vehicle.
• Children: The Museum does not recommend visits for children under 14.
• Outdoor clothing: Much of the visit takes place outdoors, especially at Birkenau, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
• A long day: With around 10 hours of driving in total, pack water, snacks and anything that will make the journey more comfortable.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions